

This time last year, I was folding panties and meticulously arranging them by color, only for a 14-year-old girl (or a 57-year-old woman) to come and rummage through and destroy my hard work six minutes later.
I was miserable, doubtful of my purpose, and ready to throw in the towel. For months, I took time to learn everything there was about bras and panties, because I was gunning for a promotion at my part-time turned full-time job at Victoria's Secret. After spending weeks kissing ass and perfectly folding all of the underwear I could get my hands on, my managers overlooked me for the promotion and offered the position to someone with no experience.
Depressed and hopeless, I sought help from a very successful friend, who advised me to start a journal, and use it like I would Instagram. He told me to record in it everything I wanted for my life. I obliged, and one of the items on my list was, "Get paid to write."
Shortly after Christmas, I developed a cyst at the top of my ass crack, which left me on bedrest for a month, and unable to fold panties for the man. I was devastated and heavily relied on my parents to pay my bills during that time.
This is why I went to school for four years? I feel like such a failure. Why even bother?
After I snapped out of my one-woman pity party and let my nuts drop, and picked my pride up off the floor. On the couch, sprawled out, in pain and desperate, I applied to xoNecole.com for the third time. Shortly after, I was invited to come onboard as a freelance contributor. Over time, I became a daily writer, and only a few months after my start date, I was promoted to staff and named editorial assistant.
I'm writing this not to flaunt my come-up, but to let you know that you can come up too, girl. I'm literally living my vision board, but there were some steps I had to take to get here, and here's what they were:
Be Consistent
If you want something, it's because God put that desire in your heart. The first time I applied to work for xoNecole.com, I was in college. I read Necole's story and was immediately inspired to get involved in her latest endeavor, but unfortunately, I wasn't ready.
I applied again last year, right before the ass crack incident. Although I got a reply this time, I didn't hear back from the Editor again after sending in my writing samples.
I applied one more time in February and asked for another shot at proving my worth, and was asked to come on board as a celebrity daily writer.
This position has been years in the making for me because I worked at it and because it was my time. It wasn't my time when I was folding panties, and it wasn't my time in college. God orchestrated my life so that I could actually receive it when he blessed me and know that it was nobody but him that made it happen.
Don't get discouraged easily. You might not have been right for the position you applied for, but that doesn't mean you should give up. Shoot your shot, even if you miss sometimes. That's how you win.
Featured image by The Creative Exchange on Unsplash
- Top 10 Tips for Writers Articles | FreelanceWriting ›
- Secrets of the Self-Employed: Tips for Freelance Writers ... ›
- Tips for Beginner Freelance Writers | HuffPost ›
- 9 Rock-Solid Tips That Will Help You Become a Freelance Writer ... ›
- Freelance Writing Tips ›
- 12 Survival Tips For Freelance Writers, Because The Work-From ... ›
- 30 Essential Tips for Beginner Freelance Writers – LJC Press ... ›
- The 20 Best Practical Tips for Freelance Writers ›
- 35 Tips For Freelance Writers To Earn A Lot ›
- 7 Tips for New Freelance Writers - Elna Cain ›
Taylor "Pretty" Honore is a spiritually centered and equally provocative rapper from Baton Rouge, Louisiana with a love for people and storytelling. You can probably find me planting herbs in your local community garden, blasting "Back That Thang Up" from my mini speaker. Let's get to know each other: @prettyhonore.
Eva Marcille On Starring In 'Jason’s Lyric Live' & Being An Audacious Black Woman
Eva Marcille has taken her talents to the stage. The model-turned-actress is starring in her first play, Jason’s Lyric Live alongside Allen Payne, K. Michelle, Treach, and others.
The play, produced by Je’Caryous Johnson, is an adaptation of the film, which starred Allen Payne as Jason and Jada Pinkett Smith as Lyric. Allen reprised his role as Jason for the play and Eva plays Lyric.
While speaking to xoNecole, Eva shares that she’s a lot like the beloved 1994 character in many ways. “Lyric is so me. She's the odd flower. A flower nonetheless, but definitely not a peony,” she tells us.
“She's not the average flower you see presented, and so she reminds me of myself. I'm a sunflower, beautiful, but different. And what I loved about her character then, and even more so now, is that she was very sure of herself.
"Sure of what she wanted in life and okay to sacrifice her moments right now, to get what she knew she deserved later. And that is me. I'm not an instant gratification kind of a person. I am a long game. I'm not a sprinter, I'm a marathon.
America first fell in love with Eva when she graced our screens on cycle 3 of America’s Next Top Model in 2004, which she emerged as the winner. Since then, she's ventured into different avenues, from acting on various TV series like House of Payne to starring on Real Housewives of Atlanta.
Je-Caryous Johnson Entertainment
Eva praises her castmates and the play’s producer, Je’Caryous for her positive experience. “You know what? Je’Caryous fuels my audacity car daily, ‘cause I consider myself an extremely audacious woman, and I believe in what I know, even if no one else knows it, because God gave it to me. So I know what I know. That is who Je’Caryous is.”
But the mom of three isn’t the only one in the family who enjoys acting. Eva reveals her daughter Marley has also caught the acting bug.
“It is the most adorable thing you can ever see. She’s got a part in her school play. She's in her chorus, and she loves it,” she says. “I don't know if she loves it, because it's like, mommy does it, so maybe I should do it, but there is something about her.”
Overall, Eva hopes that her contribution to the role and the play as a whole serves as motivation for others to reach for the stars.
“I want them to walk out with hope. I want them to re-vision their dreams. Whatever they were. Whatever they are. To re-see them and then have that thing inside of them say, ‘You know what? I'm going to do that. Whatever dream you put on the back burner, go pick it up.
"Whatever dream you've accomplished, make a new dream, but continue to reach for the stars. Continue to reach for what is beyond what people say we can do, especially as [a] Black collective but especially as Black women. When it comes to us and who we are and what we accept and what we're worth, it's not about having seen it before. It's about knowing that I deserve it.”
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Let’s make things inbox official! Sign up for the xoNecole newsletter for love, wellness, career, and exclusive content delivered straight to your inbox.
Feature image by Leon Bennett/WireImage
The first time I heard about burn journaling was during my interview with Dreka Gates. She shared a self-care practice a holistic doctor recommended involving writing “whatever is pissing me off” and then burning the paper afterwards. According to the model, burning the page neutralizes the negative energy.
This practice piqued my interest, so I decided to do some research. I ran across a few articles about the practice and what exactly it entails. However, I soon remembered that I actually practiced burn journaling over a year ago and again last year.
The first time I did it, I was among a group of ladies and we were encouraged to write down our feelings in our journals. Afterwards, we huddled around and one by one burned our pages with some ladies even revealing what they wrote. It was a beautiful moment and a great way to support each other.
The second time I did burn journaling, I was by myself. I was reading Calling In The One and one of the practices involved writing down the things I wanted to let go of and burning it. I had Cleo Sol’s “Know That You Are Loved” playing in the background on repeat while I burned the pages in my apartment bathroom.
What Does Burn Journaling Do?
Based on my experience and others' explanations, burn journaling is a cathartic practice. The act of burning serves as an emotional release of past traumas, old thoughts, and negative feelings. It’s also a way to say goodbye and/ or forgive.
Types of Burn Journaling
There are different examples of burn journaling: Burning journals after writing, burning letters and burning lists.
Burn Journals
As stated before, you can write in a journal and burn it afterwards. It’s up to you if you burn it page by page or wait until you fill the journal up and burn it altogether. There are journals you can buy for the sole purpose of burning them afterwards.
Maskot/ Getty Images
Burn Lists
This technique involves writing a list of things you want to let go of and then burning it. Burning the list symbolizes the release of those things.
Burn Letters
Another example are burn letters. For this technique, you write a letter to someone that you either want to forgive or let go of, but instead of sending it to them, you burn it.
Safety Precautions
If you do decide to try this practice, make sure to be safe. Use a fireproof bowl for burning and never leave it unattended. Alternatively, you can shred the pages.
If you’re in Atlanta and want to try burn journaling, meet me this Sunday for Burn Journaling & Walk.
Let’s make things inbox official! Sign up for the xoNecole newsletter for love, wellness, career, and exclusive content delivered straight to your inbox.
Feature image by Mikhal Dmitriev/ Getty Images