I Hope You Dance

There’s this song my mother loves by Lee Ann Womack (of course her favorite version of the song is by Gladys Knight) titled I Hope You Dance. The chorus of the song says, “And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance. I hope you dance.” The song is basically saying choose to live. Choose to experience the good things in life. Choose to let go. Choose to face challenges head on. Choose to have a positive attitude towards your obstacles. Choose to grow. Choose to love. Choose to try and choose to not be afraid to fail.

Lately this song has been on repeat in my head because I’ve been branching out. For starters, I went to the hairdresser and got braids for the first time in my life! Of course my mother would braid my hair as a child, but I’ve never had extra hair added to my head. As soon as I got the braids I was in love. Having a break from combing my hair feels like a weight has been lifted off my shoulder. I’m hooked! I’m developing into this woman who is only concerned with her own opinion, and it feels amazing. I’m constantly traveling, I’m saying no to things that don’t concern me, I’m letting life surprise me, and I’m finally feeling like I’m worthy of all the blessings I am receiving. I’m trying things and not fretting if they don’t work out for me. I’m letting go of old ideologies. I’m taking on challenges and in the process, I’m giving myself more grace. I’m living life my way, and it feels so good to my soul.

There was a time when I was a bit more reserved…a little too calculated even. But there were no benefits in playing it safe. So I decided to release the grip, just be, and not give a damn about who had an opinion. Because when this life has come to an end, I’d rather be tired from taking chances, than mentally tired for constantly wondering what if. I’m dancing y’all.

Stay tuned…..

- Samjah Iman

P.S. - Also, please check out my article/interview below with Marlon Wayans on his role in the Aretha Franklin Movie Respect. He’s a super interesting guy!

Marlon Wayans Did ‘A Lot Of Soul Searching’ To Get Into ‘Respect’ Character | HelloBeautiful

Waiting on My Story

I’m taking things slow these days, and listening for God more. I’m contemplating my next business move and thus far, I’ve come up with NOTHING. Of course everyone has been lending me unsolicited advice on what they think my next venture should be. I’ve been told to sell clothes, makeup (of which I know nothing about), organic facial products, etc. And neither of these things get me excited.

Sometimes I get in a panic when people ask me when and if I’m going to take advantage of the influence I have on social media. I start to think that maybe I should just throw one of the suggestions I’ve been given on the wall and see what sticks. But then I have to remind myself that one of the most important lessons I’ve learned over the years is not to move on anything until I feel it in my soul.

Ya’ll know what I always say; when you are open to receiving a sign, the universe is open to giving you one. I was watching a movie on Netflix called Monster the other day, and the main character was having a discussion with his teacher and peers in his film class. The teacher was trying to get the students to realize that they needed a little more passion behind their art. He went on to explain his point by saying that when artists have a story to tell, it pains them to keep it inside. They ache with the desire to write it, film it, and share it. The main character/student then asked the teacher, “[as an artist] what if you don’t feel any of that?” The teacher replied, “THEN YOU HAVEN’T FOUND YOUR STORY.” Boom.

I paused the television and quickly wrote that line down. It was the reminder I needed. I can try this or that as my new venture, or listen to others and begin to feel like I’m behind. But the truth is plain and simple; I have not found my story yet. And I’m not moving on anything until it I find it. So back to the drawing board I go. I’ll emerge with a story to tell sooner…..or later.

Peace and Blessings,

- Samjah Iman

Photo Credit: Welch Inc Photography

Outfit Details: Jeans (Target in store) // Top

In case you missed it….

Check me out here on the Essence Festival Beauty Carnival panel! The panel I’m on starts at the 3:53:00 mark. Hope you enjoy it!

Recognizing My Power...

It’s January 7th, 2021 at 11:39 a.m. I’m writing this blog post from the comfort of my kitchen table. As I sip my water and nosh on my King Cake, I’m in a state of calmness. Ironically, Nas’ classic song, The World is Yours, is seeping through my Bluetooth speaker. I chuckle. His words match my sentiments. I’m reveling in the fact that there’s an apparent shift happening in the universe, and I’m 100% positive that I am on the right side of that shift.

Of course the buffoonery that was displayed yesterday at the U.S. Capitol showed us what we already knew…white privilege is alive and well. But through all the pandemonium, my understanding of just how powerful my people are became even more apparent. Those terrorists where not only acting out of stupidity, they were acting out of cowardice. They are scared. They are scared that the nation they worked so hard to steer in their direction is slipping right from under their weak palms. They are scared that more of us finally woke up, and that the power we as black people showed in this last presidential election and in Georgia will be exercised from here on out. Although yesterday wasn’t a laughing matter, I couldn’t help but smile. I smiled because my power is so persuasive, my voice is so resounding, my vote is so critical, it brings the demonic spirit out of suckers, it rallies the positive activists, it puts officials in and out of government seats, it changes the political trajectory of racist states, and it gives hope to future generations. With this much power, there is no need for me to wait for life to go in my direction. I can get what I want, when I want it, how I want it. I come from brilliant people, and with the technology and resources I have at my finger tips - I should be doing it bigger and better than they did. All I have to do is tap into the power that lives right in my spirit, and I will.

Recognize the power you have, and use it wisely. Continue to flourish, continue to heal, continue to use your talents for your benefit and then for the greater good of our community. It’s our time y’all….let’s make our foremothers and forefathers proud.

Walking in my power,

- Samjah Iman

Photo Credit: 87 Photography

Outfit Details: Floral Turtle Neck // Wide Leg Pants // Purse

It's Not About the External Resources...

“It’s not the size of the dog in the fight, it’s the size of the fight in the dog.”

— Mark Twain

Typing the above quote brought the movie Hustle & Flow to mind.  I remember watching Ludacris and Terrence Howard recite this truism in unison and at the time, I didn’t think much of it. So I went back to that scene on YouTube, and I paid close attention to their conversation.  Terrence’s character (DJay) had been anxious to connect with Luda’s character’s (Skinny Black) because he was a huge fan of his artistry; particularly his first album. So in this scene, DJay was able to finally meet Skinny Black and hold a conversation with him. DJay praised Skinny Black’s first album and Skinny Black smiled in appreciation and made it known that he recorded that album in his mother’s laundry room. DJay then went on to say, “It’s not enough for a man to climb Mt. Everest. He gotta (sic) do that shit with the least amount of tools. One man and his skills.” Skinny Black then said, “Like the Samurai say (sic), the sword is only as powerful as its master.” Then DJay recited the Mark Twain quote and Skinny Black joined in. Whew child, after watching that exchange I felt like the doors of the church were open. I got all the proverbs I needed out of that small scene.

I’m assuming most of you have heard about the David and Goliath story from the bible. Well that whole Hustle & Flow scene piggybacks off that bible story in my opinion. It was hard to imagine David defeating Goliath because he didn’t have the fancy weapons, strength, or mass that Goliath possessed. But it turned out that David didn’t need any swords or big muscles to win the battle because what he was armed with was waaaaay more vicious. David had the internal artillery….he had the fight inside of him. Also, think about the story of Jesus feeding 5,000 people with just five loaves of bread and two fish. He didn’t make any excuses about the market running out of food or anything like that. He just showed up with what He had and made it happen. But some of us still won’t pursue our dream because we’re waiting on our bank accounts to reflect a certain number or our inventory to be overflowing (shaking my head).

I wrote all that to say that it’s time out for excuses. A lot of us are thinking we need a certain amount of social media followers, a nice office, an elaborate website, a high-tech camera, or a resourceful network to accomplish what we wish to accomplish. When in actuality, all you need is maybe a few small things and, most importantly, the determination to get things cracking. So many great things have been birthed from little to no resources. And when you think about it, resources actually play a small part in making anything happen. The true power to make things shake lies within the human.

So the next time you shy away from something because you don’t have enough of this or that or you back down from a challenge because you don’t have what you think you need to succeed, remember how David bust Goliath’s head with just a stone and a sling. Remember how Jesus fed multiple people with just a small amount of bread and fish.

External resources are good to have, but they don’t determine your outcome - the internal resources do. A lot can come from a little. Let’s not concentrate so much on the tangibles, let’s put our faith in the intangible.

Doing the most with the least,

- Samjah Iman

Outfit Details: Dopeaholics Hat // Romper // Vans

I got one more thing to show you before you leave this page!! When you get a second, check me out on the Introvert N The City podcast here. I’m discussing how it feels to be a black woman entrepreneur and some more things. I hope you enjoy it! Thanks for the support in advance! xoxo

Oh and screw the system/people who didn’t bring proper justice to Breonna Taylor’s case…UGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Photo Credit: 87 Photography

This Is My Life Homie, You Decide Yours...

Do you know how it feels to hold your stomach in for a long period of time?  It’s difficult and uncomfortable, right?  At any moment you feel like you could pop or explode.  You desire deeply to exhale and let it all hang out, but you’re afraid of the judgment that comes with someone seeing the real you.  So now you’re walking around the world, holding yourself in, pretending to be something you’re not, just so you can live up to an image of perfection that doesn’t exist.  Sounds stupid, huh?  It does…but it happens - and how it feels to hold your stomach in for long periods of time is how I feel when I’m living my life for someone else other than myself.  I feel like I can’t breathe properly…like at any minute, I will pop - and I did.       

Not too long ago I did a quick overview of my life and asked myself what percentage of my life was my idea, and what percentage of my life was other people’s ideas.  I didn’t like the results.  I thought about how many decisions I made because I thought it would look good to my family or because I thought it would coincide with the image everyone had of me in their heads.  I didn’t like the results of those thoughts either.  I also thought about how pissed I would be if I created a life that others thought I should create only to become resentful that I didn’t create the life I wanted to create.  After sitting with those thoughts for a second, I wrote this declaration in my journal…“to hell with who they think I am or what they think I should do, because the only person who has to pay for my decisions is me.  Therefore, my opinion should be the only one that counts.”

For as long as I can remember I’ve been combating and/or feeding into people’s perception of me.  I remember in high school I desperately wanted to play basketball as a freshman (and I did), but my brother’s then-girlfriend thought I looked more like a cheerleader so she persuaded me to try out for the squad.  I remember only dating a certain type of guy for a long time because those were the types of guys people thought I should be with.  I remember my college advisor trying her hardest to get me to join a sorority because I fit their aesthetic, but deep down I knew that wasn’t my vibe.  It’s hard to stay true to yourself in a world that doesn’t encourage and celebrate authenticity.  And even though staying true to yourself is not popular, it’s a major key to liberation.  Because if you let others dictate your life, you don’t truly own it.       

“If I didn’t define myself for myself, I would be crunched into other people’s fantasies for me and eaten alive.”

— Audre Lorde

You know that feeling of relief you get when you finally unbutton some snug pants you’ve been wearing all day, or that feeling you get when you stop tensing up and you relax all your muscles then exhale with your entire body?  That’s the feeling I experienced when I finally stop holding the real me in.  And from that day forward I vowed not to create another façade in order to be accepted.  I also vowed to let it all hang out, no matter the judgment that followed.  Because being my true self feeds my soul, being someone I’m not takes away from it.

Life is short so I may as well please the person I’m with all the time….and that’s me.

My life - my way,

- Samjah Iman

P.S. - Hey my people! If you get a chance, check me out in this Hello Beautiful article. I’m honored!!! Talk to you all soon! xoxo  

Outfit Details: Graphic Tee (coming soon here) // Joggers (old Forever 21), Nike Sacai Tennis