On: Moving Past Rejection.

On May 3rd, I did something I would have never thought I would ever do in all my years on this earth. I plucked up the courage to go and talk to a guy I was interested in. To set the scene, it was Colour Conference, women were everywhere with their auroral flower crowns, flowing dresses and beautiful smiles, hand in hand with each other, bubbling with excitement and anticipation.  And the men? well, the men were kindly serving as hosts, ushers and even ‘coffee-picker-uppers’ with many guys even flying in just to be a part of the experience – how gracious right? On the first day of Colour, my eyes settled on a most dapper gentleman, let’s call him ‘Killmonger’ (He had the same locs à la Micheal B Jordan in Black Panther ahahaha). Killmonger was a sight to behold, a seemingly lovely sienna hued gent by way of Paris. So after spotting him – I did what any normal gal would do and did my research, asking a few of the guys on his team what my man was saying init? Success! He was single and apparently open to mingling. Day two of colour, drunk with courage after Erwin McManus had encouraged us to be courageous, I went with my friend to go and talk to him and his friend, and what transpired was one of the most embarrassing moments of my life. Killmonger seemed averse to conversing with me and he… quite literally began to migrate,  his answers to my nervous questions about how he was enjoying the conference short, fast and very awkward. After taking the strong hint that he was certainly not interested, we slinked away with my friends embarrassingly asking loudly how it went as I almost burst into a jog to get away. His abrupt manner left me blinking back hot mortified tears on the Jubilee line to West Hampstead that night. When I got home that evening, tears poured out of my eyes like the dam that was holding them had shattered with my confidence, and within my choked prayers, I realised my sadness was so much bigger than getting rejected by a random French monsieur at a women’s conference.

Dress c/o Traffic People

Bag – Nasty Gal (via Yossy’s Wardrobe)

Heels – Primark

No that was the ice block and underneath was a gigantic iceberg of all the rejection, fear and pain I’d been inadvertently holding onto over the decades. You see, for me, I blindingly chase perfection in everything I do. If I ever sense risk, I am stupidly averse to even look in its direction for the fear of things not working out impeccably, feels like too much of a cross for me to bear – Nuts I know, I’m not sure whether it is the perfectionism spirit of my Virgo ancestors that rests upon my soul so strongly or a deep nested fear that rejection is a reflection of what I believe to be my own personal inadequacies. Wow, we got deep pretty quickly right?

I’ve found that rejection for me, feels like a mirror being held up to my face, a mirror with a sad version of me in it, surrounded by crimson lipsticked scribbles of ‘failure’, ‘unworthy’, ‘useless’, ‘unwanted’ and more gleaming on the glinting surface of the gilded mirror, and it took a while for me to realise that rejection isn’t a reflection. It is simply rejection – That’s it, nothing more, nothing less. And for the most part, later on, rejection has always meant protection, whether it be dodging a bullet by way of a guy that isn’t for me, a job that I won’t thrive in, spaces that are not aligned with my values and so much for.

So does this mean I’ll go forth and throw open my heart to the wind, professing my interest in every guy I think is a lil cutie pie? Absolutely not – Once bitten twice shy my friends! But what I did gain from the experience is that rejection truly isn’t the be all and end all, and it certainly isn’t a reflection of who I am, and it shouldn’t be a reflection of how I see myself and in fact carry myself. I am fearfully and wonderfully made – No worldly validation needed, and you are too my friends. Please never forget that.

 

{ P.S. Photos by ShotsbyFifi }

xo

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9 Comments

  1. Ester R.
    May 26, 2019 / 11:59 pm

    Such an amazing story! We can always learn something from rejection in fact!She Walks BlogShewalksblog Instagram

  2. everydayjoyandme
    May 27, 2019 / 12:15 pm

    Gosh I felt this. The truth of us being fearfully and wonderfully made is so powerful it should over shadow every little bit of fear (from the prince of lies) and yet it's so difficult. We are children of God which is a wondrous thing. As always your words and pictures are perfect.

  3. Dee
    May 27, 2019 / 2:23 pm

    I wasn't there so I can't judge, but I'm just over here thinking that maybe his abruptness was nerves, just like you were nervous… But whatever happened, this is all so familiar to me as well. I often find that rejection isn't really about the loss of any particular guy, but just about the rejection itself and all the ugly memories and self-doubts it dredges up.

  4. Susan
    May 27, 2019 / 6:30 pm

    Wow really related when you said rejection feels like a mirror being held up telling you you're worthless – it can definitely feel like this at times. But you're totally right how someone feels about you there and then in the moment doesn't define or validate you as a person! xSusan Books Etc

  5. Zed
    May 27, 2019 / 11:28 pm

    I felt this. Well done for having the courage to make the move

  6. Noveltina
    May 31, 2019 / 8:39 pm

    I really liked this post! Rejection isn't ever the one but to be courageous enough to go for it and even share it with us makes me love you even more!

  7. Kailey
    June 8, 2019 / 10:19 am

    Oh wow, I can relate to this post so hard, and this line in particular: "If I ever sense risk, I am stupidly averse to even look in its direction for the fear of things not working out impeccably, feels like too much of a cross for me to bear" hit me like a ton of bricks, because I feel the exact same way! I'm so sorry you had such an uncomfortable moment, but I'm proud of you for what you gleaned from the experience, and for plucking up the courage to put yourself out there in the first place. Sending you lots of love always Sade <3

  8. Ginikachi Eloka
    July 31, 2019 / 1:03 pm

    I feel you, been there and the feeling of inadequacy still resurfaces every time I think about it even though I’ve moved past that long ago.I read a whole thread of rejection stories recently, found it comforting. You might as well, here’s the link: https://twitter.com/mochievous/status/1155468064521117705?s=21

  9. Elle Roble
    November 22, 2019 / 11:21 pm

    Moving story.. I've had my fair share of past rejections too, which felt terrible back then, but the lessons it taught me was rewarding. Thank you for sharing. P.S. love your outfit! Elle | http://specklesofstyle.com/

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