Remember Who You Are

I bought the bracelet you see pictured here sometime last year from one of my favorite jewelry stores called Light Years. I wear this bracelet almost every day because I love statement accessories but recently I have found myself needing to wear this bracelet and needing this gentle reminder every single day: Remember Who You Are.

Most people will boldly claim that they know exactly who they are at all times and if that is you, I think that is amazing. But, what about when experiences in life and words from people shake the foundation of who you are or who you thought you were? In the face of adversity do you still firmly know who you are? If you answered yes, I applaud you. I wish I could say that is always the case for me but to be completely honest it’s not. And if it isn’t always the case for you either, I am here to tell you that is ok too.

Recently I received an email from someone I care a lot about and in this email things were said to me that were very hurtful. While this person was sharing their truth it was still very painful and harsh to read. I think it was so hurtful because the things that were said were the exact opposite of how I thought I was perceived by others (especially this person). I would love to tell you that I brushed it off and that it went in one ear and out of the other because I am so sure of who I am but that would be dishonest. The truth is that what this person said hurt me to my core. I internalized it and replayed it over and over in my mind. And worse than all of that I believed it. I forgot who I was and I believed what this person said about me. It’s been almost a month since this happened and over the last month I’ve thought about this email every single day (multiple times a day). Each time I thought of it I internalized it more and more. But during my drive back from Atlanta I glanced down to read my bracelet like I often do but this time instead of just reading the bracelet, I really saw it and it resonated with me. Remember who you are Erica. So I dug deep on that 6 hour ride home and did just that. On the surface I am a daughter, a sister, an aunt, a godmother, a granddaughter, a niece, a cousin and a friend. But much deeper than that I am smart, I am strong, I am resilient, I am talented, I’m funny, I’m compassionate, I am sensitive, I am a giver, I am loving, I am patient, I am forgiving, I am dope, I am cool, I am sensual, I am beautiful on the outside but even more beautiful on the inside, I am spiritual, I am understanding, I am not perfect and have many, many flaws and make mistakes but I.AM.MAGIC anyway and so are you. Not everyone is going to see you or receive you the way you want them to. I’m learning (it’s a work in progress) that it’s ok if they don’t. What really matters is how you see yourself and what you know to be true about you. At the end of the day all you can do is show up in this big world as your authentic self and realize that a lot of times how people see you or receive you has more to do with them than it does with you.

What I really love about this bracelet is that it says “remember” who you are. To “remember” means that you once forgot or became unaware BUT awareness of this forgotten thing has been brought back to your mind. The world will tell you to never forget who you are. I say it is ok if you do forget but please no matter what always remember.