2020 Faith. Food. Fashion. Friendship.
Happy New Vision Year!!!
I’m excited to share my journey with you! The Style of Life started while I was in a season of transition. I find myself in transition more often than I am comfortable with, but the way my God is set up, He makes me uncomfortable to push me closer to my purpose in Him. So I turned 30 years old and recognized that, while I had a booming career and I was getting ready to start a doctoral program, I had know real clue of who I was. That was so hard to admit lol. But I knew that I needed to take some time to invest in ME…Yolanda. I had so many great conversations with friends and people in my life and truthfully if you asked 7 different people who they thought I was you would get “Boss Chic or Ms. Independent” and some variation of “fashionista or fashion lover” but I was so much more than that. But only the ones closest to me knew that. So I started the Style of Life to encourage others to answer the tough questions about their personal growth and to share about the things that contribute to mine.
I AM A WOMAN OF FAITH. Faith is what keeps me grounded and I know that all of my experiences, both trials and triumphs increase my faith. Faith guides my perspective and it always has. But if I am honest, though faith is my most prized possession, it can be the hardest thing to contend for. I’ve been through seasons where my world was turned completely upside down through heartbreak, disappointments and failures and I couldn’t see what was next for me. Faith was the voice inside that reminded me “there is more to you story than this one chapter.” And through lots of conversations I recognized that people, young and old, are always seeking ways to refine or strengthen their faith. Faith is the foundation of my journey, and it’s tested and tried day by day or some times moment to moment.
I AM A “FOODIE”. Food is what brings me nourishment, of course, but I like cooking with love and eating food that is made with creativity and tradition. During the most challenging times in my life I have made the BEST COMFORT FOOD!! lol And if let me tell it, the best business ideas, relationship convos, encouragement sessions and laughs happen over BRUNCH! I love all types of restaurants from your mom and pop small spots, to your upscale 5 star (let me put this etiquette class to use) restaurants. But I tend to meet up with my old heads at those hole in the wall joints, cuz they drop those life gems that get you ALL THE WAY together!
I AM A FASHION LOVER. Fashion became something I grew to love because I loved watching my father and grandmother get dressed. My father always taught me how to dress for my body type and my grandmother taught me how to add just the right hint of flair to a look. Being a brown skinned beauty I fell into the “let me wear safe dark colors” trap for years!! Black, brown, navy and grey lol But I dared to wear a yellow dress when I accepted an award one year and there was NO TURNING BACK! I realized for all the years of dark colors I was trying to make others comfortable with my presence. But BIG BRIGHT BOLD COLORS was a statement for me, I wanted to be comfortable with myself and others would have to adjust. Fashion is my way to be unapologetically me!
I VALUE FRIENDSHIP. The journey of friendship has been a rollercoaster ride. I have had seasons were friendships thrived, changed and even ended. In some cases I was the toxic friend, other times we just grew apart. But baby let me tell you, when you get some friendships that thrive they push you into a whole nother (yes “nother” lol) way of living! I can’t just call my friends, friends, they are like the sisters I never had! We laugh together, pray and fast together, love good fashion, food, and a good reality tv show. My friends are also not above gathering me when I need to get it together…
So for me the Style of Life is through Faith, Food, Fashion and Friendship. I realized that happiness comes with living in balance as opposed to always having to find balance when change or transition happens. The style of your life may come from things other then the four areas I have mentioned. So this months question “Who are you?” answer this question void of your career, degrees and accolades. Identify some themes, (i.e. Faith, Family, Friends, etc) in your life that result in happiness or joy for you.
We all need to live our life so why not do it with boldness and balance? That my friends is the STYLE OF LIFE!
I chose you before I gave you life, and before you were born I selected you to be prophet to the nations
Jeremiah 1:5
The Style of Life 