Life, I Swear: Intimate Stories from Black Women Exploring Identity, Healing, and Self-Trust

by Chloe Dulce Louvouezo

I’ve learned though, through less compartmentalizing and more flow, that you can in fact be a mess and a messenger at the same time.

You can, in fact, need healing while also helping others heal. You can be proud of your growth while also needing to be inspired, redirected, or humbled.

find liberty in not boiling my existence as a Black woman down to a single identity, a linear path, or a limited awareness of myself.

was ashamed of what had become of me, which made me isolate myself even further, even from people I was trying to build community with.

I’m just honored to be on earth at this time and in this way.

Surrounding yourself with people who mirror and expand your faith is so important.

“There are three things to leave behind: your photographs, your library, and your personal journals.

if you’ve not gone into a relationship being very clear about what you need and how you need it, it’s really hard to expect it and to communicate it.

recognize and leave undeserving relationships and situations without hesitation.

Softness, openness, and a level of vulnerability is something I now look for in sister-friends.

it’s imperative for me to know my triggers, avoid them, and set boundaries. Boundaries have helped me filter how I spend my energy, as I am careful to not put myself in positions where I spiral into a black hole of being overwhelmed.