This Is The Shout Out Track
Couldn't do shit without y'all
An ongoing thought that manifests in my mind is gratitude for community. As I sit in conversation, as I sit in solitude, in small groups, large groups, I can only come back to the importance of community and how grateful I am to truly have that built around me. Not because it could be worse, but because I am grateful for how it is. Showing up everyday for me and with me. I can only hope that all that have showed up for me can feel as loved, encouraged and lifted up as I feel as a result of being near y’all, whether that’s from me or another person that may see you a bit more clearly than I do.
Not every person on this planet can give you everything, and maybe the person that you thought would have the capacity to show up for you in certain ways, will not. And that’s all divinely guided.
I can’t thank my parents enough for how they show up for me. I owe them my life, and if I could somehow birth them and care for them just to show them how much I love them, I would. Though I feel that in me birthing their grandchild, and showing up for her, I am showing up for them. With that shift of perspective, my approach to parenting shifts as well. It becomes an offering to the lineage, to those who came before and will continue to come after for as long as they shall.
My thoughts migrate to the maybe too often devalued family units, the destroyed family units that occur, and while I’m not sure why they happen this way or what initiates them, I can’t stand on my two feet and let my family unit down by ignoring the needs of my community or choosing not to show up in ways that I know how, while also being open to allowing new ways to show me how to shift my service outwardly and back into the community that nourishes me.
I remember seeing a quote saying “Women never forget how they were treated during pregnancy and postpartum,” and while so many showed up and showed out, there were a good handful of narcissists that couldn’t let someone else be the center of attention even for a few days, weeks or months. Those who did showed up with true capacity to grab groceries, bring warm food, home-cooked meals, buy more pads and liners, run me and babe a bath, send encouraging words, among other things, THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. I can’t even say it enough.
Thank you, Mom. Thank you, Dad. Thank you, Ian. Thank you, Grandpa. Thank you Monie. Thank you, Bliss. Thank you, Misha. Thank you, Jess. Thank you, Adrienne. Thank you, Kierra. Thank you, Mike. Thank you, Makeda. Thank you, Esther. Thank you, Ray. Thank you Kennedi. Thank you, Niya. Thank you, Niyah. Thank you, Lesl. Thank you, Blake. Thank you, Jaylan. Thank you, Hana. Thank you, Gabrielle. Thank you, Jackie. Thank you, Richie. Thank you, Benji. Thank you, Daria. Thank you, Sacci. Thank you, Loren. Thank you, Suzy. Thank you, Samantha. Thank you, Craig. Thank you, Debbie. Thank you, Monte. Thank you, Allen. Thank you, Sage. Thank you, Melissa! Thank you, Jordan. Thank you, Camille. Thank you Addison. Thank you, Mia. Thank you, Arieanne. Thank you, Kayla. Thank you, Nadiyah. Thank you, Denise. Thank you, Carlyn. Thank you, Liz. Thank you, Dara. Thank you, Kristin. Thank you, Aunt Tecia. Thank you, Jay. Thank you, BJ. Thank you, Kristina. Thank you, Flower. Thank you, Honesty. Thank you, Bosh. Thank you, Terry. Thank you, Rebecca. Thank you, Jo. Thank you, Evan. Thank you, Shelby. Thank you, Haiasi. Thank you, DropTop. Thank you, Tora. Thank you, Jai. Thank you, Jeule. Thank you, Akoia. Thank you, Hara. Thank you, Aaron. Thank you, Phabienne. Thank you, Robin. Thank you, Mandy. Thank you Ryan. Thank you, River. Thank you, Reem. Thank you, Zchelani. Thank you, Nina. Thank you, Eddie. Thank you, Sinead. Thank you, Nicole. Thank you, Khaliyah. Thank you, Cara. Thank you, Deja. Thank you, Leah. Thank you, Cinemod. Thank you, Lex. Thank you, Lex. Thank you, Steve. Thank you, Marz. Thank you, KC. Thank you, Julia. Thank you, Skylar. Thank you, Annette. Thank you, Darron. Thank you, Keisha. Thank you, Sierra. Thank you, Daniel. Thank you, Sierra. Thank you, Ryzden. Thank you, Mandy. Thank you, Tink. Thank you, Sam. Thank you, Zoë. Thank you, Shae. Thank you, Jovi. Thank you, Martin. Thank you, Ayec. Thank you, Rebecca. Thank you, Courtney. Thank you, Abijah. And a reluctant, but necessary: Thank you, Austin *gags*.
I’m sure there are more from the past, and more to come. So thank you in advance.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
Abby xx