Hey beautiful people! It has been three weeks since I officially opened Kindred Creatives ALP and pieces of memories would pop into my mind making me realize that I manifested my bookstore but not in the way you would think.

I didn’t sit down praying every day or planning. It wasn’t a life goal, but what it seemed to become was a purpose, part of my mission.

One day, as I was putting products on the shelves, I was reminded of the many times I would say as I walked around cute boutiques, “I want a gift shop.” This was all the time. I would walk around cute stores marvel at the gifts and products and think to myself, “If I had a store, it would be black-owned products and gifts.”

Seeds were planted and I had no idea that I was manifesting my bookstore with a simple desire, a simple plan without thinking too much into it.

I was reminded of the organization I worked for, Neighborhood Development Center and the incubators that we developed for small business owners, I was in awe watching these business owners flourish from the opportunity and the support. There was one store, in particular, a little artsy co-op, where about 20 artists came together to sell their artworks. Everyone, a different style making it such a unique place to shop at. It wasn’t just a store but was life-giving, and that is what I loved that community, collaborative feel making you connect beyond the idea of just buying something.

Somehow, that message stuck to me and I didn’t want to just be a bookstore, I wanted to give life, not in the God sense but the “we are here on earth for a reason” and I wanted to help revitalize, inspire, give meaning in a collective sense. Messages are ways that manifested the bookstore.

Something that has been a mission over the past two years has been the erasure and censoring of black and brown voices in all aspects. In the news, on social media, the education system, healthcare, history, and more, I needed people’s stories to be heard. I started a course called Creative Memoirs, where I give tips on sharing your story in creative ways so that others cannot rewrite or tell your story in a way that is displeasing to you. This carried over to the bookstore.

On the shelves, I made sure that most of the books are self-published and independent authors so that their truth wasn’t watered down without their permission.

So you are probably wondering, how I unintentionally manifested the bookstore, but I told you! Ok, I will break it down!

How I Unintentionally Manifested the Bookstore

1-The thoughts and words that come out of your mouth are making contracts with the universe. Life and death are in the power of the tongue, choose life… so in other words, be careful what you say and wish for.

2- Do not be wishy-washy, going back and forth shows that you really do not want a thing. Somehow I never went back on my thoughts and desires. I didn’t say, “Oh I would love a bookstore, well maybe not… that would be too much work.” Or other thoughts that would negate the original thought, yes I was scared, but don’t remember ever negating or go back on what I wanted even if there wasn’t a real plan to begin with.

3-Visualize what you want- I didn’t purposefully visualize but, those little plans that came to mind seemed to plant some huge seeds. Seeing the other stores, but with my rendition was huge.

4-Accept the mission and purpose- I never heard God say, “You will open a bookstore for the community to uplift and elevate people and the community” God doesn’t speak to me that way… but how I did hear God was by recognizing the little seeds that were planted, reflecting on my life’s journey and how it set me up for this. Although nervous, I trusted that everything will work out.

I hope this inspires you to do something big and trust God.

You can continue to follow my journey here on the blog and on the Bookstore’s Instagram. @KindredCreativesALP Also, check out the Dallas Morning News Article.

Peace and Blessings,
Cicely

Books I am Loving:

There are links that are affiliates which means if you click it and purchase, I get some kickbacks! Thank you in advance!