Introducing: Beneath My Surface...TRUTHFUL Thursdays

I’m happy to introduce a new segment on InMyJoi today: Beneath my surface...TRUTHFUL Thursdays!

Although I’ll honestly admit to having a mild obsession with fashion and style, that is only one small aspect of “me”, the person that I truly am within. I find that it can be somewhat challenging to properly and fully convey one’s feelings using social media and electronic modes of communication. For some reason I have felt more comfortable opening up about my feelings on my Instagram account , than I actually felt comfortable to do on this blog. But then I thought to myself: ‘That’s not fair to my blog readers! I want them to see and know multi-facets of my personality too.’

To start, I’ve always been a writer at heart. I have memories of writing short stories, and keeping a personal journal from elementary school on up. I even dabbled in poetry, and had my first poem published when I was 16.  Since I started this blog I have craved a space to discuss my random thoughts and feelings on a variety of topics, some being outside of the fashion and style arenas. I created an opportunity when I opened up as to why I decided to start this blog here, and then again just recently when I invited other bloggers to weigh in with me on a somewhat controversial topic, here. However you'll find that most posts to date on this blog detail styles that I’ve created.  As much as I adore style, I am not a shallow woman. I felt that limiting my conversation to said topics was conveying an inaccurate portrait of “me”. So, after some thought, I decided that adding a new segment/feature could be the way to go =)

This week I’ll start by sharing a graphic that I posted on Instagram & Tumblr a few days ago.

I’ve learned the hard way that I do not have to accept every invitation that I receive. "What?" you may be thinking! Turn down a perfectly fine invitation to a good time?! To elaborate, I’m not solely referring to invitations to literal places , i.e dinner parties, etc., but also to those invitations that beckon us to an emotional and or mental state/place that we don’t care to visit. Appreciate that some conflicts are best left unattended. At times, things may be said to and or about you that beckon you “to go THERE”. I refuse to be taken “THERE”!  People will say: “They took me there” or “Don’t take me there”. However, I offer a different perspective. No one can take you “THERE” unless you are willing to go! The short of it: Don’t attend every argument that you are invited to. For example, after carefully thinking a situation through, if I foresee that nothing beneficial will result from me speaking candidly and truthfully, I simply decline the invitation to engage in conflict! I'm thankful for the opportunity, because I believe that life lessons can be learned in every encounter, even the unpleasant ones.

Thank you for reading my rambles. I’d love to hear your thoughts on this segment, please share below!

Joi