YOU CAN'T DO IT ALL
"I got this."
"I hate asking for help."
"I can do this by myself."
For a very long time, I thought that asking for help made me look weak. It was crazy. It's like, I felt as though I had something to prove to the world by showing folks that I didn't need them. I mean, I didn't even like men buying me drinks at the club. Shoot, they were eventually going to want something in exchange for that drink and I ain't got it. So, that was my outlook in every situation. People only do things for you in expectation of receiving something. Which is not always true.
Hell, if any of ya'll brothas are reading this, I could use that drink right about now.
A couple of weeks ago, I attended an event called "Keep it Colorful". One of the panelist was Erika Alexander. She shared the story of her journey as an actor/ creator and gave lots of wonderful advice. Something she said that really stuck with me was, you can't do it alone.
Maybe I'm just going through something right now but I really took that to heart and something finally clicked in my mind. Maybe I do need people.
I'm always so worried about someone coming in and destroying what I've created or taking credit for what I've done, that I sometimes shut out help that I may need. I started building Aintbritfunny in 2015. I wanted something to call my own. What started off as just a blog grew into an entire brand. So far, it's been great doing things my way but when I started to link with like minded folks, things got even better.
-If I didn't collaborate with my brother, there would be no Blackmamalations tees. (Psst...we got more on the way)
-If I didn't keep in touch with my friends from college, I would have never found out that I could host a show. (Psst....Slide in my DM's if you need a host)
Sometimes, I call my family and friends just to bounce ideas off of them because I know that they are going to tell me the truth whether it's the truth that I want to hear or not. You NEED people like that.
Listen, the moral of the story is, not everyone is the villain in your story. God will send some folks as your heroes. Use your discernment. Get you a support system. Folks to lift you up on the days when you can't do it yourself. Because there will be days when you can't do it yourself.
Don't call me though. I got my own problems.
-BRIT