How to Live Your Passion: Answering Reader Mail; Advice. The Big, Bad, Bold Me Manifesto!
Passionista Principle: Failure is an illusion.
Hi Abiola,
My name is Tameka and I just loove you! You have what makes me have the drive and passion to pursue my dreams and make them become reality. I love writing and have been writing since middle school. I never thought that anyone would listen! 
Now watching you and seeing you daily doing what makes you happy and not worry about what others think makes me eager to want it more. You never fail to amaze me in everything that you do. You are my role model and one of the few individuals that I respect. My writing describes who I am and what makes me happy. I write poems, scripts,whatever comes to mind. 
I just seen you today on “Made” (MTV) and you were so inspirational. Everything you said inspired me to keep on pushing. I just want to say thank you. I would love for you to see what I have written and have you critique me on it and tell me what you think. It would mean so much for me to pursue my destiny in what I feel is to write and help those find the words they can’t think of. No matter whether it’s writing cards, poetry, a book!!
I am serious about this because it’s my passion. I really want to meet you and see how it feels to be in your shoes. If I can’t achieve the accomplishments you have obtained, I surely would love to see and feel what it looks like.

Thanks soooo much
Xoxo Tameka Fort

Dear Goddess Tameka,
It’s letters like yours that inspire me so THANK YOU for your thank you! I can tell from the passion and enthusiasm in your letter that you have what it takes to make your dreams come true. Like I told Austin on “Made,” it’s about feeling for the fear and still going for it. 

Start with what you know and tell your story. Write every single day no matter what. Ignore the naysayers. Most of them are too afraid to live their dreams so they can’t imagine anyone else having the courage to go for hers.

Tameka, don’t worry about me critiquing your writing. The best shoes to be in are your own. Just write, perfect your craft and you will be on your way. Find other like minded positive people to be around. Self love begins with self acceptance. 
Don’t be afraid to make mistakes. I fall on my face on a daily basis, dust myself off and keep going — and I will continue to do so. None of us is perfect. We are all works in progress doing the best we can with our human frailties at any moment. 
Whether you have a short gorgeous Afro or a weave to your ankles, whether you are stick thin or doughy and bodacious, whether you speak the Queen’s English or were educated at the school of hard knocks, that’s who you are, who you choose to be at this moment on your journey. Love her and let other people deal.

Print this out and put it next to your bathroom mirror.

THE BIG, BAD, BOLD ME, MANIFESTO!


1. Make a new d
ecision every morning that you are absolutely in love with yourself. Don’t get out of bed until you can make this decision.  

2. If you feel crappy DON’T put a smiley face on it and pretend that you don’t. Your feelings are valid. Do list out the things that you are grateful for though.

3. Know that you deserve to absolutely grab life by the cajones and go for it.

4. Rejections, perceived failures and criticisms will happen. Failure is an illusion
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