#SlayTheDream
Five positive things that happened last week:
—Sincerely, Tyra
Dear God,
Sometimes I wonder
what You think of me.
Am I pleasing You?
When look at me,
do You smile? Is Your
heart satisfied? Teach me
how to live out life like You.
Hold my hand, order
my steps, and set a fire
in my soul for Your ways.
Consume me, filling all
the cracks and crevices
of my being with Your Spirit.
Make Me Better,
in Jesus’ Name.
—Amen.
We’re on these conference calls and you can literally hear the fear and angst in people’s voices.
I know we all have obligations and deadlines (in spite of/during) this pandemic….
But I just want to remind you that it is okay to not dial-in or to dial-in and stay on mute if you are not well or in the best head space.
Let me be the first to say: “I am not okay.” So I’m not being judgmental.
But, after this last call, I’m wishing I could share my PTO hours and EPA with a few people.
Please remember to rest.
Please remember to do at least one thing that brings you joy—DAILY.
Please put your oxygen mask on first, beloved.
—Sincerely, Tyra
Listen, sometimes what looks like an obstacle is actually an opportunity!
If you can, take the babies with you to vote today.
It’s a reason they are out of school and we are off work at the same time!
It’s the perfect opportunity for them to see the process and learn something.
My Joy had so many questions.
But don’t get it twisted, we definitely had the Black mom’s “don’t touch nothing… don’t ask for nothing… don’t breathe on nothing” talk before we left out the house.
And I Lysoled (I now declare this a verb… It took auto-correct six tries before it decided to let me be great) all of our outerwear when we came back in.
Then we prayed over mommy’s vote, our health and the health of the seniors that live in the building where my precinct is located (and, of course, 5-year-old-life things like play doh and her crayon colors).
Yeah it sucks that we have to vote (and actually work while we’re at home, might I add) during this period of chaos and confusion… But there is definitely a small bright side.
—Sincerely, Tyra
This womb
was created to create life
These hands
made to make magic
These feet and legs,
stand stronger than a pyramid,
immovable during struggles
This heart
pumps blood of Ghanaian warriors
and American freedom fighters
This hair
grows closer to the sun
each day, vivid reminder
of my royalty
She sustains a legacy
far greater than just 28 days.
The Black Woman exceeds what
most modern minds can comprehend.
She is a master of ancient ways.
—2/20/17
Happy Tuesday, Family!
Supporting your friends’ small businesses doesn’t require spending all of your money.
Gotta a minute? …Yes?!
Okay, awesome! There are two ways you can support this blog and my future business goals!
FIRST: Connect with me on my blog, SincerelyTyra.com/contact. You’ll get a monthly update email with invitations to dope events that build community. I have a featured a few in the pictures below!
Share those emails with your friends and family every now and then.
Voila! First way to support us, accomplished! ✅
SECOND: Click the link: Sincerely, Tyra. Then, LIKE 👍🏾 and FOLLOW 🎯 the page.
Scroll across the top to “COMMUNITY.”
Click “INVITE FRIENDS.”
Click “ALL.” ‼️
Wait 10-15 seconds for the invitations to send.
— Simple enough, right? —
Comment “DONE ✅ ” and I’ll do the same for your FB Business Page or website. Let’s create our own promo! 🙏🏾
I know it’s seems too easy right?! Has to be a catch?! Not this time…. We tend to think that the only thing entrepreneurs want is our money.
But for many of us, genuine support is as simple as sharing, liking and helping to promote our endeavors!
It means a lot to us when we see those ❤️ buttons being pressed.
#SlayTheDream
—Sincerely, Tyra
Say it with me: “Worships can build community! Workshops can be entertaining!” …Now, ask me what they’re doing! 😉
I promise to show you how extremely talented you are.
I promise to listen before I say no.
I promise to hear your point of view.
I promise to make room for your heart’s desires.
I promise to remind you that you are the princess (and yes, I’m The Queen—although it sounds softer when you remind me).
I promise they can’t tell me nothing about you.
I promise not to stay humble when they praise you.
I promise to praise you before they ever do.
I promise, if you ask, to tell as many bedtimes stories as I can imagine.
I promise to only allow healthy people in your presence.
I promise to increase your wealth before you graduate high school.
I promise you will never lack or need to feel less than.
I promise to love you unconditionally until the end of time and then some.
—Sincerely, The Queen
(Politickin: The Chicago Peace Project participants discussing future goals, ancient societies, and their favorite cartoons while creating art in trauma-informed breakout sessions facilitated by the Teen Arts Council members.)
(Drop Me Off at the L: Teen Arts Council members facilitate an icebreaker called Mr. Taxi Driver for The Chicago Peace Project participants.)
Is it still Friday? Cool, this “Flashback Friday” is dedicated to the Chicago Peace Project and our awesome day with local artist Karen Perkins and the Teen Arts Council youth. Chicago Peace Plan is a curriculum that I created to foster meaningful exchanges between teens and youth from different neighborhoods.
As the youth talked about their future career and entrepreneurship goals, ancient civilizations and favorite clothing, I thought about the meaning of trauma-informed care. When Black boys talk about ancient history and Black girls laugh and find happiness in the moment. I kinda feel overjoyed.
Were there experiences like this for you as a young person? Share how you benefitted from it in the comments below!
–Sincerely, Tyra
#SlayTheDream #chicago #peace #project #blackboyjoy #blackgirlmagic #osc #chicagobility #chipeaceproject #art #traumainformedcare
I was invited to sit on a panel for the community discussion of this woman, Audrey Petty’s, book entitled “High Rise Stories: Voices From Chicago Public Housing.”
Not many people know, but I grew up in the Harold Ickes homes; like anybody else, I have experienced good times and struggles.
I realized a long time ago that when you start wanting better for yourself, people might want to tear you down or destroy your vision.
But tonight, I got to share a small piece of MY story, teach other people, and even learned some history from my elders.
This event only confirmed that, in spite of any naysayers, I will still aspire to enlighten myself then help educate the younger generations.
—Sincerely, Tyra
Today’s blog is actually a repost from my Facebook Memories feed. The pictures and the recap of the experience were written on Friday, January 17, 2014 before the development of the Sincerely, Tyra website, before #SlayTheDream was conceived. For more work like the ‘Catalyst Stories’ series, visit the About Tyra page.
#SlayTheDream #myfridaynight #feelinginspired #nevertire #tytaughtyou #productofmyenvironment
Having a conversation with a good friend and she asks me about a guy that I used be involved with wondering about the “end story.”
So I told her we grew apart and let her know that I really believed he didn’t want a committed relationship.
She went on to ask how I knew that he didn’t want one. My response: “If we both wanted the same thing, we would be in a relationship right now.”
I had to explain to my friend that I knew this because he never made a deciding move. Don’t get me wrong now, we’re not on bad terms. We don’t hate each other. We simply aren’t meant to be committed to each other. And ultimately, his actions (or lack thereof) spoke for his desires.
As women, sometimes society wants us to wait around for the man to “get his mind right,” “get his stuff together,” and figure what he wants—or even, lead him into the relationship.
But sis, let me you something: You know what you deserve! Don’t let that man distract you from living the life that you want or sit around waiting for him to pick you.
GO LIVE YOUR LIFE!
The man you’re supposed be with will come along and make his intentions very well known, sis!
—Sincerely, Tyra
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