User:Frances Fomai

WHY ARE YOU APOLOGIZING?

I had a conversation with a couple of colleagues, and one apologized for doing her motherly duties and not respond in kind to our group text thread, so I felt the need to address this "apologizing" behavior complex.

Growing up, I saw and heard this term expressed profusely from people of indigenous backgrounds. I said it myself multiple times. It may have been an epiphany experienced from previous therapy sessions or self-development work, either way we as people are apologizing for things, we shouldn't be apologetic for.

Our presence is a present. Our existence is a gift to the present and to those we engage with. Marianne Williamson has this divinely inspired poem called our deepest fear and here's an excerpt:

"We ask ourselves Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God."

I want to remind folks that we all come from cultures that are rich with traditions, folklore and ingenuity, though some history has been lost from colonization or appropriation we are meant to shine. Luvvie Ajayi Jones book, "The Professional Troublemaker," and Bozoma Saint John book, "The Urgent Life" are key markers on how to LIVE a life expressive in one's individuality and unapologetically, and it was through inspiration of reading Luvvie's book that I had the grit to make this post.

Once again I am not sponsored by any of these folks or their books I'm just a being trying to bring more mindfulness and intention in the things we do. Here's a little article from psychology today that you might find for good reading on Psych Central.