I am Divinely led,
I walk with purpose,
Guided by grace.
And with that, the 2025 winter has come to a close. Oh, how I am celebrating with a furious dance! I feel my body returning to itself with glee. My prized melanin is glowing like a chef's kiss from the sun. The hum of hummingbirds and bees buzz through the New York streets, and girl, oh girl, am I elated to shed the layers of the sweater-weather season. Now, I love all the seasons; each plays its part. Being born at the start of autumn naturally makes me crave the outdoors.
Happy Spring! The Spring Equinox is here! Everybody Rejoice!
Ask anyone who knows me well — I am an advocate for a joyful frolic. It’s my self-love in motion. Along with meditation, at-home yoga, and long, leisurely city walks, I find solace in exploring community gardens with public seating. These hidden gems — third spaces — are sanctuaries to simply be, to become, and to believe.
With that, I have updates! Art is happening, and I'm falling in love with the process again. Research is unfolding, my studio notes are written in cursive (a gentle and beautiful practice), and I’m holding space with my works in progress.
I'm bringing every layer of my artistic practice into these new creations, playing with materials sustainably — challenging myself to use what I already have. Too often, I’ve divided my interests, but this season, my studio time is guided by zero-waste principles.
Clay has nestled itself into the crevices of my nails, a tactile reminder of my need for materials that require patience, presence, and labor. My hands ache with the satisfying fatigue that comes from shaping form after form — each one an echo of the last yet uniquely its own. Organic shapes emerge with ease. I savor the slow rhythm of this process — the endless smoothing, carving, and coaxing — all leading to that magic moment of glazing when curiosity meets completion, and my creations are bathed in their final glow.
Nourishing myself is part of this practice: solitude, delicious meals, cozy slippers (yes, the $5 mesh slippers from the hair store — nostalgic, grounding, and effortlessly cool). Forget those overpriced hipster slides! My slippers are a classic, a badge of comfort that keeps me rooted in my childhood as a young Black girl in the 2000s shopping for hair supply store fashions for butterfly clips and braiding hair while listening to Destiny’s Child.
I get dressed up to board the ferry to cross the East River to Governors Island. Once there, I make a cup of tea—peppermint or, lately, hibiscus with cinnamon and cloves. I change my shoes, slip on my artist's apron, and dive into my work.
I'm embracing the art of simply starting. Showing up, starting, and creating.
“It was time so I said yes I said yes to living I said yes to loving I said yes to being my... self illuminated and unafraid.”― Cleo Wade
Flowing with my process is the ultimate act of self-love — a reminder that creativity blooms best when nurtured with care. I witness this rhythm echo back in my life, as ideas blossom effortlessly when I trust my hands, my instincts, and the gentle pull of inspiration.
This is my nature — I am blooming.
“Stay soft. It looks beautiful on you.”― Nayyirah Waheed, SaltPoetically yours,
Jaleeca
How I Am Staying Soft:
Studying: diotima.world (Existentialism)
Drinking: Coco Pineapple Water with a splash of seltzer; Dirty Chai Latte with oat milk and honey
Eating: Vegan kale salad with harissa chickpeas; Homemade pickled radishes
Skin: Trader Joe's Lemongrass Coconut Body Oil with Almond and Jojoba Oils; Youth To The People Superberry Hydrate + Glow Vitamin C Brightening Dream Mask
Shopping: The Grand Bazaar on the Upper West Side, Manhattan
Yoga: Sarah Wes - Divine Feminine & Self-Love Kemetic Yoga Flow
Gaming: Animal Crossing: Happy Home Paradise
Motivation: My Pinterest Moodboard — Limitless 2025 & Affirmation Calendar
How are you staying soft?