The New Normal Ain’t Normal

Showing up for ourselves, our businesses, and our communities—then building the streams to sustain us

The world keeps calling this “the new normal,” but let’s be honest—ain’t nothing normal about it. Prices climbed, timelines shifted, and the quiet corners we used to hide in got a little too comfortable. This moment is asking something different of us as Black women: to step up, step out, and show up—for ourselves, our businesses, and our communities. Not with perfection, but with purpose.

Step Out of the Quiet Corners

There’s a time for stillness and a time for standing up. We’ve been coached to shrink: “Don’t take up space. Don’t be too much.” But our ideas, our art, our businesses, our healing? They need oxygen.

What stepping out looks like:

• Press “publish” on that blog, reel, or product page—imperfect and in motion.

• Replace “I’m not ready” with “I’m growing as I go.”

• Speak life, always. Your words have meaning, and trust me, you will have what you say. (This is something I myself am working on.)

Affirmation: I release smallness. I honor my gifts by sharing them.

Show Up for Yourself First (So You Can Show Up for Others)

We are the well. If we’re empty, the village thirsts.

• Soul-care over performative hustle. Quiet mornings, water, prayer, walking, journaling—whatever keeps you grounded.

• Boundaries are business strategy. Office hours. Response times. “No” without a paragraph of justification.

• Skill sharpening is self-love. Learn the tool, take the mini-course, join the room.

Affirmation: My rest nourishes my brilliance. My boundaries protect my legacy.

Show Up for Your Business—Publicly and Consistently

Visibility builds trust. Consistency builds receipts.

• Simple content rhythm (3x/week): teach one tip, tell one story, make one ask.

• Social proof: screenshots, reviews, BTS videos, “before/after” posts.

• Email > algorithms: own your audience with a weekly love note.

Affirmation: I plant daily seeds; I harvest in due season.

Show Up for Community—Because We Rise in Circles

We are powerful alone, unshakeable together.

• Host a micro-workshop on Zoom.

• Collaborate with a sister brand for a bundle.

• Mentor a young creative once a month.

• Buy Black, hire Black, feature Black.

Affirmation: When I lift my sister, I rise too.

Creating Our Own Opportunities (and Income Streams) in a Not-So-Normal Economy

Multiple streams don’t mean doing everything. They mean stacking what you do well.

1) Digital Products (low lift, high margin)

Journals, workbooks, coloring pages, checklists, templates, ebooklets, mini-courses.Starter move: Turn your most-asked question into a 10-page guide and sell it.

2) Print-on-Demand Merch

T-shirts, mugs, beach towels, calendars—one design, many products.Starter move: Build a “collection” look so items cross-sell naturally.

3) AI-Assisted Creative Services

Podcast intro scripts, brand affirmations, YouTube descriptions, lyric polishing, cover art prompts.Starter move: Package 3 quick wins as a “Creative Jumpstart” service.

4) Teaching & Workshops

Live or recorded classes (Suno music, Canva, animation, writing).Starter move: Offer a 60-minute paid workshop with a downloadable checklist.

5) Memberships & Communities

Private Facebook/Skool group with monthly themes, challenges, and office hours.Starter move: Founders tier at a friendly price; include monthly co-working.

6) Licensing & Collabs

License your art, music, or affirmations for journals, ads, or apps.Starter move: Create a one-page licensing sheet with samples and terms.

7) Affiliate & Partner Income

Share tools you already use (editing apps, printers, marketplaces).Starter move: Write one tutorial per month featuring an affiliate link.

8) Speaking & Consulting

Panels, keynotes, and strategy sessions rooted in your journey.Starter move: Publish a speaker page with topics and a booking form.

Reminder: Choose two streams to build now. Stabilize, then add a third. Depth beats dabbling.

A Gentle 30-Day Plan to Move From Quiet to Consistent

Week 1 – Clarity & OfferDefine your core promise in one sentence. Choose two income streams. Outline one signature offer and one digital product.

Week 2 – Visibility & PipelinePublish 3 posts (teach/story/ask). Add one simple lead magnet to your site. Email your list once (value + soft CTA).

Week 3 – Product & ProofFinish your digital product and upload it. Collect 3 testimonials (voice notes count!). Record a 2-minute video explaining your offer.

Week 4 – Launch LightAnnounce your offer and product for 7 days. Host a 30-minute live Q&A. Document results, refine, and schedule next month.

Closing Word

The new normal ain’t normal—and that’s our cue. We are creators, culture carriers, and solution builders. When we step out of the quiet corners and show up—daily, imperfectly, together—we don’t just survive uncertainty. We design what’s next. Speak life over your gifts, your goals, and your community, and then take the next faithful step.

Mantra: Do what makes you happy. Do what brings you joy. Do what keeps you grounded.

Let’s Glow Together

You’re part of my circle, and I’m so glad you’re here. As we step boldly into this season, I want to share a piece of my own journey with you—my new Suno song, “Glow On.” It’s a reminder to shine, to keep showing up, and to let your light lead the way.

👉 Listen to Glow On here: https://youtu.be/5qtYpFWD9Zk?si=vYLGn_2s0ui_KPyp

Please drop a comment to let me know how it speaks to you. Let’s glow on—together.

Christine (Teena)

Take a Breath, Sis

Summer is here—and so is the heat that makes everything slow down just a bit. And maybe… that’s a good thing.

This season is your divine permission to pause, sip slowly, and breathe deeply.No need to hustle in the heat.No need to carry it all.Let the sun kiss your skin while you rest your spirit.

🌞 Take a moment for YOU.

Pour a tall glass of water with lemon or fruit.Find a shady spot, or stay cool inside.Close your eyes, inhale deeply… and exhale everything you don’t need to carry anymore.

And if you’re ready for a little more peace, I’ve got you.

🎶✨ Join me on YouTube for a soothing breath and soul reset.

Let this be your soft space in the middle of a loud, hot day.

Stay hydrated. Stay grounded. Stay you.

Also, enjoy 15% off beach towels and tote bags this week.

Vibrant Summer Vibes Beach Towel, V2

Buy Now

With warmth and calm,

Christine

Baring My Soul Creations

We Shall Overcome

Hi, Creative Souls!

Black History Month will be ending soon and some will have us to believe that Black History will be ending forever. Nonsensical executive orders have been signed to silence teachers from teaching about historical Black leaders. Many books have been banned from libraries and government agencies have been dressed-down in front of the entire world! Now, we may ask the "powers that be," "What is this all for?" and we may never receive a clear or intelligent answer. But, I digress because I need to stay on point here.

Below are 10 pivotable moments in American history for Black people:

• Enslavement and the Transatlantic Slave Trade (16th – 19th Centuries):Millions of Africans were forcibly taken to the Americas, establishing a system of exploitation and racial hierarchy that set the stage for centuries of inequality.

• The Civil War and Emancipation (1861 – 1865):Fought primarily over slavery, the Civil War led to the Emancipation Proclamation and the 13th Amendment, which abolished slavery and marked a crucial step toward freedom.

• Reconstruction and Its Aftermath (1865 – 1877 and Beyond):Efforts to rebuild and integrate the nation after the Civil War met with resistance. Although progress was made in political inclusion, persistent discrimination laid the groundwork for future challenges.

• The Jim Crow Era (Late 19th Century – Mid-20th Century): State-sanctioned segregation laws enforced racial separation and disenfranchised African Americans, entrenching economic and social disparities, predominantly in the South, though discriminatory practices, also existed in the North and West.

• The Great Migration (1916 – 1970):Driven by the search for better opportunities and escape from oppression, millions of African Americans relocated from the rural South to urban centers in the North and West, reshaping cultural and political landscapes.

• Brown v. Board of Education (1954):A landmark Supreme Court ruling that declared segregated public schools unconstitutional, this decision was a major turning point in dismantling institutionalized segregation and spurred further civil rights actions.

• The Montgomery Bus Boycott (1955 – 1956):Sparked by Rosa Parks’ act of defiance, this boycott challenged segregated seating on public buses, leading to a Supreme Court ruling against such practices and elevating Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. as a leader in nonviolent protest.

• The March on Washington (1963):A historic demonstration that drew national attention to racial injustice, it featured Dr. King’s iconic “I Have a Dream” speech and significantly bolstered momentum for legislative reforms.

• The Civil Rights Act of 1964:This landmark legislation outlawed segregation in public places and prohibited employment discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin, marking a monumental victory in the struggle for civil rights and helping to tear down the Jim Crow institution.

• Modern Equality Initiatives (Late 20th Century – February 2025):Building on earlier gains, initiatives such as Welfare Reform, Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO), Affirmative Action, and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs continue to work toward leveling the playing field and empowering African American communities. (Source:ChatGPT)

Of course, there are so many pivotal moments in history, I can't even try to list them all. I just want to emphasize the hard truth. Systemic oppression of Black people -- inequalities in education, housing, healthcare, and employment -- have always existed. The difference now is that some folks are trying to deregulate, dismantle, destroy, and disrupt everything that our ancestors have fought for...the very laws that are in place to soften the blow of systematic oppression.

Nevertheless, PRIDE, DIGNITY and FAITH are the three things that no one can EVER take from us! And, this is the exact message we need to tell our children today -- Be proud of who you are. Present yourselves with dignity. And, always remain faithful in God.

Let's continue to create and purchase products that inspire, educate, and uplift our people all year long. But, most importantly, let's continue to carry Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr's message of hope and resilience -- We Shall Overcome!

Be Blessed,

Christine