Existing Unapologetically: Black Women's Liberation from Milestone Mania
In the bustling world of achievement and aspiration, Black Women often find themselves entangled in an everlasting pursuit of milestones. A relentless race running deeper than the surface; it's an internalized conviction that our worth, our essence, and our entire being are tied to our achievements. This unescapable attitude has left a generation of overachieving Black Women wrestling with their bodies' calls for release, a haunting fear of mediocrity, and an unhealthy obsession with always being the best. This race can seem endless, exhaustive, and to some extent, dehumanizing. It's a race that needs to be evaluated, and perhaps, reframed.
In the eyes of society, and often in the mirrors of our own perception, Black Women are expected to embody resilience, strength, and constant determination. We carry the weight of generations on our shoulders, a burden borne from historical marginalization and systemic biases. But here's the thing: we are more than the milestones we reach, more than the burdens we bear, and more than the boxes society wants us to fit in. We are human, deserving of peace, rest, and the space to exist unapologetically.
The Toll on Body and Mind
The beliefs of 'never taking off, never saying no, and always showing up' can take a massive toll on our physical and emotional wellbeing. It's like driving a car in full throttle, disregarding the warning signs and ignoring the necessary pit stops. Our bodies, like machines, have a limit. Ignoring this fact results in mental fatigue, physical stress, and an array of health complications.
Pushing forward despite our body's signals to slow down, to rest, is neither brave nor commendable. It's a harmful pattern we've been forced to accept as normal. It's high time we relearn the value of balance, understand the importance of setting boundaries, and respect our bodies when they're pleading for a breather.
The Struggle of Perpetual Excellency
In the mission to conquer milestones, the desire to be the best becomes an all-consuming obsession. This fixation overshadows our capacity to enjoy our achievements and diminishes the satisfaction derived from reaching our goals. We are trapped in a cycle where success is transient and the next milestone looms large, perpetually out of reach.
Being the best isn't about trumping others; it's about reaching our personal potential. It's not about the incessant striving and battling; it's about progress, growth, and understanding that it's okay not to be at the top all the time. That just us being here, is enough.
Existence Beyond Achievement
In this milestone mania, just existing may seem like an underachievement. But existence, in its truest form, is not a void; it's a union of experiences, relationships, self-discovery, growth, and a multitude of facets that extend beyond tangible honors.
This understanding is critical for liberating ourselves from the constraints of achievement obsession. It's important to remember that our worth isn't determined by our accomplishments, but by our character, values, and the love we carry for ourselves and those around us.
A Call for Liberation
It's time to break the shackles of milestone mania and embrace a new narrative, one where Black Women are allowed to be human, to rest, to say no, and to be vulnerable. A narrative where our worth is not dictated by what we've achieved but who we are.
Reaching milestones is not a bad thing. However, we need to redefine our approach to achievement, ensuring it doesn't usurp our mental health, self-worth, and ability to simply exist and enjoy life.
Black Women are resilient, but our resilience doesn't mean we must constantly perform at a peak. We are allowed to rest. We are allowed to just be. And, we are allowed to exist unapologetically.
We are enough – with or without a next thing.
