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When I started this journey, I didn't know what to expect. As I shared before, I hate taking pictures, so I knew there had to be a greater purpose behind it.
This photoshoot caused me to reflect on this past year. I have grown in so many areas. Looking back to my post...
January - "Why I'm Thankful"
I took a retrospective look over my life and a brief outline of the areas I would confront over the journey.
February - "Loving the SKIN I'm In"
Here I tackled the struggles I had with my dark skin and learning to love every flaw that makes me the beautiful woman I am.
March - "Faith & Fitness"
I wanted to show how important it is to put our faith into action regarding our health.
April - "Best Actress Award Goes To…"
We play so many roles in life, but we must be careful not to get stuck playing a role for others and not authentically be who God created us to be.
May - "Back Down Memory Lane"
Since I didn't remember much of my childhood due to a car accident when I was 13, I took this time to go back through my mom's eyes to see what essential truths made me who I am.
June - "My Sister's Keeper"
This was my opportunity to say "Thank You" to the women who have walked with me, cried with me, loved on me, cursed me out to get me back on track, prayed for me, encouraged me, or those I admired from afar as I watched them live their pains and struggles out loud but yet did it with elegance and grace. THIS WILL BE AN ANNUAL EVENT!
July - "It's All About Perspective"
This journey helped me to put my view of my life in perspective. I will no longer allow fear (most is self-imposed) to keep me from enjoying and embracing every good and perfect gift that comes from God, which is my life.
August - "Is a Picture Worth a Thousand Words?"
At this point, I realized my transparency said little about me but spoke volumes of the love of God for me despite me. He views me and us all in such a beautiful way that, once we comprehend it, nothing that can keep us from being all He has created us to be and all that we desire to be as well.
September - "Married 2 an Addiction"
This one here…wow! This was the first post I knew I had to do before starting this journey. Little did I know how much healing would come out of my story's TRUTH for myself and so many others. It also propelled me to complete my book over ten years after God gave me the title.
October - "12 to …Where Will Your Journey Take You?"
Here I wanted to encourage others to take their journey! Just as I did, and continue to do daily, we must push past our pains and go after the dreams and visions God has given us. If God gave us a vision, we must trust that He will provide the provision to accomplish it.
November - "It Takes a Village"
I had to acknowledge and thank the women who walked with me through this journey. When this project started, there were specific people I knew had to be part of my village. When I shared my vision, they were on board from day one.
Now, for December, "It Just Gets Better with Time" is an affirmation. This statement shows my evolution up to this point and leaves the path open for "better" to continue moving forward.
I AM THANKFUL!
As I reflect on each photoshoot I’ve done so far, a part of who I’ve imagined has been surfaced through every picture. I’m strong, I’m beautiful, I’m a proud black woman, I’m worthy to love and receive love, I’m smart, I’m passionate for things/people I care about, and so much more! I had to visualize this first in my heart before it could authentically come through as the genuine Marietta God created me to be. I had to see myself as He sees me!
This is not the end of my journey, but a precursor of what’s to come. Just as I started January 2019 not knowing fully what was to come, I take the same stance of trusting God to unfold it as I step out in faith. Trusting that…“God who started this great work in you [me] would keep at it and bring it to a flourishing finish on the very day Christ Jesus appears.” (Philippians 1:6 MSG)
