Lizzie Damilola Blackburn

Obviously, women don’t have to get married to be happy or find value in themselves. Well, at least, that’s not why I want to get married.

I loved talking to the people who came through the shelter, hearing about their lives, and being able to do small things for them that would make a difference.

Nana holds up her hand. “Would you ask for a discount at Prada?”
“Me? Walk into Prada?” I laugh.
“Seriously, Yinka, would you? At Gucci? Louis Vuitton? Dior? No, you wouldn’t, would you? So let’s keep the same energy with small businesses. Small Black-owned businesses, mind you.”

We have to support each other and part of that means paying full-price for things.

You need to define who you are. Otherwise, people will happily do it for you.

There’s something about helping people that’s good for the soul.

“How many people truly love their job?”
“True, true. Not many,” Donovan answers. “And do you know why? Because there’s too many people out there, yeah, that are not doing what they really want to do. They stick around in a poxy job they hate for years. For what? To buy a big yard and to pay the bills? Then they wonder why they have a midlife crisis when they reach their fifties.” He kisses his teeth. “Nah, bruv. Not me.”

inner peace, knowing that I don’t have to figure life out on my own, if that makes any sense at all? I dunno, I see God as a . . . friend.”

you need to have faith that you’re worthy of love and that you’ll find it. That’s not to say you won’t get hurt, but faith is about believing that there are better days ahead, even when you can’t see the full picture.

And while I respect that everyone makes their own choices, I wish that society didn’t make me feel alien for mine.