Today is a day that's very near and dear to my heart. Exactly one year ago, I clicked publish on the first Bright Eyed-Joy blog post, and so began an incredible journey. Words can’t describe how nervous I was, as sharing your thoughts with the world tends to make you feel. What I didn’t know was what my little idea would transform into in just one year.
YOU are the #1 inspiration for Bright-Eyed Joy.
I started this blog because I wanted to be an example of a woman of color in the wellness space. There aren’t many of us, and I recognize that without proper representation, it’s tough to feel like self-care and body positivity are meant for women of color, too. The people I’ve gotten to know over the past year through social media, meetups, and of course, BGIO Self-Care Sundays, have inspired and empowered me in ways that I never knew were imaginable. This community is so supportive, learning from each other and growing together. Whether it’s a quick DM or a collab, I’ve loved every minute of getting to know you all and growing the Bright-Eyed Joy tribe.
Y’all keep me going.
Not many people, outside of bloggers of course, understand just how much goes into running a blog. By all means, the biggest two things are having courage and belief in yourself. In the past year, each of you have been a huge reason why I’ve kept on writing week after week. Every comment, DM, and email that I’ve received from you has helped me continue to power forward, even when I didn’t believe in myself very much. You’ve voiced when posts resonate with you, supported me through my own troubles, and always come in clutch with words of encouragement when I least expect it but need it most. I’m a firm believer in intuition, and y’all are incredibly intuitive when it comes to showing Bright-Eyed Joy some love.
We’re on this self-love journey together.
Learning how to love yourself and discover who you are *on the inside* isn’t an easy task. Diving deep into feelings of the past, present, and future can be daunting, especially because you have no clue what you might find. However challenging it is, it’s so important to do the work in order to lead a happier, more fulfilling life. I applaud you all, who visit Bright-Eyed Joy with the intention of deep self-exploration that will further liberate you to live the life you know you’re worthy of. You are all so strong and capable of creating the kind of mindset for yourself that will propel you forward in many ways, and I find it amazing that you use this blog as a source for that. We’re in this together, and there’s no stopping us now.
In celebration of the Bright-Eyed Joy tribe!
You, amazing readers, are the heartbeat of this tribe. I am so happy and blessed to be on this journey with you, spreading wellness throughout our community and beyond. Let’s keep growing and learning together, as we get one step closer each day to a stronger, more fulfilling relationship with ourselves and the world around us. One year down. Here’s to another wonderful, trailblazing year ahead of us!