Please don’t judge me, but I used to be that mom that regardless of where I was going I was dressed to the 9. I’ve never been a make up girl, but ever since my days on a HBCU campus I have been a heels and jeans girl. Outside of working out you would not catch me in a t-shirt or sneakers and that was before and after having two babies. Whether going to work, a football game or casual service for church I was still dressed to impress. My best friends of 20 + years hated that about me too.

Well, something shifted after having my 3^rd daughter. All of a sudden trips to the grocery store became a little more burdensome and I found myself being that mom that kept flats in the car, per my mother in law’s suggestion. In addition, I realized that my workout clothes were becoming my weekend wear even outside of the house. Don’t get me wrong, I was still put together, but in a much more casual and on-the-go kind of way.  

I had established a reputation among my friends, family, colleagues, and clients. My clients would say that they could hear me coming from around the corner to get them from the lobby at my former practice. I’m not sure if I walk that heavy or if my heels were that noisy, but they knew exactly when I was turning the corner.

As I adjusted to my new normal, as a mommy of 3, and while constantly re-assessing my “tanks” I realized that I desired to be more multifaceted in my style. I wanted to be cute, but comfortable and trendy with a twist. As a result, T-Shirt Thursday was birthed!

Before acquiring my own practice, for years, I did not work on Fridays as a part of my self-care routine as a mental health professional. It also saved me an extra expense on childcare! Thus, Thursdays were my Friday, indicating the last day of my work week. The practice that I worked at previously did not have a mandatory business casual dress code. That was just my thing until early 2019.

All of a sudden I had an affinity for t-shirts. Not just any t-shirt. Not the ones that have holes and are faded from years of washing. No…I had this new addiction to finding t-shirts that said something. They said something about me, mental health, or my faith. They brought awareness to causes that were important to me or simply read an inspirational message. My t-shirts began to speak as loudly as the clicking of my heels on the hardwoods in the office. My clients, my colleagues, and their clients began to take notice. Some even looked forward to what I would have on the following week. My clients Monday- Wednesday would be shocked if they happened to see me on Thursdays. One even asked me if I was sick. I explained that my casual dress was intentional. My messages were intentional.

I began posting my pictures on social media with the hashtags #dopetherapist #wearyourmessage and #tshirtThursday. All of a sudden friends and family across the country were excited about this new thing that I was doing. Colleagues and friends started participating with me. In fact, when I left my former practice they all wore t-shirts on my final Thursday, declaring one of my messages! Some would tag me in their pictures. Many would inbox me with adds for t-shirts that they thought I would like. While others would send me t-shirts from designers in their city.

Wear Your Message is not just a hashtag. As a therapist, I realize that many people have lost their voice for a number of reasons.  I also realize that we are quick to conform to what other’s think is trending or is cool. T-shirt Thursday is about you reclaiming your voice. What do you want your immediate sphere of influence to know? I want you to wear your message even if others disagree. I often tell my client’s that having a voice can’t always be about other’s receiving it, but just letting it be heard. What do you want to say? Join me in wearing your message on #tshirtThursday as we all begin to make our stamps on our communities, cities, state, country, and world!