An Inspired Chat with Rowana Abbensetts-Dobson of New York

We recently had the chance to connect with Rowana Abbensetts-Dobson and have shared our conversation below.

Rowana , a huge thanks to you for investing the time to share your wisdom with those who are seeking it. We think it’s so important for us to share stories with our neighbors, friends and community because knowledge multiples when we share with each other. Let’s jump in: What is a normal day like for you right now?
On a typical day, I wake up early for journaling and meditation, then get ready for a full day of balancing motherhood with work.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m an author and a writer currently studying to get my MFA in Fiction writing. I love storytelling in every form from poetry and essays to novels and short stories. I’m the editor of Spoken Black Girl Magazine, and mental health advocacy is near and dear to my heart. I believe it’s important to uplift and preserve the work of Black women writers. Our voices are so often lost or under-appreciated. I’m currently working finishing my next novel and curating Issue 6 Beauty, which features several amazing Black women writers and artists from across the globe.

Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. What part of you has served its purpose and must now be released?
For me, part of growing up has been releasing the people pleaser identity. I grew up the baby of my family, and I was always the family therapist, always trying to make my parents and everyone else in my life happy. After becoming a mom, I found that I gave so much time, love, and energy to my kids that I had to set boundaries around the time I had left. Self-care became a necessity for self-preservation.

Do you remember a time someone truly listened to you?
Therapy. Therapy has a way of allowing you to talk on and on without feeling like a burden if you have the right therapist. I usually like to refer to therapy as “me time”. The time when I don’t hold back. I’m always astounded to be asked follow up questions about my life or a keen observation from what I just shared. It reminds me that my words matter, my feelings matter. After a lifetime of being told to silence my emotions, being heard in a confidential space means so much.

Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. Where are smart people getting it totally wrong today?
We have to end the work till you drop mentality for institutions that will never love us or support our communal well-being. On another note, AI can’t replace real creativity. If anything, it makes your original artwork and writing even more valuable.

Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. If you knew you had 10 years left, what would you stop doing immediately?
I would probably eliminate all distractions so that I could write and publish as many books as possible. I must get my stories out!

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Image Credits
First 2 DXLGlass Photography

“Tea time” 5amToday

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