A Stewart of Life

I know this stewart is spelled incorrectly.

Yes, this is a Martha Stewart reference. 

If we can learn anything from Martha Stewart in addition to how to take a thirst trap selfie: 

See here: 

Here: 

I initially started writing this week's newsletter, thinking that Martha Stewart being on the cover of Sports Illustrated was a form of reinvention. And while it was a plot twist, I never thought about (I’ve only paid attention for the two years Kamie Crawford and Melissa Wood-Tepperberg have been rookies), I think the thing that I learned more from Martha's addition is that there's no time like the present to add some new commas to your title, or some additional chapters in your memoir.

I know our annoying cousins who aren't invited to the BBQ, aka internet trolls, had many negative things to say about Martha being on the cover. However, it's not like they, nor their mothers, could ever make it on the cover, so who cares? (yes, this is as yo mama as you'll ever get from me).

Martha made history with her addition and was interviewed by the New York Times, and two lines in particular stuck out to me: 

When asked if she was posing in a swimsuit was intimidating or if she was rebranding, she said:

“No, this is part of my ongoing self-creation – I call it education. One of my mottos for many years has been when you’re through changing, you’re through.” 

When asked if she did a lot of prep work to get ready for the shoot, she said:

“I’m still healthy, my hair is nice, and my skin is good. As for filters, forget it. I keep my facial appointments with Mario Badescu. I’ve done that once a month religiously for 40-something years.”

While I don’t think she reinvented herself, I do think there are a few key lessons we can learn from her upcoming year as a Sports Illustrated rookie:

1. Embrace versatility: Martha's willingness to explore diverse domains reminds us not to limit ourselves to a single identity. Instead, we should embrace our multifaceted nature and be open to exploring new interests and passions.
   

2. Challenge conventions: Society often places limitations on what we can or cannot do based on our age, background, or previous achievements. Martha's appearance in Sports Illustrated challenges these conventions, reminding us we can define our paths and defy expectations. 
   

3. Be fearless: Stepping out of our comfort zones can be intimidating, but in those moments of courage, we often find the most growth. Martha's fearless pursuit of new opportunities encourages us to take risks and pursue our dreams without hesitation. 
   

4. Stay relevant: In a rapidly evolving world, staying relevant requires adaptability and a willingness to evolve. Martha's decision to collaborate with Sports Illustrated garnered attention and allowed her to connect with a new generation of admirers. It's a reminder that we must constantly evolve, innovate, and adapt to remain pertinent in our chosen fields.
   

5. Treat it right and keep it tight: This is pure vanity, but you never know where your path can lead you. What if, for some reason, they restart King magazine and want to feature yours truly on the cover when I’m 55? Sure, I’m sure I will still be beautiful, hydrated, and overly melanated, but I just want to be prepared with minimal effort - thus, I’m still on a path of getting it right and keeping it tight.

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In other news, here are a few things that I fancied this week:

• Season 7 of Queer Eye was released on Netflix last week and if I ever needed to know if my tear ducts still worked, I guess I do know. For this season, our favorite friends (or my friends in my head) were in New Orleans and I loved the stories again. My favorite Queer Eye boo, Wesley, makes an appearance this season, and still, all the heart eyes were given from me.

• In love with the new Elli Ingram album, Bad Behaviour.

• Haven’t talked much about Elizabeth Holmes’ interview with New York Times, and I have many thoughts - the first being wtf? I will be writing about this for my weekend newsletter, which you can sign up for here.

• If you’re looking to travel this summer, Ace Hotel has discounted hotel rates.

• Interesting read: Phil Knight ponied up $400 million to help historically Black areas of Portland. Meet the woman investing it.

• Another interesting and relevant read: For Black Folks, Digital Migration is Nothing New.