After a quiet year building my family, I’m walking out of ‘22 the same way I’m walking into ‘23: playing big and praying big. I went on an intentional journey when I found out I was pregnant to rewire my trauma responses and commit to passing on the best of myself and my lineage to my little mvp. I got a coach, continued with my therapist, and started working thru a deeper level of my own stuff. first on the menu: PEOPLE PLEASING. it manifested in lots of ways-tolerating narcissistic abuse in friendships, professional partnerships and, once upon a time, relationships...having so few boundaries that I wore myself out for folks & institutions who’d never do it for me...rarely, if ever, saying no. it all traced back to losing my father at 12. because if I could make you happy, then maybe you wouldn’t leave me. it even manifested in my public life-a life I didn’t anticipate being public but quickly became that. And as I tried to catch up with purpose and unexpected visibility, my people pleasing turned into a dangerous commitment to only be the Brittany I presumed the public wanted me to be. Anything outside of “activist” was terrifying to show, share or celebrate. But bump all that. I’m a whole person, with interests and plans and dreams and purpose that existed before you met me, on whatever 2 dimensional platform that was. I’m grateful you’re here-and I owe you and myself full authenticity. Black women set everyone else free. I’m setting me free this year, too. I’m unconcerned with who that means will unfollow me because they only came here for easy-to-digest anti-racism memes. I’m more than my labor & our freedom is 3 dimensional. So, I pray that my living & learning in public will be a lesson in freedom, and permission granted to live the same. It took a black-owned publication like @inclubmagazine to let me be so many more of my moving parts, and I’m grateful that this cover story allowed me to collaborate once again with my favorite partner in the world, @kidnoble on the 📸. here’s to a year of consistency. of never playing small or praying small. of reaping the harvest and the beauty that comes from ashes. happy new year. love y’all, BPC