On July 24, 2023, I celebrated the 3 year anniversary of Poetry by Kimberly Daniella and 2 years of entrepreneurship. As I reflect on a journey that has been about 10 years in the making, I feel so blessed, grateful, and honoured to be able to create to my heart's desire and express myself freely on this platform. Being able to cultivate a space and manage a business that is entirely my own is a blessing that I will never take for granted.
10 years ago, I began stringing together rhymes in my iPod notes to manage my anxious thoughts and make sense of the world around me. 5 years ago, I shared a glimpse of my journal to friends and family on Instagram and took one of my biggest artistic leaps of faith to date. 3 years ago, I created a digital presence that will outlive my mortal vessel until the end of time. 2 years ago, I legally set that vision in stone and added “entrepreneur” to my resume at 19 years old. About a year ago, I drew up a plan with faith to get my name and logo on a T-shirt. Today, I got to see myself and some of my favourite people wear it.
I am so proud to announce a project that I have envisioned for over a year now: the new Poetry by Kimberly Daniella merch! Featuring an embroidered logo on the left breast (so I always stay close to your heart), and a quality 10 x 10 DTF print logo on the back; all within a comfortable 100% cotton T-shirt.
This milestone is so special and surreal to me. Growing up, my parents always told me that I could do anything I set my mind to and that affirmation is the pinnacle of my confidence and self-assurance to this day. The level of gratitude I feel for the ongoing love and support I have received on this journey has no ends or bounds. However, all things considered, this year I really want to celebrate me; something I could do more often and spent too much of my life feeling guilty for. I am writing this post on the 3 year anniversary of my business because I chose to bet on myself. I do not gamble, but I would confidently put my life’s savings on Kimberly Douglas with God by her side on any given day (and I am not just saying that because I am Kimberly Douglas). In 10 years, I have grown into the most accomplished, resilient, and disciplined version of myself. In just the past 3 years, I have added powerful to that list, amongst many other adjectives. To me, a powerful woman is one who has outlived her darkest days, kept kindness in her heart when she had reason to turn cold, faced her innermost weaknesses, and made peace with it all. When I look in the mirror, I see power, poise, and potential staring back at me. And the most beautiful part of it all, is I have only begun to scratch the surface of what God has in store for me.
Every year on PbyKD Day I cannot help but to think of 11 year old Kimberly who knew nothing better than to transmute her confusion into creativity and create passion from pain. Years later, I am so happy my introduction to poetry was so personal. I am thankful for all the years I got to enjoy it for myself without the public perception and external recognition. I am happy the reason I write poetry has grown alongside me but its purpose in my story has remained the same. I am so blessed to have my words reach, resonate with, and inspire numbers of people that continually blow my mind. I am so thankful for every door this art form has and will continue to open for me. I am eternally grateful for the talent, the creativity, the passion, the resilience, the growth, the lessons, and the platform to share it all. Even when I feel I have found all the right words, God continues to leave me speechless.
This journey has not always been easy, despite how optimistic I remain. It has been lonely, heartbreaking, exhausting, confusing, and full of self doubt. The past 3 years of my life alone have been memoir-worthy to say the least, but I will leave those details for the future publishers *wink wink*. I have encountered situations and people that were determined to destroy me and yet, despite every weapon formed against me, I am still here. Prospering, evergrowing, and standing strong in my purpose. The best part is, I know who I am. In fact, I believe I have all along. I make art because every fibre of my being, cell in my body and breath in my lungs loves it. I have never felt more alive than when I am creating in my element(s). And as cliché as it may sound, God has saved my life in the form of art countless times.
So, I will continue to create with each new chapter of my life for as long as it feels authentic. I will continue to experience: by navigating life and it’s many uncertainties one day at a time, create: by keeping my heart in everything I do with God at the centre of it all, and with all the hope in my heart, I will continue to inspire: if even one new person, in any way. If I had to sum up this experience in its entirety, the one thing I would say is this: bet on yourself. every. single. day. Don't wait on anyone to see your vision or acknowledge your potential, just go get it. If you can dream it, you can be it.
Thank you SO much for supporting me throughout my artistic journey for 5+ years. No sequence of words will be poetic enough to express the fullness of my heart. If you are interested in becoming apart of the community and repping my brand to the world, subscribe to my newsletter for email updates, continue to follow my journey on this platform and Instagram, and stay tuned for future opportunities to preorder your own shirts. At this time, shirts will be made to order and a new batch will be for sale based on expressed interest. Feel free to communicate your interest in a short email to contactkdpoetry@gmail.com under the subject line "PbyKD T-Shirts" and stay tuned for the official pre-order launch to be announced. Thank you in advance for your cooperation. To 3 years of Poetry by Kimberly Daniella and many more to go! May the terrific twos of entrepreneurship keep me showered in blessings🥂
Peace, love, and gratitude always,
Kim
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