Zendaya Has A Word For Workaholics & Achievement Addicts
Hello. I'm Taylor. And I'm achievement addict.
I set a goal, I cross it off. I set a goal, cross it off. It's a pattern I've fallen into that gives me a rush every time another cycle is completed—a rotation that I've gotten so familiar with, you would think I was Mary Jane herself. But the truth is, this repetitive routine has been detrimental to my mental health.
By not celebrating my small wins and moving on to the next goal every time the last one has been checked off, I fall into a cycle of feeling like I've done nothing. Feeling overworked and underwhelmed by my progress, I'm unable to take pride in my work because I never took the time to actually acknowledge the work I've done.
But last weekend, Zendaya had a word for workaholics and achievement addicts alike that just may be the secret to saying goodbye to your midweek slump and hello to a new perspective.
The 23-year-old Euphoria actress recently accepted GQ Australia's Women of the Year Award and reminded us all that the present is a present, so be present, sis. Zendaya started off her acceptance speech stating that although she was grateful to receive the award, she's just getting started on her trek to womanhood.
"Woman of the Year, that's kind of crazy considering that I'm just 23 years old and trying to figure out how to become a woman myself."
She went on to explain that she's also a member of the Goal Digger's Club and has to often remind herself to take a moment to breathe:
"I feel like sometimes I go, and I go, and I go — and I think a lot of us can relate to this — but you go so hard and sometimes you forget to just kind of stop and take in moments like this."
Stopping to smell the roses can seem impossible when you're planting seeds to grow an empire, but Zendaya needs you to know that it doesn't take a whole day to recognize sunshine. So take 10 minutes today to water yourself.
"Sometimes, I feel like I work so much I forget about life, and to actually be present in these kinds of moments where you can look around the room amongst people that you appreciate and just take it in. And just be happy...and just be alive for a second. So that's what I'm gonna do. I'm gonna take a second, look around, and be like 'Holy shit, this is happening. Pretty cool.'"
Gratitude is priceless, and it costs $0.00 to take in the moment.
"Please, everyone take a look around at just how beautiful everything is. And just enjoy it."
Featured image by Instagram/Zendaya.
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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.
ItGirl 100 Honors Black Women Who Create Culture & Put On For Their Cities
As they say, create the change you want to see in this world, besties. That’s why xoNecole linked up with Hyundai for the inaugural ItGirl 100 List, a celebration of 100 Genzennial women who aren’t afraid to pull up their own seats to the table. Across regions and industries, these women embody the essence of discovering self-value through purpose, honey! They're fierce, they’re ultra-creative, and we know they make their cities proud.
VIEW THE FULL ITGIRL 100 LIST HERE.
Don’t forget to also check out the ItGirl Directory, featuring 50 Black-woman-owned marketing and branding agencies, photographers and videographers, publicists, and more.
THE ITGIRL MEMO
I. An ItGirl puts on for her city and masters her self-worth through purpose.
II. An ItGirl celebrates all the things that make her unique.
III. An ItGirl empowers others to become the best versions of themselves.
IV. An ItGirl leads by example, inspiring others through her actions and integrity.
V. An ItGirl paves the way for authenticity and diversity in all aspects of life.
VI. An ItGirl uses the power of her voice to advocate for positive change in the world.
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Sheila Rashid's Androgynous Approach To Unisex Clothing Is A Lesson In Embracing Individuality
The ItGirl 100 List is a celebration of 100 Black women who aren’t afraid to pull up their own seats to the table.
For Sheila Rashid, it all started with some free-hand drawings and a few strokes of paint.
The Chicago-based clothing designer and creative director of Sheila Rashid Brand recalls using her spare time in high school to hand paint designs on t-shirts and distressed hoodies, distributing them to classmates as walking billboards for her art.
Rashid sought to pursue fashion design at Columbia College in Chicago but eventually took the self-taught route to build upon her knack for crafting one-of-a-kind, androgynous pieces.
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Thanks to the mentorship of local designers taking her under their wings, Rashid was able to gain valuable experience in putting together collections and creating patterns; equipping her with them with the necessary skills to pursue her own collections.
After two years of living in New York, Rashid returned home to the Chi and uncovered the unique flair she could offer the city. “I moved to New York after that because I wanted to be in the fashion capital world,” she tells xoNecole. “That's when I really got a leg up. I found myself when I moved back to Chicago after moving to New York.”
For the Midwest native, inspiration comes from her time around creative peers and the city’s notorious winters — known to be a main character in many Chicagoans stories. “It's a different perspective and mindset when I'm making stuff because of the weather here,” she explains. “When we get summer, it’s ‘Summertime Chi’ — it's amazing. It's beautiful. Still, I find myself always making clothes that cater to the winter.”
"I moved to New York after that because I wanted to be in the fashion capital world. That's when I really got a leg up. I found myself when I moved back to Chicago after moving to New York.”
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Many designers have a signature aesthetic or theme in their creations. In Rashid’s design story, dancing between the lines of femininity and masculinity is how she’s been able to distinguish herself within the industry. Her androgynous clothing has garnered the eye of celebrities like Zendaya, Chance the Rapper, WNBA star Sydney Colson, and more — showing her range and approach to designs with inclusivity in mind.
“I think I do reflect my own style,” she says. “When I do make pieces, I'm very tomboyish, androgynous. My work is unisex because I feel like everybody can wear it. I cater to everybody and that's how I try to approach my clothes.” From denim to overalls, and color-drenched outerwear, Rashid has mastered the structure of statement pieces that tell a story.
“Each collection, I never know what's going to be the thing I'm going to focus on. I try to reflect my own style and have fun with the storytelling,” she shares. “I look at it more like it's my art in this small way of expressing myself, so it's not that calculated.”
"My work is unisex because I feel like everybody can wear it. I cater to everybody and that's how I try to approach my clothes."
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Still, if you were able to add up all the moments within Rashid’s 20-year career in design, one theme that has multiplied her into becoming an “ItGirl” is her confidence to take up space within the fashion industry as a queer, Black woman. “Being an ItGirl is about being yourself, loving what you do, finding your niche, and mastering that,” she says.
No matter where you are on your ItGirl journey, Rashid says to always remain persistent and never hesitate to share your art with the world. “Don’t give up. Even if it's something small, finish it and don't be afraid to put it out,” she says, “It's about tackling your own fear of feeling like you have to please everybody, but just please yourself, and that's good enough.”
To learn more about the ItGirl 100 List, view the full list here.
Featured image Courtesy