I’ve been a bit absent of late, and that’s ok. I took some time off from updating Cherrystems once a week, and that’s ok. I’m changing the direction of things a bit.

Cherrystems was sadly held hostage in a way for a long time. I bent to demands while suffering personally and, I suppose, professionally. I’ve been hitting up some seriously awesome therapy sessions, meditating (to be with myself and without the demands of others), working on me, and I’m pleased to say that I’m coming out the other side. 

I will take zero shit, and Cherrystems is my world-changing, life-making, love of my life. Haters gon’ hate. I’ll do it myself, and with a tiny team of dedicated people. I know, I know, this sounds passive. And it probably is. I just have to note that I’ve been held down and back long enough, that the suffering that I experienced was great enough, that I won’t share what happened or who pushed too hard *with anyone*, because that’s not productive either. But, I suppose this feels important to say because it’s a renaissance in my life.

I am responsible for the feelings of no one. I will put a body of work out into the world and I’ll be fucking proud of it. And I’ll admit when I’m wrong if I am at any point, and I’ll engage in productive dialogue about it, but I won’t let it hold me hostage any longer.  

“I no longer have patience for certain things, not because I’ve become arrogant, but simply because I reached a point in my life where I do not want to waste more time with what displeases me or hurts me. I have no patience for cynicism, excessive criticism and demands of any nature. I lost the will to please those who do not like me, to love those who do not love me and to smile at those who do not want to smile at me.

I no longer spend a single minute on those who lie or want to manipulate. I decided not to coexist anymore with pretense, hypocrisy, dishonesty and cheap praise. I do not tolerate selective erudition nor academic arrogance. I do not adjust either to popular gossiping. I hate conflict and comparisons. I believe in a world of opposites and that’s why I avoid people with rigid and inflexible personalities. In friendship I dislike the lack of loyalty and betrayal. I do not get along with those who do not know how to give a compliment or a word of encouragement. Exaggerations bore me and I have difficulty accepting those who do not like animals. And on top of everything I have no patience for anyone who does not deserve my patience.”

– José Micard Teixeira

 

I had to change my path not because of anyone or any specific event. I had to change it for my own sake, and in turn, others will benefit. Lead with love in your heart, and not fear. I feared upsetting some people because they *made* me afraid, I feared retribution that was threatened and, in some cases, enacted. Fear was leading me, and I’m not letting it anymore. When you’re a woman running your own business, that’s hard shit to get your head around. Bending to the will of others is how women are generally brought up. I’m bigger than the societal norms that raised me. And again, it’s not an active rejection of people or situations, but a rejection of fear. 

I’m gonna change the goddamn world, it’s going to piss some people off, but it’s right.