The house is silent. It’s 4:30 AM on President’s Day, and the silence is the kind of quiet that lets you finally hear your own thoughts. Just one week ago, I released my debut novel, Webs, Love, and Fireworks.
You’d think a book launch would feel like a finish line, but instead, it feels like a threshold. As I move further into this space as an author and a creator, the old, familiar whispers like to show up: “Who does she think she is?”
I woke up this morning and found myself reaching for Toni Morrison’s Beloved. There is a moment at the end of the book when Paul D says to Sethe—a woman who has survived the unthinkable and poured every drop of herself into others:
“You your best thing, Sethe. You are.” Her response? “Me? Me?”
The Survival Equation
I felt that “Me?” in my soul this morning. I remember reading those words years ago as a young mother, shortly after migrating from Jamaica to NYC. I didn't feel out of place but the issues with the transition and visa situation was real. Back then, my “best thing” was my children. My “best thing” was survival. I didn't exist in my own equation.
I documented that moment in my journal, and year over year, I have opened every new journal with the same ritual. Among the few affirmations I use to set my intention, I always write: “You are your best thing, Marcia. You are.”
Writing and releasing my debut novel—and building AUBRIEA—is my way of finally answering that "Me?" with a definitive "Yes."
The Pivot to AUBRIEA
Many of you have followed my transition from NASTÉ Apparel to my new brand, AUBRIEA. That change was more than just a new logo; it was a physical manifestation of a spiritual pivot. It was about returning to my center and clearing out the noise to make room for the "Fireworks."
We often get caught in the “Webs” of our daily responsibilities, playing roles for everyone else until we become secondary characters in our own lives. But as I occupy this new space, I’ve realized that when you finally decide to see yourself as the "best thing," your current airspace creates a lot of static.
| People are used to the version of you they could categorize. When you set a new standard for how you want to be treated, spoken to, and dealt with—and you hold it—things change. People, places, and things will either fall in line or they will fall away. |
Smart. Worthy. Capable.
This pivot was a way to clear the noise. It was the decision to stop asking for permission to be smart, worthy, and capable, and to start occupying my space intentionally.
As Women’s History Month approaches, I am bringing these core affirmations back to the forefront of our collection.
I know someone out there is waking up at 4:30 AM feeling lost or overlooked.
| You add value to every table you sit at. You are a work in progress. It is never too late to pivot back to you. |
Shop the Story:
- The Novel: Webs, Love, and Fireworks – A story about clearing the webs and finding the sparks.
- The Statement: I Am Woman Power Tee – A wearable reminder that you are your own best thing.
Thank you for being here with me in the stillness.
With love and light,
Marcia 🧡
Founder, AUBRIEA · Aubriea Designs