I’m taking a quiet week to myself (after a VERY emotionally rough Christmas weekend, full transparency) but wanted to pop in to say thank you for rocking with me. 

Not only this year, but in general. 

A few of you have been here a really long time–all the way back to when I first started my interior design blog in 2008–and in the event I’ve never said it before, I wanted you to know that your being here–reading my newsletters & magazines, sharing intimate details of your life in my DMs & inbox, listening to my podcast, staying engaged with my work, allowing me to guide you in Wig Snatch sessions, joining my Marrakech/Bali retreats, investing in UNAPOLOGETIC, purchasing Intention Bracelets, attending my masterclasses & workshops–really means so much to me. 

I’ve allowed myself the grace to be reborn in so many ways over the past 11 years but to be honest–haven’t always known what I was doing. Matter of fact, I’ve RARELY known ahead of time. But what I have known (or rather, felt) is when I’d arrived at the end of one journey & it was time to embark on another. It’s been scary, but I’ve honored that knowing again & again over the years and you’ve been right here beside me. So whether you’ve been here since Day 1 OR if you’ve found me recently, THANK YOU. 

Western culture tells us that the only investment that matters is money but for me, that’s simply not true. Taking a few minutes out of your day to read my emails or engage with my content is actually an investment of your most precious non-renewable resource–TIME. So even if you’ve never purchased a thing from me, I want you to know that I see you. I appreciate you. And I deeply honor your choice to invest your most valuable resource with me.

In the coming year I’ll share more about the core values & principles that guide my work, but it’s fitting to say a bit about one of them right now:

COMMUNITY. 

I LOVE COMMUNITY. I mean, I luuuuhhhhhhhhhhhvvveeeee community. I love the art of gathering humans–linked by consciously shared commitments, principles, and values–to do life together. I love shining a light on the common threads that bind us across backgrounds, stories & languages. I love reminding people, “You are not alone”. I love discussing things that can’t be explained using logic. I love connecting with humans who intentionally live their lives in radically honest & transparent ways. Who grapple with the uncertainty and complexity of what it means to be human. People who aren’t afraid to wade into deep waters, have vulnerable conversations, and ask scary questions that lead to life-changing decisions. 

THESE ARE MY KINFOLK. THIS IS THE COMMUNITY I LOVE CURATING.

And if you’re reading this, it means you’re one of these people too. 

I’m enamored with women who fully live the width & depth of their lives, celebrating their joys AND honoring their sorrows. The kind who’ll burn their entire lives down to the ground if it means a chance at showing up as a more honest & true version of themselves. Women who aren’t afraid to take the inconvenient long road if it creates a more meaningful story. The ones who publicly share their “mess” & proudly live their most deeply held principles out loud.

The Ari Corteses.

The Sheyla Perezes. 

The Brandi Sheltons.

The Andra Thomases.

The Simone Williamses.

The Courtney Cummingses.

The Keisha Fogles. 

The Kris Clarkes. 

The Jennifer Arnises.

The Ina Joneses.

The Kia Players.

The Crystal Andrewses.

The Raquel Sanchez Sullivans.

And these are just a few of the first names that came to mind. 

Doing this work, in all of its different iterations, has allowed me to meet & connect with so many humans that I NEVER EVER would’ve had the chance to meet otherwise. Hands down, I would not be the Dayka I am today without the thousands of you I’ve had personal encounters with over the last decade-plus. And words alone would never be enough to adequately articulate the abiding richness you’ve added to my life. 

The humans–you–have been the most treasured gift in my 11 years of business. You’ve expanded me. Trusted me. Taught me. Challenged me. Affirmed me. Supported me.  Encouraged me. Consoled me. Corrected me. Cared for me. Recommended me. Hyped me. Shared with me. Invested in me. And this has meant so much because entrepreneurship is fucking hard soul work. No matter if you’re making $1 or $1M. It’s not just about having the courage to put your complete trust into yourself & your own ideas, but ALSO the fact that entrepreneurship constantly exposes you to yourself. It’s a mirror for the places where your wounds are hiding. Where your childhood traumas are being triggered. Where your unexplored gifts & strengths seek to be exposed. Where your bullshit is hanging out the back of your skirt like toilet paper. And the evidence of where your deepest core beliefs are either bolstering or sabotaging your dreams. 

It’s all in there, all the time. And no matter what it may seem like from across this computer, I can assure you that I am a REAL person who experiences these things too. Yes, I’m smart as hell, brave, bold, confident, adventurous & funny AF. But I also fuck things up. I get scared. I second-guess myself. I say & do the wrong things. I hurt people’s feelings. I get humbled by life & not a week goes by that I don’t turn inward to audibly ask God for guidance, clarity & help. 

This business has been one of my biggest soul lessons & I know that I am not here on my own accord. It’s taken every ancestor, archangel, prayer, breath, oracle card, crystal, conversation, relationship, lesson, ounce of Grace, Act of God and each one of YOU to get here, so before we end the year I just wanted to send this note of thanks. If no one has told you today, YOU MATTER. You matter to people who you don’t even realize you matter to. You have made a profound difference in my life. And you have helped me know myself in a way that never could’ve been possible without your presence. I would not be here without you, my business would not be here without you and for that, I am eternally grateful. 

From the most sincere place in my heart–thank you.

I hope you have a safe, restorative New Year, in whatever way your soul is craving most. 

I love you all. See you in 2022, inshallah. 

Dayka