5th Year Anniversary: 8 Lessons Learned

On the last day of Women's History Month five years ago, I launched this blog. I had been struggling on whether to share or not and one phone call that morning confirmed yes, it's time. The person on the other end had just loss a family member and asked for advice. I read from my unpublished blog and we both cried. Talk about a sign.

I launched soqweenly to share my life after losing my mom in hopes people wouldn't feel alone on their journey. They would feel seen and understood. More importantly, they had permission to be and discover the new version of themselves because nothing is ever the same.

This public journey has turned into a lifestyle and has been my therapy session. I've evolved mentally from a scarcity to abundance mindset understanding I attract all things to me. My mindset has grown from focusing on what I didn't have to seeing all I've gained.

Over the years, I've done many things but what's been consistent is support. People I didn't know to close friends and my husband have poured into me. They encouraged me to create in all forms and that is priceless.

Since launching soqweenly I've birthed my son, Grant, started my nonprofit, Susie Amin Foundation, and joined Ahimsa House board serving on the marketing committee.

Throughout the years, I've learned how to edit videos, grow plants, experiment with new recipes, code some of my nonprofit website, learn the foundations of capital fundraising, and moderated panels.

Soqweenly has been a confidence boosting, knowledge seeking, impact driven ride and I'm proud of the work. I reflect on where and how I started and I get full because God is amazing. I simply wanted family and I've been blessed to create an online community.

It wouldn't be me if I didn't share my learning lessons over the past five years so here they are.

Be intentional about everything you do because an intention determines the outcome. When the intention is clear there's no betting against you.
Start today. Whatever it is you want to do stop waiting until it's 'perfect'. Perfection doesn't exist and your dreams will only be delayed.
Ask for the help. If you need help, ask for it. If you are able to outsource the help do it. If assistance has been extended to you take it. Don't let your pride get in the way
Change yourself before you try to change others. You can only control you and your biggest influence is to live the life you want others to live.
Do it solo. Don't cancel your plans because others aren't available, date yourself.
Forgive yourself for what you didn't know or have and now release it.
Be present. Sit in all the glory
You can't skip doing the work or you will repeat the lesson. For two years I tried skipping it and I fell harder each time. Nobody wants to do the hard part which is working on yourself inside out versus outside in. This level of work takes commitment because anybody can look good, but feeling and looking good are different.