Hey Y'all!! I know it's been a minute.
Time truly flies when I'm enjoying myself.
Do you know what today is?! It's Menärchē's birthday! We made it to one year!
On June 16th last year, I hit send on the first issue on our home newsletter platform, Flodesk. June 25th marks the date that the company was established on paper. It's been a wave for me. I mean honestly this past month alone has been busier than I anticipated. I've been doing my damn thing evenly splitting up my work and personal endeavors. I'm balancing my charity, this community, managing an artist, and my doula trainings. And of course all while maintaining my human experience, being myself full-time.
In speaking of being a doula, I secured my first birth client. She's a personal friend, so this is an exciting honor for me. I'm near the end of training, yet diving deep into the practice. I took some extra time to focus on getting certified. The final module includes sessions on chest-feeding, postpartum care, and trauma-informed care for marginalized groups. I've toured some birth centers, met some new Mothers, and it's all been so eye-opening. It's definitely made me think more about motherhood and what they could look like for me. Personally, it's giving pregnancy at age 40 foreal, foreal. Overall, my respect for parents has leveled up. I also feel more determined to continue to pour into this newsletter; the collective. Prepare to see more insight into my beginnings as a full-spectrum doula that also runs a vaginal health education charity, during this new era of American reproductive hell for women. I just want to contribute to humanity in my own way.
Anyways, Collective, it's our anniversary! The first year down! Ayyeee! We'll be back to our regular schedule of issues every 2 weeks next month, just in time for Fibroid Awareness Month. Also, I'm hoping to do more in-person events, like more moon lodges and workshops. The moon lodge at Beaucoup Hoodoo in Philly was beautiful! I loved how it was intimate and everyone poured into each other during the discussion. I always say it feels good to have safe spaces to talk about the vagina, periods, or anything that one's been shamed and silenced for. Each event tells me that's true. I was hoping to do one in New Orleans during Essence Fest, but I'm going to enjoy Usher this year. If you're going and you see me, please say hey! Can I just share something before I wrap this up… A friend of mine wanted to tell let you know that I'm proud of you. In whatever you're doing to be happy and find joy. I'm proud of you. I'm proud of me too, for my perseverance. I thank y'all so much for being so supportive!
