Leo Auntie Vibes

I’m a 44 year-old, neurodivergent, crisis-informed, millennial mother of 3 daughters.
And, I’m extremely happy to have lived long enough to become a metaphorical “Auntie.” 🫶🏾

The following is some of my wisdom,
a Leo-coded self-reflection,
shared from me to next generations of young ladies, with love & pride.

TW: Suicide-ideation , Grooming,
& Barely-bridled Leo Ego

Let's jump in...

The things that I was teased for when I was growing up, are the same things that I’ve been complimented on, and capitalized on, as an adult. Here are three that stood out, followed me for years, and really messed with my self-confidence:

• I was a “nerdy,” Brain Bowl, STEM kid.

• I was a tall, “jolly green giant,” girl.

• I was dark, like a “black rose.”

By the time I was in high school, I struggled with suicide-ideation and was being groomed.

But, time passed and life unfolded… and the painful self-image that I had adopted as a pre-teen was overwritten via the eclectic experiences that challenged them.

Fast-forward to this last decade:

I’ve earned 3 degrees, traveled to and through 20 countries, attained plenty of professional certifications, and am stalkably gorgeous. 🤷🏾‍♀️🫠

And, I’m not done living yet.

I’ve been mistaken for models, singers, athletes, and actresses — just because I'm tall and melanated (Beyonce's gorgeous and all, but I'm gorgeous in a different way. We do NOT look alike, not even with my contacts in. 😂). My photograph is in random peoples phones and in their homes, in countries that I might never set foot in again. People have been gobsmacked by my skin color and complexion, which are regularly and often lauded — and, apparently, are resilient as f*ck.

#recoveringpartygirl #drinkyourwater #itsnottoolate

I’m still into STEM subjects (and more, now), still tall (and, love a 3 inch chunky-heeled boot), and still dark-skinned (and dark-humored, another constant).

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My "Auntie" advice:

1. If you have haters, that means that people have found something enviable about you, and they aren’t mature enough or knowledgable enough to manage their "big feelings" about it. That’s their burden, and not a true reflection of who you are nor how you’re perceived. It’s just info about THEM — and, it’s not your JOB to walk them through how to deal. They don’t deserve your attention, and won't be able to responsibly handle it if you give it to them.

2. “The masses are asses.” - a quote from my high school sociology teacher thats validity continues to be affirmed, time & time again.

3. Differentiation is elite. Lean into what makes you an outlier among your peers, at least as much as you lean into what makes you similar.

4. Survive the stressors. You don’t have to be anyone’s version of “perfect,” not even your own. Just keep living and trying, because everything changes — not the least of which is “perspective."

5. Focus on what feeds your soul, even if it’s not immediately “rewarding,” because the time will pass, anyway. Might as well embrace it, fully feel it, and enjoy it.

❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥
“Set your heart ablaze!” - Kyojuro Rengoku, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba
❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥

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Pics of ME, first at 29 years old & married to a bully, and at 44 years old as a divorced hedonistic auntie.

#millennial #genx #auntie #genz #sharingiscaring #aginglikefinewine #autumnreflections