Free Friday: I Am Free To Be Me!

                                    

                    "Don't trade in your authenticity for approval" -Rapsody

Happy Freedom Friday! This week while sitting still, I realize that I was free. Ever since, a child I drove my mother crazy because I use to tell her that I don't care what people think about me. She gasps... At the age of 31 I definitely don't care what people think about me because I am free. When I mean by being free, I mean I dance to my own rhythm, I don't follow trends and I am not a follower. I refuse to shrink my greatness and I don't give permission to anyone to do the same.

Last week, I took a long hard stare in the mirror and realize that I am FREE! I had to analyze my freeness because I had an old high school friend compliment me on my freeness. She said Drea, I don't know how you do it, you are so intelligent, beautiful, dress well, a professional, kind and cultured. She proceed to say, "I don't know how to be free like that because I am always guarded and walk on eggshells." I explained to her that I am a work in progress but we have choices in life and I choose to be free because I broke free from being held in captivity a few years ago. I was once voiceless, hopeless and powerless until I had to shift my mindset and regain my power. We go through moments in which we give permission to people and/or things to enslave us. 

My mother's favorite motto in life is "No one can hold you down but yourself. Never give your power away." -Josie Mae After leading my Girl Scout troop to the creative promise land, I decided to embrace and celebrate my FLYness by getting a mani and pedi at my local nail shop. While I was getting the hot stone foot massage, I had an undeniable urge to write a poem. I swear in my past life, I was a poet and Hip Hop artist wrapped into one. I hope all my Brown Girls appreciate this poem!

Too Bad, I Am Free To Be Me

You have a problem with me being me...that's too bad
You have a problem with my skin color...that's too bad
You have a problem with me living in your neighborhood...that's too bad
You have a problem with me being in this store...that's too bad
You have a problem with me because I have an advance degree...that's too bad
You have a problem with me because I refuse to settle...that's too bad
You have a problem with me because I choose to be free...that's too bad
You have a problem with me and my dope crew...that's too bad
You have a problem with me because I speak my mind...that's too bad
You have a problem with me being for the people...that's too bad
You have a problem with me shining my light...that's too bad

As you can see, I don't feel sorry for me.
I don't care if you are uncomfortable around me because I am free!
Free from judgement, free from your hate, free to make mistakes, free to make decision, free to be beautiful, free to shed my light and free to be me!

By Andrea C. Imafidon

I want to say thank you for reading Brown Girl From Boston. We love you all!

Brown Girl Question: Do you consider yourself free? Why or why not? What do you need to do to break free from captivity? Let's talk about it. 

If you are feeling the poem, please share your comment below.