We recently connected with Bri Williams and have shared our conversation below.
Bri , we are so deeply grateful to you for opening up about your journey with mental health in the hops that it can help someone who might be going through something similar. Can you talk to us about your mental health journey and how you overcame or persisted despite any issues? For readers, please note this is not medical advice, we are not doctors, you should always consult professionals for advice and that this is merely one person sharing their story and experience.
As someone who has struggled with depression and anxiety for as long as I can remember, realizing that I am not alone in those struggles helps a lot. I have a wonderful group of friends and family who show up in a way that’s constructive and supportive when I need it. And because I know what it’s like to struggle with this I can do the same for them. One way I have remained resilient through this is by leaning on my community when I need them. I have an excellent therapist, and she has helped me develop ways to self-soothe during extreme moments where I can’t get past an episode. My best friend Dominique is someone who also provides great support when I need it. I think having people you can count on to show up is the one thing that makes a big difference. Everyone doesn’t have the luxury of having people who are mindful and thoughtful enough to just be there without feeling like they need to fix you. I truly value the people in my life who I can turn to when I am deep in a depressive episode and can’t get myself out. So I overcome with the help of my community.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
I am a writer at my core. I have always been writing since I first learned how to. Growing up, I wrote short stories and poetry and would read them allowed to my mom, both my grandmothers, and my aunt. They would sit there and gasp and compliment me on how talented I am. It was that encouragement that kept me going and went on to study Creative Writing at the University of Cincinnati. Writing is something that I use to self soothe when I’m feeling really anxious or depressed. I love it so much I decided to create Shiblaqbri, a digital publication dedicated to slow beauty, pop culture, and lifestyle topics. I get so excited when I write or even talk about beauty and pop culture. It feels special that I can share my knowledge on how we all can be beauty enthusiasts while being mindful of spending and catering to our earth. Personally, I used to feel pressured to constantly keep up with trends and products therefore causing me to overspend and buy from brands that don’t have the earth or basic human rights in mind. I know I’m not the only one and so my goal with the magazine was to remind everyone that you don’t have to buy 8 serums, 3 different moisturizers, or every new concealer to be about beauty. There’s so much more to beauty than buying stuff. Shiblaqbri is a place where I, and other writers I’ve contracted, can express our love for beauty and pop culture without needing to keep up with impossible standards. I am actually looking to expand my team and have been crowdfunding and working on fundraising strategies so Shiblaqbri can have the luxury of having more content that brings our community together.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Understanding I can’t know everything was a huge impact on my journey. Learning from others and being a person who is teachable is important in this industry but also in everyday life. I have incredible research skills and I am not afraid to ask for help where needed. I think that’s very important to admit because no one knows everything. My biggest advice is to bring people with you who are smarter than you. I know my strengths and weaknesses so I surround myself with people who can balance me out. Where I’m not strong those people are. That’s the best advice I can offer.
Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?
I am always looking for people to collaborate with. I look for people who are knowledgeable about overconsumption and how it affects our lives and the planet. I look for people who don’t aspire to be capitalists. I look for people who are part of similar circles that I am such as from the Black, disabled, and/or LGBTQIA+ community. I also look for people who are teachable and passionate about what they do. And who excel in areas like strategy, marketing, and social media content. I’m also looking to collaborate with people who can connect me with others to help with my funding goals for Shiblaqbri. They can reach me by email [email protected].
Contact Info:
- Website: https://shiblaqbri.com/
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/shiblaqbri
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/
shiblaqbri - Linkedin: https://linkedin.com/company/shiblaqbri
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/shiblaqbri
- Other: Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/shiblaqbri/ Email: [email protected] Subscribe to Shiblaqbri: https://shiblaqbri.com/subscribe
Image Credits
Credit to Brianna Williams, Founder of Shiblaqbri
