Seek Help - 10th Edition

Welcome to Seek Help - A space for open conversations around Mental Health, Wellness, Planning, and Personal, Business and Community Development.  It’s also a reminder that sometimes we are the helpers the world needs and how to fill your cup so you can pour into others.  

Seek Help is about normalizing asking for help and about being a resource for others.  I believe in collaboration over competition and this is my little space to talk about.  As a former Girl Scout and Mr. Rogers fan, this quote from him captures the energy here - “When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.’”  We are not alone and when in doubt, look to the dope helpers around you (or be that helper when your cup is full).

"What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make" - Jane Goodall

We made it to double digits!! 10th Edition coming in hot on my birthday!!

I made it another year, I was listening to someone talk recently about celebrating being 21 because he'd beat the odds and as the world seems to be tearing itself apart at the seams, everyday I survive this place seems miraculous. As my birthday approached, I decided to go with the flow this week and just enjoy life. I am leaning into the belief that I'm always exactly where I'm supposed to be, even if it's not where I planned to be.

So last week, I went to Kendra Scott for a Self Care Panel with Andromeda Osam-Peters and the TIS Foundation . Not only was it a great conversation but they also gave us each a fabulous giftbag at the end which some goodies I am excited to give a try. What I loved the most was my new The Five Minute Journal from Intelligent Change which I started right away.

I had one in the past that was a little more basic but this new edition is great because it starts off with the science and calls on you to use it twice a day. Five minutes in the morning to write down what you are greatful for, what would make today great, and daily affirmation. Five minutes in the evening with highlights of the day and what did I learn today. I've been ruminating on doing more journaling and this was the perfect launch pad for that.

It's an excellent daily exercise that I highly recommend! You can get this journal or use a blank one that you already own but it's a great addition to your daily practice. I also really loved the L'Beauxtique • beauty wellness remedies Evening Body Serum which I've been using to give myself night massages to give myself some better rest. There was also something called a Reliefband (from Reliefband Technologies LLC ) that's supposed to give Clinically Proven Relief for Nausea and I get car sick sometimes so I'm going to give that one a try.

I also went earlier that evening to check out We Should Talk, led by artist and curator Philippa Hughes and artists Xena Ni and Adele 이슬 Kenworthy, “We Should Talk” creates space for exploring the complexity of Asian American identity. It is a beautiful exhibit that I would highly recommend checking out!

MercyMe in Yours Truly DC Vignette Collection has a new menu, new chef, new vibes so they invited me out to dinner to try the new menu and it was delicious, Writing some reviews and videos on that delightful adventure with my girl Aliya Manjee which will go live shortly!

I went to Eaton DC for a Soundbath session called, "You Are Enough: Self Love Through Sound", an opportunity to practice self kindness and self compassion by immersing yourself in a guided meditation and soundbath experience with meditation teacher and musician Ofosu Jones-Quartey (Born I) and renowned harpist Kim Sator. Believe they have another session in December but I can't find the link right now.

While I enjoyed my weekend cause I'm always going to have a good time, I do wish I had gone to Honeyland Music Festival (even though I'm a little scared of Texas right now). From everyone I know who went, they said it was an epic weekend so I'll catch yall there next year!!

My next stop was GET Cities , powered by SecondMuse Foundation, with catalytic funding from Pivotal Ventures, the investment and incubation company created by Melinda French Gates, and in partnership with Break Through Tech. Christina L. Glancy and her team did an amazing job putting together the "GET Cities Hack for Impact: Innovators Edition" event this weekend.

The Event Gods were on my side that night because the Innovators Bash was right around the corner from the Martin Luther King DC Public Library where Well-Read Black Girl was hosting a talk with debut authors Shannon Sanders and Kelsey Norris. I'm a big book fan and want to support Glory Edim 's DC Library partnership but this one was special cause Shannon was a late addition to my mother daughter bookclub growing up so it's very full circle to celebrate her first book and see her and her mom!

I kicked off my birthday weekend with a CreativeMornings DC talk with Kokayi Walker on Rhythm that was right on time and so on point. It was a packed house inside Umbrella Art Fair and one of the things I love about CMDC is that it's like a creative community reunion and I always get to see my favorite people. So once the talk concluded, I went with Mary Godier , Fabiola R. Delgado and Margaret Lefton over to Union Market to get breakfast. Since it was so close to Umbrella opening, we decided to stick around and get an early first look before the crowds descended. The first Umbrella was so good and if I had to critique it, I would have struggled to make major complaints. Despite the high bar of the first one, they managed to top it with this year. It was the reminder I needed to raise my prices because these artists are only going to keep going up.

Notable Notes from Carlton Jared Lockett :

BEING RIGHT:

• Stagnation: Insisting on being right can lead to a lack of progress and innovation within the company.
• Missed Opportunities: Focusing solely on being right may cause the company to miss out on potential growth opportunities and competitive advantages.-Lack of Collaboration: Prioritizing being right can create an environment of rigid hierarchy and hinder collaboration among team members.
• Decreased Morale: Constantly striving to prove oneself right can lead to demotivation and decreased morale among employees.

WINNING:

• Adaptability: Prioritizing winning allows companies to be more adaptable to changing market conditions and stay ahead of the competition.
• Innovation: Embracing a winning mindset encourages creativity and innovation, leading to new ideas and solutions.
• Trust and Empowerment: Trusting mid-level executives and employees to drive innovation fosters a culture of empowerment and collaboration.
• Growth and Success: By focusing on winning, companies have a higher chance of achieving growth, success, and achieving their goals.

In conclusion, while being right may provide short-term satisfaction, prioritizing winning can lead to long-term success, growth, and a thriving company culture.

Alright that's my birthday brain dump!!

Affirmation for the week from the I Am Everything deck created by Tarisha Clark (purchased from Smudge Wellness Inc. ):