An Intro to Unsolicited: The Blog
Introducing Unsolicited—my new project, and a space that I’m super excited (and also a little nervous) to introduce to you. This idea has been a long time coming but stuck in park because I’ve been waiting for a version of myself that will never exist or should never exist: A perfectly palatable me that is 100% approved by others and the world. But enough about things we’ll discuss later. This projects goal is to create a place where we can actually talk to each other, instead of just talking at each other. In a world where conversations and communication are filled with words spewed in place of exchanged, disagreement is considered argumentativeness/combativeness or, my least fav, where understanding and resolution is replaced by placation via “Yes Man”-ing, I wanted to build a space for real, respectful, and open discussions. A place where different opinions are not only welcome but celebrated—as long as they’re not rooted in harm or misinformation.
I want Unsolicited to be a space where everyone feels genuinely seen, heard, and respected. And I don’t mean just through words but through actions too. I want to lead by example and show what respectful communication looks like in real life, even away from the computer screen. In no way shape or form am I going to pretend to have not been inspired or influenced by people, negative and positive experiences as well as my own journey but I’ll save that for a different project piece.
So, what’s Unsolicited going to look like? Well, there’ll be all sorts of creative content—videos, short clips, interactive surveys, posts, and even live sessions (which, to be honest, are kinda freaking me out). The idea behind all of this is to get conversations going, challenge our thinking, and bring in as many different voices as possible.
Some Housekeeping
Before we dive in, let’s talk about how we’re going to maintain the integrity of this space. Unsolicited is all about mutual respect, kindness, and following the golden (or platinum) rule: treat others the way you’d like to be treated—or better yet, the way they want to be treated. Here’s how we’ll keep our conversations healthy and open:
Active Listening: Engage with the intent to understand, not just to respond. Let’s give each other the space to express thoughts with an open heart before jumping done someone’s throat.
Empathy: Consider others' perspectives, experiences, and feelings. Even if we don’t agree, we can always approach discussions with compassion.
Constructive Criticism: As my Paternal Grand Mother would say: Tino Tonga Mosha Qwete Muhnu (We chastise the problem not the person). Disagreement is welcome, but it should always be presented in a way that builds up rather than tears down. Let’s focus on the ideas, not the individuals behind them.
Accountability: We’re all human, and mistakes will happen. When they do, let’s own up to them, learn from them, and do better moving forward. *Please note I said mistakes.
Boundaries: It’s okay to take a step back when needed. Healthy conflict also means knowing when to pause, reflect, and return to the conversation with a clearer mind.
This isn’t just my project; it’s our space to connect, grow, and challenge each other in the best way possible. I’m really looking forward to seeing where these conversations take us!
Peace & Prosperity,
