I’ve been a lot of women.

Thumbsucker attached to my grandmama’s hip.

Academic high achiever with a perpetually raised hand.

Pick me with the lowest self-esteem.

Couch surfer lost in loneliness and abuse.

Participant in a high-control Black nationalist group.

Lawyer, blogger, and creative.

Queer.

Breast cancer survivor.

High Priestess of Thotlandia.

Fiancee and soon-to-be grandmother.

Multi-hyphenate solopreneur.

Me.

Simple, complex, nuanced, and diverse, all of these women are still with me today. While they may no longer lead my journey, they helped to shape my life when as Lucile Clifton says, “What did I see to be besides myself?”