So if you didn’t know, I’m a music creative and writer who currently works in the technology industry.

I’ve had about 15 years of experience in the music industry, have written stories and songs for as long as I could write and even got a Creative Writing degree to back up my passion of songwriting. It’s different, I know.

Most recently (ok, over the past year) I decided to be a grown up, because it’s never too late to abandon a woman-child mentality. I challenged myself to take advantage of whatever amazing opportunities came my way and came to realize I wanted more. I don’t mean the simple promotion more, which is totes cool, I mean the unfathomable more. I want the, I can’t believe this is my life, how cool is this – more. Now, I have a pretty nice little gig going but I knew that if I really wanted the freedom my heart desired career-wise, I had to give my dreams some new life.

So here it is, advice from a person in transition of making their unfathomable dreams an attainable reality.

Take Matters Into Your Own Hands

You are responsible for your own dreams. No one owes you their love or support when it comes to something you feel passionate about. You will be your biggest cheerleader, supporter, motivator and whatever other -er or -or noun you come up with. Support is a gift, it’s your cherry on top. It’s not a main ingredient and it took me years to honestly realize it. Along with that you can’t wait for other people to help move your forward. You must use every tool and resource you have to push yourself further. Again, this beautiful and amazing thing is YOUR responsibility. Why would a mother immediately let someone bond with her child right after giving birth? Unless some medical hurdles get in the way, it ain’t happening. Your dream is your baby that you nurture and grow. It’s yours to help grow.

Seek Counseling

It’s tough being on a journey solo-dolo and feeling like you have the weight of the world on your shoulders. In your times of growth and exploration of your  dream you have to make sure that your mental well being is taken care of. Just as you exercise your body, you want to make sure that your mind-set and emotional state are in tip top shape. Getting in tune with your spirit and your mind is one of the most overlooked and empowering things you could gift yourself. With my spiritual and emotional growth, I’ve really felt a genuine breakthrough. I know I’m finally turning into the best version of myself. I don’t fear anything and I’m ready for the world. Take care of yourself, you won’t regret it.

Never Compare Yourself To Anyone

It’s great to gain inspiration from other amazing people, but your path isn’t their path and your experience will never truly align with theirs. I used to think that I was supposed to be a Disney star before being a pop princess at 18, but guess what…that made no sense. I didn’t even know how to get a tape to Disney and I barely even knew anything about the music business. What I did know was that I was a shy person with lots to learn and a ton of untapped potential. As the years went by, I saw my friends and peers (who I grew up with) in the business become internationally acclaimed creatives, working on TV shows, making tons of money, starting amazing businesses and everything else you could imagine. I began to doubt myself. They looked perfect, acted perfect, sounded perfect, lived perfect and Instagram did not help!

After a mental breakdown or two, I had to pull it together. I realized I’ll never be someone I’m not. I don’t want to even know the things they’ve been through to get what they have and I’d probably never be willing to make the sacrifices they made. I had to learn I’m the expert at my life and that my knowledge, faith, and works will take me where I want to go.

Don’t get me wrong folks, I’m still learning but I feel so powerful now and can’t wait to see what my future holds. How are you giving your dreams new life? <3

-D.Wright

You guys might have remembered I referenced my good friend Ameerah in my article Every Little Step a few weeks back. She’s a true gem and one of the most phenomenal people I know. Not only is she a beautiful wife and mother, but she’s a fabulous business woman who is taking the world by storm. This past weekend, Ameerah invited women across Houston Metro area to join her in a private brunch at Sak Fifth’s 51Fifteen in celebration of sisterhood and her lifestyle event series…Brunch and Slay.

There was champagne and appetizers flowing from the very start of the experience. We were practically waited on hand and foot. Droves of beautiful women dressed to the nines were literally EVERYWHERE you hear me?! If someone wanted a wife, Ameerah held the key to the treasure box. I kid you not – the style was on point, the hair was on point, the ambition was on point and the positivity was overflowing. The assortment of women in attendance varied in all shades of hues and backgrounds. It was the one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever seen.

But back to the actual event…it started with a networking cocktail hour, then we were moved into the dining area for our first course and a fashion demonstration by stylist, Ashley Kahn. We mingled a bit more, ate our second course and then moved to the bar area for desert and more mimosas. After a bit of more chatting we were ushered into the event space to hear the panels.

The women we heard were an all-star group to say the least. We had renowned  fashion illustrator Rong-Rong Devoe, fitness guru Leah Egwuatu, Emmy Award winner  Erica Halloway, fashion maven Brandy Gueary, Doctor Ashandra Batiste who stars on Bravo series Married to Medicine Houston and moderating was best selling writer Charlie Marcol. These were just the people on the panel! The room was full of influencers, medical professionals, designers, educators, creatives, techs, and other amazing represented industries.

Ameerah created a lavish experience for her guests. I can only imagine what she’s going to come up with next. If you’re into unique lifestyle events, make sure to visit her website for more information HERE. I clearly had a blast. <3

-D.Wright

Located off of historic Allen Parkway, sits one of the most beautiful spaces I’ve ever visited for brunch. I’ve been wanting to check out The Kitchen at The Dunlavy for months and finally got the opportunity over last weekend. Usually when folks go somewhere or do something they’ve been anticipating, there’s a little bit of a let down. I can not say that was the case here. It was everything I hoped it to be…From the walk up to the door, the chandeliers, the food and atmosphere. I felt like a Black Alice in Wonderland waiting for the Mad Hatter and March Hare to serve me up a cup of something good.

As I mentioned, the walk up was absolutely beautiful. There was greenery from a park that shared the space below, as well as a bayou. Also notable, was the cemetery that neighbored the building. You would think it would make the vibe a bit morbid or dreary but the crazy thing was, even that looked enchanting. All I could think was the acreage this thing sits on is absolutely breathtaking.

Parking was kind of tricky since the lot was small. I decided to opt out of their reasonably priced valet to park in a smaller connected lot, and then made my way up the rock trail.

This is going to sound corny but it was lovely and so pleasant outside that it made it even better. From the snaps I took of the surrounding buildings, you can get a feel of how grandiose the landscaping and views were. Note to photographers: If you want to take pictures of Houston in all it’s glamorous, Southern glory – this is the spot to do it. You can also see a glimpse of Downtown that makes everything even more awe-inspiring.

Now for the entrance…anyone who knows me, knows that I’m absolutely obsessed with chandeliers. I don’t have one in my apartment, so I bought a painting of one and it’s literally hanging over my sofa as we speak. So imagine my girly-girl, shrieking joy when I walked in and laid my eyes on this amazing dining room. It nearly brought me to tears. Ok, maybe no tears were involved but my jaw absolutely dropped. It was an experience just walking into the space. I died and went to chandelier heaven.

As far as the feel of the room, after getting over the delightful drama of it all, it felt surprisingly warm and very charming. I went through the door and was able to order my food and beverages right away. The staff was friendly and professional so they helped us get though the line quickly. This place gets packed, so no drama around waiting for a table or waiters felt amazing.

Mimosa (Cocktail)

I don’t have to tell you the drinks were awesome. They had bite but were well very balanced and super tasty. We got a great deal on a carafe and pretty much went to boozy-town. So with the drinks, there were no complaints there just know we were Chatty-Cathy’s by the end of it.

For my meal, I decided to go with something a little traditional. Whenever I go to places I’ve never experienced, I select a simple meal. My thoughts are, “If they screw this up, I’m never coming back.” For the record, they didn’t screw it up and I’ll definitely be going back. The bacon was thick and salty. The eggs were light and perfectly drizzled in white American cheddar. The potatoes were seasoned and the toast was toasted for just the right amount of crisp. Everything was so good, even the butter made me go mmmmm.

The Egg Plate

There was so much more to see outside of the dining space. I can’t wait to go back and sit in their outdoor area. They have a new, loyal patron in me. I guarantee if you enjoy good eats and beautiful aesthetics, The Kitchen is the spot to visit. It’s such a jewel and I hope you enjoy it when you visit. <3

-D.Wright

From left to right: JJ, Quiana, Ky, Crystal, and Ashley.

I know, I know. You’re probably wondering how quitters could possibly win but I’m here to tell you quitters can indeed win. Quitters can win when they quit the dead end jobs that hold them back from pursuing more fulfilling and financially lucrative livelihoods. At least that’s what business coach Miara Shaw proposed to a room full of super fly and ambitious women on last Saturday.

This is one of those ironic stories because I wasn’t really expecting to go, I already had plans. I didn’t find out about the panel until the week of and if you know anything about Houston and this last weekend, EVERYTHING was going on. I knew that Pride was going to be a big deal and that I had a scholarship banquet to attend, but when I saw the flyer, I knew I needed to be in the room (thanks Ashley)! I had to make it happen however I could. I rushed from my great-aunt’s banquet (even at the protest of my mom), waited 15 minutes on valet while observing colorfully dressed and scantily clad people excitedly heading to the parade, and then zipped over The Star off of Rusk for the big event. It was less than five minutes away from the banquet location and there was complimentary valet. I’m telling you, it was meant to be.

Miara dropping jewels.

The building was beautiful, so I knew I would be in for a treat. I, sadly, was a little late but popped in right while introductions were being made. As I walked through the small audience, I saw bright smiles and fabulous outfits. Everyone was dressed to the nines. I was greeted by a sweet woman in yellow, who turned out to be the Ms. Miara and immediately took my seat.  There sat life coach Quiana Larae, media personality Ky Meyer, (athlete, author, and Ebony/Jet Magazine strategic partnership manager) Crystal Hadnott and  my buddy (founder and president of Medley Inc.) Ashley Small in living color. Mediating was Miara and media personality JJ. It was so cool. I had seen these women working different projects and events all over the city but now had the opportunity to sit in on a super candid conversation about their moves from traditional career paths to entrepreneurship.

They didn’t wast any time either and dug right in. The topics ranged from transitioning from your old job to tips on strategizing your new work flow for entrepreneurial ventures. It was like they were there just to tell me how to run full speed ahead into my new life. They gave in depth perspective on living purposeful lives, branding, confidence boosters and all kinds of other cool topics as well. Everyone felt so familiar and kindred. And when it was close to wrapping up, they encouraged us all to network and to get to know one another. It was a blast. I met so many new faces and got re-acquainted with familiar ones.

The intimate “Quitters Do Win!” panel at The Star.

This panel was definitely the boost I needed to keep my stamina up for this season of my hustle. I’m so glad I was able to attend and I’ll definitely continue to invest in myself by popping in to more meaningful networking events like these.

Is there anything that you are doing to motivate yourself while working at your current job or preparing for a transition into another field? Please share, I’d love to hear all about it! <3

-D. Wright

If you haven’t noticed, I’m Black…and Black people still tend to deal with the stigma of mental health within its community.

Now this isn’t a blog of statistics. They’re helpful, sure, but pretty boring. Just know Black folks seeing therapists today is most likely at a pretty low number. You can factor in all kinds of cultural, societal, and socio-economic influences into the long list of whys but I decided to go ahead and step outside the box. I’ve happily been in therapy for about a month now and I will probably continue for the rest of my life.

I actually told my mom I saw a therapist after the first session. It was pretty funny. Let’s just say, there was a long “oooooookkkkkkk,” followed by an awkward pause and a buttload of questions. My dad, a jokester, had a slew of pretty hilarious zingers. I’ll spare you so you don’t think he’s a terrible person, but we had a good chat about it. Overall, they were both supportive of my reasons for going and wished me the best in the answers I was searching for.

I can’t tell you why I opted to see a therapist at this point in my life. I feel like things are going a lot smoother than they were about two Summers ago. It was pretty crazy, to say the least. My sister had to look for me and she (along with my best friend) actually staged a full fledged intervention when I came back into the world. Even before that big meltdown, I probably should have seen a therapist but I was too lazy to search for someone I felt I could trust with my heart and not to mention, a little intimidated. Here’s a secret, I’m a big ol’ emotional, scaredy cat. So I privately sulked. There were also a lot of tears, prayers, songs I wrote, and long conversations with my friends. Note: I do not recommend my poorly thought out methods for anyone else but if you were wondering, that’s what held me over.

I remember at some point (before my Summer trip to crazy town), my youngest brother recommended I speak with someone, just because. He actually told our whole family we needed therapy but you know, younger brothers…we just pat them on the head and tell them to bring us back chips or something. So imagine my shock when we had a serious conversation about mental health. It was such mature advice from a kid. Then when I started attending St. John’s, they talked about seeing therapists frequently during service and were advocates for mental health care. I know it might sound silly, but hearing church people be vulnerable about mental health made me feel so much more comfortable. Then the icing on cake, I found out the super successful and amazing women I started to surround myself with absolutely took their places on a therapist’s comfy couch to talk about life and to sort out whatever qualms they had.

I was surrounded. I was seeing couches in my dreams. Ok, I wasn’t but you get the gist…It came from my family, friends and spiritual family. So this year, a friend of mine told me how amazing her experience was and I caved. I set up the appointment and decided to try something new. I knew I was open to help around my career path and intimate relationships I held with people near to my heart. I wanted understanding and a non-biased perspective on what it is that I might be doing to block success in different areas of my life. It was time.

So here I am, years after some of the hardest times of my life, excited to talk to a hoity-toity personality expert about whatever she wants. What?! Who, me? Yep…I’ve been spilling all the beans. She’s amazing and it has been the best decision I could have made for my life.

I was definitely awkward the first trip in. I gave her a history on my family, friends, and a little on my love life. She was easy to talk to and funny enough from a neighborhood close to where I grew up. I felt like she got me. The next few visits, she circled back to some things I brought up and that’s where the fun started. She began to challenge me and in some ways validated things I’ve secretly held deep within my core. She’s been walking me through the timeline of my life to help me understand why I’ve built walls around myself, why I back away from success when I’m less than an inch away, and how being bullied as a child gave me social anxieties I never knew I had.

I know you might be wondering why I’m sharing, but I think it’s important to make sure we are healthy in all aspects of life. I do not look like the things that I’ve been through. I’m grateful for it but I’m ready to shed that old skin and to skyrocket to the next level of my greatness. And I want you to feel empowered to break out of your old, self-harming habits to become the best version of yourself too.

We all deserve joy, balance, and love…Let’s get it. <3

-D.Wright