On Purpose

Photography by Sharita A Sims

What is our purpose in this life?
Is it offered to us from an outside source?
Or is it discovered from within?
Are our purposes inherited?

I'd like to think that my purpose is something I was born with.
That as a child I had gifts wrapped inside of me that I would spend the rest of my life opening.
I'd like to think my ancestors knew who I was going to be, before I ever took my first breath.
And that since I've been here [in physical form], they've been guiding me [in spirit] through to the discovery of my true purpose.

I don't try to be deep or profound in my words.
I only speak as my heart tells me to.
I only do as I'm spiritually guided to do.
I've found that if there's something that I naturally feel or crosses my mind, it is something that I need to look further into.
If there's something that happens to or around me, I believe it is divinely timed and whatever I've done leading up to that moment has prepared me to face it.

I believe once we start to live in our truth, we start gradually discovering our purpose.
I also believe our purpose is not limited to one or two or three or a million things.
I believe our purpose is an infinite number of positions, characteristics, stages, opportunities, gifts, expressions, etc. that have already been planted inside of us.

This is just my theory...
What do you believe?

Year 30

Top: American Eagle, Bottom: Target, Shoes: Nike

Photography by: Sharita Sims (IG: @browngyps)

I used to think that by the time I was thirty I would be living in NYC with my husband and two kids, having a thriving career in the fashion industry. To me, 30 meant having my shit together. Well... I turned 30 years young last Friday (June 23, 2017). I'm still living in Louisiana, single, grinding gig to gig, and can't even fathom the idea of having children right now. It's funny how I subconsciously put myself in a box. A box that limited the possibilities of having a full life of my own before having to factor anyone else in. It was like an imaginary time capsule of a picture perfect lifestyle that deep down inside, I knew I wasn't ready for. I hadn't earned that life just yet. I thought it would all just happen for me, effortlessly. Little did I know the self work that needed to happen for those ideals to even be an option.

My twenties were extremely rough. I went through repeated cycles of rejection, unrequited love, tragic loss, toxic behavior, intense relationships, surfing deep emotional waves... I thought I'd reached my lowest point at least 4 times over the course of 10 years. Though, sprinkled through those years were tons of lessons, awesome career opportunities, serendipitous moments, and a lot of smiles and laughter. I have no regrets, though there were many moments where I could've spared myself the turmoil. I've had to recalibrate my personal views of myself and the people I keep around, identifying more specifically what I truly wanted out of life.

I'm learning that the woman I originally thought I'd be is no measure to the woman that I am becoming. The woman I am now needed those breakthroughs, so that the woman I am becoming could stand a chance at living to my fullest potential. I've taken some time to figure out what turning 30 means to me, and what all I'd like to leave behind in my 20's. Three decades of my existence have passed...these are some lessons that I've learned thus far...

• Balance is essential in all matters of love and life

• My talents from my childhood are all being put to good use

• Friends come and go, and that's okay

• Friendship looks like trust, transparency, tough love, and acceptance

• Maintaining relationships with people is challenging

• People will always show you their true intentions, as long as you pay attention

• Everyone has layers

• My intuition is always spot on

• Discernment is the theme of my life

• I'm more of an introvert than I realized

• Depression is a bitch

• Abuse comes in many forms

• My anxiety has held me back in most situations

• It's easier to break cycles once you've recognized them

• I worry a lot ...TOO MUCH.

• My sensitivity is beautiful and I'm learning to embrace it

• Vulnerability has always been a challenge for me but I'm getting better at it

• My mind is overflowing with thoughts that I have yet to share

• I have deep rooted complexes about myself that I'm still figuring out

• I am unknowingly/unintentionally intimidating to a lot of men and women

• I have insecurities about my body, but I'm learning to embrace it

• I will probably always look at least 6 years younger than my true age, but I'm sure I'll appreciate it more 6 years from now

• I do not need anyone else's validation

• My happiness is measured by what I put into my life

• Marriage is sacred and should be taken very seriously

• I'm still single with no children

• Being single isn't the worst thing on the planet

• I have yet to give up on love

• I must always love myself first

• Self care is a priority

• My heart has been pieced back together so many times, that I've lost count

• My heart is much stronger than I knew

• Every rejection I've had, now makes sense to me

• I have the ability to love someone wholeheartedly from a distance

• I have not forgiven all who've hurt me [yet]

• I have no tolerance for bullshit

• I have a better handle on my anger nowadays

• I have severe back pains from carrying other people's weight

• I have clairvoyant abilities that I'm still discovering

• My dreams are still attainable

• I am more careful of what I speak aloud

• Life is precious and can be taken in an instant

• Life is nothing but lessons and transitions

• Death is a form of transcendence

• Being a black woman in America is exhausting

• Black lives matter to me, but not to the vast majority of people in this country

• Peace and Love are the cure to everything

• My voice is my weapon

• My mind is my guide to freedom

• The power of the Universe is REAL

• I have only scratched the surface of my life

Year 30, what's good?

Body and Soul

Wardrobe by: Haus of PRDMS, Photography By: Jeremy Tauriac

Tender heart

Solid soul

Sharp tongue

Soft lips

Vibrant spirit

Fragile feelings

Vivid thoughts

Wild dreams

Active mind

Keen eye

Steady hands

Quick feet

Tender. Solid. Sharp. Soft.

Vibrant. Fragile. Vivid. Wild.

Active. Keen. Steady. Quick.

My body and my soul.

-C.M.Hamilton (circa 2016)

Hello. Goodbye.

Shirt: Ralph Lauren, Skirt: thrifted, Glasses: Warby Parker, Jewelry: My mother's, Shoes: Steve Madden

Photography: Clint Blane (@clintblane)

They say the new year brings new beginnings.

"New Year. New Me."

How about, "New Year. Same Me. New Values."

New Experiences. New Lessons. 

In 2016...

I severed several friendships

Established several new ones 

Mourned the death of a close family member

Celebrated life with a stronger family dynamic

Got stoned drunk on some unrequited love

Sobered myself up with some tender self care

Lost a job I should've already let go 

Found time to create the career I've always wanted 

Learned how to say no, when it mattered

Learned how to say yes, when the time was right

Refined myself of toxic thoughts and lower energy levels

Defined my relationship with the Universe

Questioned my connection to Western religion

Explored the practices of ancestral spirituality 

Shed a thick layer of skin

Embraced more of my feminine side

Let go of my inner judgement 

Allowed my inner voice to sing

Cried a million tears of sadness

Laughed a million tears of joy

Worried way too much for my health

Learned to trust more in my path

Forgot how to give love

Remembered how to receive love

Last year was everything and overwhelmingly nothing at the same time. It was like a beautifully told, but very lengthy, sick joke with a non-existent punchline. 2016 damn near sucked the life out of me. But what has gotten me through in one piece...is my ability to BREATHE.