Heart and Soil: A Reflection on Being Watered by Sisterhood

Yesterday, I had the privilege of participating in the Heart and Soil open air market as a vendor for Defining You Apparel, and I can honestly say it was more than just a day of business—it was nourishment for my soul.

The Setting

Imagine this: fresh fruits and vegetables surrounding you in a beautiful garden, 60-degree weather, a cool breeze, and a community of women—98% of them women of color, radiant in their individuality yet united in purpose. That was my backdrop yesterday. But beyond the setting, it was the people who watered my heart in ways I didn’t even realize I needed.

Lessons from the Garden

As a woman in business, I’ve come to understand how much unlearning is required—unlearning societal expectations, internalized misogyny, and the narratives that can make you feel less than simply because of who you are. Yesterday, though, in a space filled with brilliant, dynamic women who looked like me, I felt seen, valued, and celebrated. These women, in their kindness and authenticity, showed up not just as vendors or entrepreneurs but as sisters, lifting one another in ways I wish society modeled more often.

I didn’t know a single soul at this event before yesterday. Yet, as I walked in, I was met with warm smiles, genuine curiosity about who I am, and affirmations that reminded me I belong. What struck me most was how inclusive the space was, even when our faiths and beliefs didn’t align. These women sifted through my bold faith declarations—Bible verses, statements of salvation—and sought messages they could resonate with. Not because they necessarily shared my religious views but because they saw me. Their kindness wasn’t conditional; it was an intentional choice to connect. 

In the midst of kale, collard greens, and blooming flowers, I was experiencing an example of humanity doing what nature models so well. The rosemary didn’t compete with the broccoli, the cauliflower wasn’t intimidated by the squash, and the flowers didn’t shade the chard out of a fear of being outshined. They all harmoniously existed with the understanding that they complimented each other. And isn’t that what we all crave? To walk into spaces and feel like we belong, to feel seen, and to feel loved for who we are? 

A Message of Love 

What I experienced at Heart and Soil wasn’t just kindness—it was a glimpse of how God sees us. It was a reflection of the command to love others as we love ourselves.

As I sit now, reflecting on the gift of yesterday, God’s word echoes in my heart: they will know us by our love. As a Christian, I’m called to show up in love, and yesterday, that love was mirrored back to me. It reminded me that no matter our differences, we can choose to agree on one thing: people have value. People are dynamic. People are dope.

As a believer, I’m called to love others as Christ loves me. And while this love doesn’t require me to agree with everything or everyone, it does require me to see people as God sees them—with inherent worth and dignity. It’s a love rooted in the truth of who He is, not the shifting tides of culture or emotion. Society often tells us to “follow our hearts,” but I’ve learned that true peace comes from aligning my heart with God’s.

Yesterday supported the unlearning necessary for me to show up with a heart rooted in truth about who God says I am. It reminded me that when I allow His heart to flow through mine, I can transmit joy, kindness, and the fruit of His Spirit to others. And in doing so, I’m not only honoring God, but I’m also creating space for others to feel seen, valued, and inspired.

This isn’t always easy. There are days when I’m wrestling with self-doubt or feeling the weight of the world’s noise. But no matter what’s happening in the world or in my heart, one thing remains constant: I matter to God. His plans for me are good, and His love for me is unchanging. It’s from this place of security that I’m learning to love myself well, so I can extend that same love to others.

If you’ve ever found yourself hesitating to show up fully in a space, wondering if it’s safe to be your authentic self, let me encourage you: be what your heart desires to receive. Be kind to yourself, love yourself well, and then extend that same love to others. You never know how your light might water someone else’s heart. You might be the reason they leave a space feeling valued, seen, and inspired—just like the women at Heart and Soil were for me.