I love writing. I have written off and on since I was 7. One of my favorite teachers in elementary school, Mrs. Hamilton, told me repeatedly that I have a gift and should never stop. It sparked in me the courage to continue.
I was not a popular girl in school. I had a cool support system of friends in middle school and high school, which was very nice. Can we ALL agree that middle school was rough for everyone? 😂
In 2018, I was in a rough place. I was working close to 60 hours a week, I was stressed, my mom was sick, and I didn’t really know where I was going or who I was. The office I worked in was 7 stories, and after a few nudges from coworkers, I started walking up and down the stairs on my breaks instead of chain-smoking cigarettes.
For 15 minutes, I was doing something for me. Char as an individual, not Char as a daughter, sister, or best friend.I enjoyed it so much that I joined a gym. I stopped listening to the toxicity of my coworkers and focused on me. Going to the gym was my haven, my refuge. I am not a gym person. At all. I evolved into the creature you see in front of you. I said, “I do not like my life and something has to change.”
post-workout selfie.
I stopped chain-smoking and drinking excessively after work. I started getting weekly massages and lost 40 pounds! I know what you’re wondering… does Char have a point? Yes…yes I do. Today is International Women’s Day! This year’s message is about breaking the bias. This blog, this website, would not be possible if I did not empower myself to want more, to stay committed to a plan, to rise above the haters that told me no, I broke the mental bias I had in my head telling me that I was failing.
My question to you is: what bias are you going to break? I am a biracial, empowered, small businesswoman. Many told me no, but I said YESSS! Yes, to me. Yes to my mental health. Yes to empowering my mom when she had no strength. YOU are a beautiful specimen! Say yes to yourself and break some biases.
