Friend, as of today, I am done with the performance of strength.

For too long, I have carried the weight of the world, bearing burdens that were never meant to be mine alone. I have worn resilience like armor, stitched together with the expectations of others, with the silent nods of understanding, with the unspoken agreement that I—we—must always endure. The “Strong Black Woman” trope has been a badge of honor and a heavy chain, one that I am finally laying down.

I am just a woman.

Not a superhero. Not a mule. Not a monolith. Just a woman living in her skin, trying to live in her truest purpose on this Earth. And in this season of my life, my purpose is softness.

Softness is Not Weakness

For so long, society equated softness with vulnerability, and vulnerability with danger. Leaving no space to rest, no room to exhale. But now, I am rewriting that narrative. My softness is not weakness. It is my power. My ability to feel deeply, to nurture myself, to choose peace over perpetual struggle—that is strength.

I am learning to unclench my jaw. To stop bracing for impact. To move through life with grace, not just grit.

Softness is the way my body melts into the arms of someone who sees me—not for what I can do for them, but simply for who I am. Softness is allowing myself to cry, not just in solitude, but in the presence of those who love me. Softness is choosing rest without guilt, embracing pleasure without apology, and speaking my truth without fear of being dismissed or demonized.

Poise in a World That Profits from My Pain

There is a grace that comes with letting go. A quiet confidence in knowing that I do not have to prove my worth through suffering. I do not have to be the fixer, the doer, the backbone of every space I enter. I do not have to absorb everyone else’s pain while neglecting my own.

Reclaiming my poise means reclaiming my right to move at my own pace. To set boundaries and honor them. To walk away from chaos and choose environments where I am cherished, not just tolerated. It means showing up for myself with the same love and care I have so freely given to others.

I Am Woman, and That is Enough

I will not let the world define me by stereotypes. I will not be the “angry Black woman” simply because I demand respect. I will not be the “strong Black woman” simply because I refuse to crumble under pressure. I will not be any label that reduces me to something more palatable, more convenient, more controllable.

I am woman. That is enough.

So here I am—unburdened, unguarded, and unapologetic in my softness. I am embracing joy without permission. I am choosing peace without justification. I am living in the fullness of who I am, and I am finally, finally free.

Xoxo, Drea