 Ahhh fear, it’s such a wild child. I learned a few years back at church, that fear does not like to travel alone, well, because its afraid! Fear always brings a posse with it. Some of fear’s favorite friends are doubt, worry, and anxiety. The first blog I wrote on this site dealt with fear. Here we are mid year, and fear is still relevant! How many times did I write fear just now! (Go head count lol) I felt the pull to write on fear again and I knew the perfect person to interview for the subject; Priscilla Peete aka Fearless Black Girl! Priscilla has started an amazing show entitled, Fearless Black Girl. On the show she travels the world and goes on awesome adventures. Y’all she even jumped out of a plane on one episode! Priscilla and her show is unlike any other travel show you have seen, and her messages about fear, all need to learn.
In the pilot episode of Fearless Black Girl, Priscilla defined fear as false evidence appearing real. Read that sentence again! In our conversation Priscilla stated fear has the ability to torture you, it can be tormenting, and it can cripple you. She told me the role fear played in her life. She had an off again, on again relationship with fear. As a young girl she faced many fears including the fear of being raped. “I used to walk home from school, so any type of car that just honked their horn, or if I saw a guy, that just…. I thought I was gonna get kidnapped, raped, or killed, and that would torture me. I use to fear, if my mom went out of town, or got on a flight, that the plane would crash. That would torture me. I use to always fear that she was gonna die. It was just fear”. Priscilla shared that she learned how to overcome those fears. She began to speak over herself, making affirmations and declarations. She also spoke on how fear is not always a bad thing, and how it can serve a good purpose. Priscilla said that fear can also push you. “You can fear something, but it could also be a challenge to actually overcome it……Fear has definitely played both a good and a bad role, because I’ve learned now, even though sometimes it still tries, I’ve learned now that, hey if you’re afraid to do it, do it afraid”. I agreed with her, that after you do the thing that you were afraid to do, you get on the other side realizing it wasn’t that bad. Priscilla gave me a 99.999% guarantee. I can rock with that! She said she rather people do things afraid, then don’t do things at all. “When you don’t do it at all. When you get on your death bed, you’ll be like, dang I wonder what would of happened if I would of did that”. So many of us are on a journey to conquer our fears and Priscilla gave some great tips. “First off, get quiet. Get quiet, close your eyes, take 10 deep breaths. I have to do that sometimes. You gotta take 10 deep breaths, because sometimes when fear comes, it comes with a lot of things. Fear can come with anxiety. Fear can come with depression, sadness, (acting out an example of an anxious moment) I just don’t know, what am I gonna do now..You start hyperventilating, you work yourself up. So I tell people, get quiet, get by yourself, take 10 deep breaths”. Priscilla then proceeded to tell me what she does after taking some breaths. She shared to pray if you believe in prayer, or simply speak to yourself and do affirmations and declarations. Tell yourself that you can do it. Declare: “I can do this. Fear will not overcome me. Fear will not overtake me. I am strong. I am talented. I will make it. I’m an overcomer”. Some may find it strange or think there is no power in speaking to yourself, but we’re here to tell you, there is power in those self conversations. “You’ve got to affirm yourself. You’ve got to be your number one motivator when nobody else is. You gotta encourage yourself when nobody else will”. Priscilla stated after you get your mind and self right, you go out and do it! I’m telling you, we have got to do the things we are just sitting on. “You take the steps to do it. You don’t have to try and do everything all at once. You work on that one step, then you do that step and you complete it, then you do another step. You do what you can do, and then everything else, whether you say God or the universe, everything else, it falls into place…..When you do your part, God does His part”. Too often, according to Priscilla, people say they’re waiting on God and God is waiting on them. God is waiting on us fam, to do our part. “You put your leg out there, God will say ok I see what you’re doing. Alright then I want you to do this. I’ll provide this, or I’ll provide the person that will help …… So, you don’t have a car, start walking.….When you start to face fear, things fall into place just for you, you begin to meet the right people”. In the docu-series, Fearless Black Girl, Priscilla goes on adventures around the world. I was curious how the show began and what life events lead up to her embarking on such an intriguing journey. Since her youth, Priscilla has wanted to travel. Though it seemed impossible, in her head she continued to believe it was possible. In 2011 she wrote down her dream to travel the world. Towards the end of 2013 she began to think about what she was good at, and what career to pursue. She knew she was a people person and she desired to travel. She saw the career she wanted, applied, and began to prepare herself physically and mentally, and she became a flight attendant in 2014. While traveling the world as a flight attendant, Priscilla saw the lack of black people on her flights, and the lack of people of color traveling and it bothered her. She admits she ignored it at first, but in 2017-2018 she was so full of questions. “When I turned on channels like Travel channel and National Geographic, not many people of color were centered, if any, in the center of those shows. Many of the travel shows, many of the travel series, I couldn’t really find a person of color that was leading that travel series”. Priscilla then called up a friend that had camera equipment. They heard her vision and got on board with the idea. They both had never done anything like it before, but they just grabbed their passports and stepped out and did it. Priscilla saw a need and decided to fill it! She did it afraid. “I was fearful of being in front of the camera…… I was like oh, I can find a woman of color to be in this show, and I’ll just be behind the scenes. She (her friend) was just like no, it needs to be you. And I was like, but my skin, I have problematic skin, you know, um my weight, you know my arms are big, and you know I’m not really, skinny. So I had to overcome that fear of showing my insecurities in front of the camera”. The wild thing is, I think she is so gorgeous. That’s how fear works sometimes, it can really mess with your vision. I’m so glad her friend encouraged her, and she put her leg out there! What we are struggling with, is the very thing God will use to help other people. “The very thing that is your strength, is the thing that I believe the enemy tries to attack you with the most…….He takes what’s your strength and tries to use it against you. So me telling people about being fearless, he’s going to attack me, with fear. A fear in the areas that he knows that’s kind of like a button for me”. Priscilla then shared how our strengths can be attacked not only by being turned into a fear, but turned into a weakness. She gave an example of a person who has a strength in speaking articulate and speaks well and they speak life over people, and they struggle with anger. A tactic the devil may use with this person is, causing them to be in situations that make their anger build up and they begin to speak death out of their mouth. We have to remember death and life are in the power of the tongue. (Read Proverbs 18:21) Y’all, the girl is good! Ha! We shifted gears and I wanted to know more about her family and those that have served as her supporters during her fearless journey. Priscilla says her mother is such a strong woman of God that has been a driving force in her life. She says her mother not only had them covered naturally growing up, but spiritually as well. She mentioned that her family is her village. It is such a blessing to have people who support your dreams. I know not everyone does, and I asked Priscilla what would she say to someone who’s support system was just them and the Lord and she said, “They actually have an advantage. And this is why I say that they actually have an advantage: Because the spiritual realm is much more real than what we see in the natural. Yeah it does feel good to have people, typical people there that tell you, you can do it, you can do it, you can do it; but if you don’t believe it yourself, and if you don’t have that spiritual foundation, or spiritual driving force to do it, you’re still not gonna do it, and I’m a living proof of that”. Priscilla was so honest and real with me. She told me that even she, still doesn’t do things that she knows she is supposed to do, but we have hope. Priscilla discussed how there is so much out there, waiting on you, and waiting to work with you to see your visions come to pass, and once you realize that, there is nothing that can stop you! “You’re gonna have down times, you’re gonna have times when you feel like quitting……no, no, no, you’re gonna get up, you’re gonna dust yourself off, and you’re gonna continue and you’re gonna finish”. Now, you may have stepped out, you may have had a support system in place, but they are no longer supportive. You think it’s so bad that it’s just you and the Lord, Priscilla had tips for you too. “People will fail you too. Those very people that are rooting you on, some of those people are secretly wishing that you wouldn’t do better than them. So sometimes it’s good not to have people rooting you on. Sometimes, some of them same people are the ones that’s like, do good, do good, oh wait, hold on, they doing better than me, nevermind”! Remember, if it’s just you and Jesus, you’re winning! As the interview came to an end I asked Priscilla what can we expect to see with her, and the Fearless Black Girl docu-series in the upcoming future. The show will have a season 2 coming and Priscilla visions the show being on a television network or on digital streaming services. She also has merch ideas for the company that includes apparel and luggage. Even further she envisions a Fearless Black Girl store where all can come and learn about travel, architecture, and history. Priscilla also wants to start doing motivational speaking for youth, teaching them to face their fears. “If children, especially more children of color were to take trips more, and take trips over seas a little bit more, with their families, their mindset wouldn’t be the same”. Hannah, Priscilla’s teen sister has had a mind shift as a result of traveling the globe with her sister, and I think so many youth can benefit. My Bishop back in NC always told us, exposure expands expectations! Priscilla also shared with me her personal goals, and all I can say is, be on the lookout for the name Priscilla Peete! She is the positive voice that our community needs and I look forward to seeing all she does. Her last words during the interview were: “I don’t wanna be successful within the world’s eyes, I wanna be successful in the eyes of God. I want to continue to grow in knowledge and wisdom before riches. Riches is loud, but wealth is silent. I wanna be wealthy within my peace, wealthy within my joy, wealthy within my family, and then of course wealthy within my finances, but also just growing within myself and using every talent that I’ve been gifted with”. Vyse❤️ One Last Gem: After the interview we discussed how people desire to travel, but have the idea that it costs too much. Priscilla shared that her trips are not expensive. For example, her plane ticket to Columbia was $298. She told me that some trips with ticket costs and lodging, all costs under $500 total! A little something extra: Priscilla is a woman of much wisdom and many talents. I actually first found out about her from her beautiful singing voice. A video she did back in 2018 with her little sister Hannah went viral this year and I knew I had to see who she was, because that video had me rollin! Her video not only went viral in February, but is still a viral video across multiple social platforms with over 4million views. Priscilla said her and her sister love seeing everyone’s responses and they are so thankful for all who have shared her video and commented. So get ready to get yo life and watch this video gold! The Original Video https://www.instagram.com/p/Bl_R-pDhSrI/ This Needs To Go Viral Too! Took Me and Hubby Out! https://www.instagram.com/p/Bm6Ytnkl6YX/ Below is The Fearless Black Girl docu-series, mission statement and I just had to share. Be sure to check Priscilla Peete out on all her socials and website. This woman of God is going to do great things and I want you to be a witness to it. Our mission is "to ignite and excite more people of color to the thought of a traveling adventure." One of our main goals is to empower and educate more people in the African American communities on the long term benefits of travel and overcoming your fears. We aim to transform the thinking of our viewers by the renewal of the mind with each episode watched by our viewers meaning we want them to say "Hey, she overcame her fear and I can too." Fearless Black Girl is dedicated to impacting the multitudes one person at a time. So we say, take yourself out of the box, unlock the power. Priscilla’s Instagram https://www.instagram.com/sparkle_status/ Fearless Black Girl Instagram https://www.instagram.com/fearless.blackgirl/ Fearless Black Girl Website https://www.fearlessblackgirl.com Fearless Black Girl YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVur2DgP_I4RAdxMyaos1nw
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 While doing my daily Instagram strolling I saw in bold letters, YOU CAN BE USED BY GOD AND GAY. It caused me to stop, pause, and think. In that moment I realized how many years I spent not acknowledging that, to be true. In that time of reflection I began to see how my thoughts and feelings about homosexuality had evolved, changed, and matured. The saying goes, When you know better, you do better. That same night I entered into dialogue with my husband about that subject matter, and for the first time in years, I heard a shift in his thinking as well. Later that night I began walking and speaking with God. We talked about the tug I was feeling in my heart to reach out to those in the LGBTQ+ community and learn how to show love, minister, and serve them. Clear as day God instructed me to reach out to the woman who posted the statement and request to interview her. I was so elated she responded with a yes, and I am excited to share with you our conversation.
SdotNoeL is a multitalented woman of God who started her life in the inner city of Los Angeles. She grew up in the COGIC Church, and when her family and peers learned she was lesbian, not everyone was accepting and ready to show her the love and support she needed. SdotNoeL states she was born gay and was always aware of who she was at a young age. She first expressed her feelings to her Aunt when she was 10 years old. “I confided with my Aunt at the time; whom I felt really comfortable with….I came out to her, and she really became an advocate for me”. Two years later her mother and other family members found out, and SdotNoeL was kicked out of her home at the age of 13. “These ideas being put into my head about myself..I’d never be loved..God would never except me…These were coming out of my families mouth”. SdotNoeL then entered into a time of depression. She continued to attend her Uncle’s mega church, experiencing being singled out from the pulpit. Even though many showed disapproval of her sexual orientation, she was still called upon to minister over the praise team. “Having gone through all of that, but still being called on in church. Still being praise and worship leader. Still being used. Still being effective in peoples lives, because of what I’ve been through. Still being able to be a vessel”. Faith is SdotNoeL’s driving force for everything she does, but there was a time she had a disconnect with God. “I went through my cognitive dissonance. I went through the periods of time where I felt like I hated God because of what I had to go through…..but that was all a part of the purpose……God’s will for my life is to show people that through pain, and through judgment, does come a purpose”. Although SdotNoeL’s family said many hurtful things in the past, they have had a turning point in their relationship with her. The relationship she has with her mother went from not speaking for about five years after she was kicked out, to now being able to call on her mother for strength and conversation. “I can talk to her(Mother) about girlfriends…..The day I was getting a lot of church people come over(to her social media page), they were saying a lot of really harsh things. I just had to call her…I was like Mom, people are saying some really harsh things…She was just like, that’s unfortunate. You just keep doing what you’re doing, because God is using you”. In our interview I also asked some personal questions I had about gay culture that I always wanted to hear answers to. One question that I was always curious about, was how a gay person interprets the scriptures that say homosexuality is an abomination unto God. SdotNoeL shared her personal views. “I would never lay with a man the way I lay with a woman…..I’m not a heterosexual, so I don’t know what it takes to be in a heterosexual relationship…..I’m not redefining the relationship of male and female, by laying with a woman…..We’re not trying to become like heterosexual relationships…..So when I read that word, that doesn’t mean to me that I should not be laying with a woman period. That means to me, that I am not going to assume the role of a man…..That concept, that idea is so hard to sink through in the realm of Christianity”. We both understood that change does not happen over night and what gets to you first is what you believe. I believe the word of God is infallible and I believe we all must search the scriptures and seek out truth. The amazing thing about being human is, truth looks different from the perspective and background of the viewer. While we talked scriptures, I agreed with many things SdotNoeL stated, some things I will be studying, and others I currently disagree. She talked about what its like for many gays to sit in church, and it hit my heart hard y’all. I want all people, from all walks of life to be able to freely worship in church, without fear, and in the presence of love. “Which is why homosexuality in the confines of a church does not work for us. It’s degradation. I’m suffering If I’m staying in a church that does not understand my concept. That doesn’t understand my ideas and beliefs”. SdotNoeL then made a great analogy likening gays and church people as warehouse workers who look the same, but in speaking find out they are different. “You’ll have two choices. You can except them for their difference, or you can judge them for their difference. The moment that you start stepping over into judging them for their difference, you’re taking yourself out of the understanding game”. As we began to talk about the misconceptions about gays in the Christian worldview we found that communication is key to understanding. SdotNoel said that no question was off limits before we started the interview, and spoke her truth throughout the interview; making me laugh and think throughout. I came to the interview with a list of questions, but as soon as we began to talk, the interview became a conversation of curiosity and courage. We all must understand in life we may differ in thought in some areas, but we must all show kindness, respect, and love. I enjoyed our conversation so much and I know and hope it ruffles many feathers, because these conversations are simply not happening and they need to be! Currently you can find SdotNoeL sharing her gifts with the world all to the glory of God. She is a singer, song writer, background vocalist, mixer, editor, actress, comedian, event host, and I’ll add, a missionary! I want to say thank you to SdotNoeL; Thank you for opening my eyes, pulling on my ears, shaking up my thoughts, and hearing my heart. God bless you! For any young girls that are going through depression and anxiety, or contemplating coming out to their family about anything because of fear, I want to say know that God loves you, I love you, and I want you to read these words SdotNoeL stated she would say to her younger self that was going through depression and anxiety: “….That is the beginning of the rose blossoming through the concrete….Those feelings of anxiety are showing you that there is room that needs to be made, on the other side of it, because any time that you feel anxiety young lady, on the other side of that is nothing but pure joy for you. And if you could just make it through the thoughts that are there in you, which are self-conscious beliefs; and if you could get a hold of those beliefs and turn them into something that you actually desire and actually want, you’ll be just fine”. The conversation we had, was so good and necessary. There is so much more that we discussed and I want you and everyone you know to hear the full conversation so click the link below to hear the interview and share everywhere! https://youtu.be/w5S_Ch9TMU0 Vyse ❤️ |
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