I always love getting to read blogs to learn more about people that write them. It's like getting to know a new friend. The more "one-on-one" time you spend together, the closer your bond becomes. I try to be as open as a I can on here! But, I have a hard time keeping it real without sounding complain-y. So, this year I'm definitely feeling more compelled to be more honest and real in my own way. Like this post where I spilled my guts about an issue I've NEVER talked about before. So, with that I'd love to share with y'all #MyGirlStory.

Are you wondering what a #MyGirlStory is? Well, the super passionate and incredibly talented Jasmine Diane started this series to give girls a space to hear other girl's stories to make them feel empowered and less apologetic. And man am I all about that! I feel like since having Bennett and turning 30, there's a new sense of identity. I definitely feel more empowered to stand behind my point of view and not feel like I have to apologize for it. I can't tell you how good that feels! So if you've been around here a while than you all I love to give you guys insight into my life by showing you all how I style clothes in order to give the confidence to go out and try it too.

And today isn't any different, I just want to share with y'all what I wish I would have heard as a little girl, as a part of #MyGirlStory, and that all starts when I was about 6 years old. I had moved to Oklahoma City from Atlanta, where I was born, to live closer to my Mom's family. I was at a new school, and had learned how to read but had quickly noticed I wasn't quite up to their level. I immediately felt inferior and out of place. And it's a place I often still feel.

I've always been outgoing and opinionated, but man did my dyslexia hold me back. I can remember an assignment in middle school where we had to read a Time article and take notes about the article for homework. Sounds easy right? Well, my "notes" where 13 pages, and the article was only 7. Talk about embarrassing. I just didn't know why I would read things and immediately forget what I had read. Until I met with a tutor and they discovered my eye movement was way off when I would read. It was crazy y'all! One eye would follow the normal flow, while the other would jump back up to the last line I had just read! No wonder I couldn't remember! And my parents where incredibly supportive with tutors and encouraging my creative side. But, I was made to feel like my dyslexia was a crutch.

So, moving on to college and joining a sorority that totally rocked my world. I fell in love with all of my sisters immediately and felt at home. I rocked my first semester, had a good second semester, and a HORRIBLE sophomore year! But, I had to maintain a good GPA to stay in my sorority, and knew I had to get my grades up. But, as I'm one of those people that HAS to be a part of everything, I never made time for me or my studying. Until Junior year. Our scholarship chair created mandatory study hours, and made everyone that wasn't making grades, (me) a weekly calendar, where we had to plug in all of their classes, activities, and jobs. So, then we could see the time left was our time to study, sleep and relax! That was a total game changer for me! I could finally SEE my schedule and take control of it! From there, I was able to manage my time much better and know what I could and couldn't do, and allowed me to know what I could study!

So with all of this I would say, I wish I would have heard, that "Yes, you have dyslexia, and it's okay that you don't learn the same way as everyone else." It just feels so good to give that allowance of that experience the statement it needs to be real. I know we all think back on things and just wish we could have worked a little harder, and maybe things would have been different. I know I pushed myself hard and got so frustrated with school that I just wish I would have accepted my differences. And just focused on what did work for me, and do that!

Now I do. It's been so freeing getting to finally accept that part of my life for what it was. And, I now am able to work the way that works best for me, and man does that feel good!

I'm so honored that Jasmine asked me to be apart of this! Now go check out the other #MyGirlStory posts and take $5 off your purchase on a Jasmine Diane tee!

xo,