In high school, I learned to hide certain parts of myself.
how to tuck away my emotions
so they couldn’t be used as weapons against me.

Sometimes I chose to fade into the background.
Sometimes — and I hate to say this — I was cruel.

Because I wan’t ready to Love the man that I was becoming.
And couldn’t understand that others were further along on their journeys.

I stand today: Black. Gay. and Proud.

It was a messy and awkward process.
But therapy and a meaningful support system helped me find the strength to stand in my truth.

June is Pride month.
A month to embrace that Love is Love.
But also a chance to remember that it not easy being the truest, most beautiful version of yourself.

In fact, it takes so much Courage to live out loud.

You can turn that sadness into joy.
You can translate your fear into self acceptance.
You have permission to be your most authentic self.

It takes work, but it gets better.

– justin

Visual Inspiration 

@hey_mari makes a contribution to the zeitgeist

Some good advice from @spiritdaughter

And just in case you missed it, ya boy was on this season of Dating Around on Netflix. The tweets about the episode are hilarious.

Curious Tribe is committed to amplifying the voices of influential black creators. Check out the growing database.

Found it on the Internet

How to find your purpose (video)

For everyone that is obsessed with baking, these photos are incredible inspiration. 

The State of Black Women Startup Founders – Woah, there’s more work to be done to diversify tech yall. 

Binging:
The new season of Ramy on Hulu
Blood and Water on Netflix
Work in Progress on Amazon Prime (originally on Showtime)
And the finale of Insecure – ughhh. Why can’t I get 33 episodes a season like these tired ABC shows. 

Rediscover connection, meaning, and purpose through the power of ritual.

Currently reading: Children of Virtue and Vengeance by Tomi Adeyemi