Find Your Tribe

There is no way to describe the feeling of being connected.   Nicole Walters writes about this connection in her book Nothing Is Missing: A Memoir of Living Bodly.  In the chapter "Black Women Are Everything," Walters discusses how “Community is integral.  Don’t underestimate the power of asking for help, information, or support.”  She continues by saying “When you are part of a community, you are seen.  You are counted.” (pg. 101).  This is self-affirming for women of color.

Not too long ago, I was on a business trip in which many of the participants looked like me.  When I checked into the hotel, a woman of color complimented me on my name (which is unique) and my hair (butterfly locs).  I also learned she had a unique name that was beautiful and unforgettable and instantly we had a connection of sisterhood and understanding.  During my stay at this hotel and throughout the conference, it was nice to be connected to people who looked like me and encountered some of the same professional issues. Although the trip was short, we exchanged contact information and all stated how nice it was to be understood and connected.

In the book Self-Care for Black Women by Oludara Adeeyo ( you know I'm going to bring up this book again! 🙂), “Building a Healthy Sisterhood” is one of the self-care activities.  This author stated, “Having a collective of hand-picked women we can call our sisters provides us with divine protection and projection.”  

What are you waiting for, sis?  FIND YOUR TRIBE!  If you cannot find your tribe, create one. Get connected to sisters who you don't have to explain yourself to and bring out the best in you and vice versa.