We recently had the chance to connect with Shundilyn Smith and have shared our conversation below.
Shundilyn, we’re thrilled to have you with us today. Before we jump into your intro and the heart of the interview, let’s start with a bit of an ice breaker: Who are you learning from right now?
I am in a period of my life where I am learning that it’s okay to let relationships go, no matter the dynamic. We usually think because we’ve been best friends, or lovers for an extensive period of time, we must remain loyal to the relationship despite the turmoil it may be currently causing in your life. I too was a victim of this “loyalty over everything” mentality, until I realized that this mentality was not helping me, it was hindering me. I have found that I am always able to show up as my best self for the ones I love, and be their everything, but in return I always end up being everyone’s “nothing.” Continuing to accept this treatment has cost me more than I’ve ever gained and truly opened my eyes when it comes to relationship dynamics, and what I am now willing to accept. Break-ups are hard (on any level), but they are essential for you to shed the deadweight and unidirectional love, to grow. I encourage anyone reading this to set boundaries, and make decisions on your relationships based on love, respect and mutual support, not just the time you’ve known them, or you too will find yourself in a relationship that is no longer serving you, and just taking up space, instead of creating a safe one for you to be who you truly are and receive what you truly deserve.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hello, my name is Shundilyn Smith, and I am an only child, from a single-parent household, coming out of Oakland, CA. I also considers myself a successful black woman. Once I discovered my power and stepped into it, I began to thrive. I was able to obtain 3 AA’s, a B.A in Deaf Studies with a minor in Education as well as my M.S in Rehabilitation Counseling. While I completed my studies, I began self-publishing my poetry pieces and I am now a self-published author of 5 books: A Peace of Me, Things Left Unsaid, Their White Lies, My Black Truth, Letters to You & HER. I am currently on my journey to get licensed for my LPCC. I write for those who doubted me and said I couldn’t, and for those who have been told similar and need a little inspiration.
Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. Who saw you clearly before you could see yourself?
My mother. She has always been my biggest fan and my #1 cheerleader. She has always spoke positivity and love into my life, making it hard to focus on the naysayers or the negative. My mother has always cheered for me so loudly, I could never hear anyone else, and she has clapped for me so much, that it didn’t matter who didn’t. she is truly my hero and inspiration.
When did you stop hiding your pain and start using it as power?
I stopped hiding my pain and started using it as my superpower when I published my first book. Some may see my work and relate to it as just poetry, but they may not truly understand what it took for me to cross the publishing finish line. I had to sit with myself and decide if I wanted to be vulnerable in the public eye and expose my heart to the world, because that’s exactly what my first book was, and every book that has followed after it. After publishing my first book and receiving the feedback that I did, I realized that my resilience, struggles and triumph overpowered my fear of being vulnerable, and that’s when I knew, that I needed to stop hiding my pain… because it definitely was and still is my superpower.
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. Is the public version of you the real you?
Absolutely. I strive to show up as my authentic self in every space, no matter the backlash I may receive. The most important thing to me right now is staying true to myself whenever and wherever, however that may look. I may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but those who dare to take a sip can attest to the fact that they will taste the same flavor of me every time and in every place.
Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
When I am gone and no longer here, I hope people tell my story the correct way. The good, the bad and the ugly. I hope people talk about my struggles, and how they almost broke me. I hope they talk about how no matter what demons I was facing I always showed up as my best self to support them and stand beside them in their battles. I hope they speak about how infectious my aura was, and how I had the ability to uplift anyone. I hope they talk about my smile, how it was so bright and could light up the darkest of rooms. I hope they talk about my resilience, and how I used it as a writing tool, producing some of the most heartfelt and soul penetrating poetry. I hope they talk about my bandwidth to conversate, how I could meet them at the bottom of the ocean or sit with them on the moon. I hope they talk about the quality I held in all of my relationships, and how I wouldn’t settle for anything less. I hope they speak on my bluntness, that I used as a shield to keep away the ungenuine people in this world. I hope they talk about my laugh, and how it could be heard from miles away, without shame. I hope they speak about how I refused to show up anywhere as anything besides genuine and authentically me. I hope they speak about my love for my family and that I’d do anything to both keep them happy and make them proud. I hope that they talk about the fact that I was never scared to start over or love deeply. In the end, whatever the story is, I just hope they depict the REAL me.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.poeticallyalive.com
- Instagram: DilynThaPoet
- Facebook: A Peace of Me
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
