Self Perspective

My name is Brisha Roxberry and I grew up in parts of Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and East Tennessee, with the last being my home for the past thirteen years. I studied Sociology & Psychology from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. My interests are broadening each day with a special likeness toward philosophy, spiritualism, healthy-living, nature and the outdoors, and fantasizing of nomadic travel. Every one of us reading have experienced challenges, whether it be heartbreak, loss, trauma, or physical and mental barriers. I am a 23 year old woman living with undiagnosed Asperger's syndrome, which is on the autistic spectrum and ships its own list of problems, depending on how one responds to their environment. My brother and I were raised as latch-key children in a home where we had to take care ourselves from a young age. I have struggled with social anxiety for as long as I remember and packing up and moving frequently was all the more stressful. Friends have always been out of my knowledge on how to find and keep because we are living in a neurotypical world where everyone is expected to function similarly. Feeling lonely and neglected was the usual, affecting my sense of adequacy. Today I feel like I am enough. I am content with who I am becoming and I love life, even the upsetting phases. Life is a series of death and rebirth, with the body literally shedding its skin (cells) of previous hardships, making us stronger, more flexible, and unique to ourselves. If I never chose to persevere and continue expanding in a socially driven world, I may not be around today. Young girl Brisha would not recognize who she is today.

If one becomes stagnant in life to where they no longer wish to learn, grow, and develop with the changes of everyday life, then they will not survive as long as someone who does. Adopting new mentalities, thoughts, beliefs, and skills is key to a wholesome life. The reason why some choose to remain in one place is typically due to comfort, fear, or lack of self-worth, preventing movement into the whole self. Society and culture pushes specific lifestyles and normalizes destructive behavior to weaken those who are more reliant on systems in place. Becoming independent or autonomous of one's perspective, actions and encompassing power we all hold within us is how one becomes resilient and adaptive. The change mindset is nothing new, however, many are unaware of the concept or rarely take the time to learn and understand this knowledge. We would rather consume whatever we're fed, right? When you don't question the information which is presented, one becomes accustomed to being told what to think and believe, which impacts each of their decisions. Whether it be pop culture, diet, marketing schemes, slave labor, financial-restraint, or political and religious identities. We hold onto these aspects which we believe define us never knowing whether that is who we are meant to be or the reality which we are meant to experience. We shape our realities with the lens we SEE through.

We could choose to discover outside perspectives, lose the stereotypes and divisive mentality which results in distracting people from working as one unified species. I use logic, reasoning, and true knowledge to help others to believe in themselves and find the freedom to choose the life they genuinely want to live, rather than the life we are socialized or influenced to live by outer forces. Let's stand strong with transparency, accountability and wiser decisions. Lets transition into our own creators and build a life of longevity and meaning, together as one human race. It requires the desire to change and begins at an individual's mind. It's time we say enough. Join me in my journey of real self-discovery. This is called finding your higher purpose. All I wish to do is reach the hearts, minds and spirits of those my story and perspectives resonate with. To lead in expression, business, and philanthropy. Ignite that spark that's inside of all of us. Get ready for life-changing transformations! What could be beyond the horizon?

One of my favorite shots of a sunset I've grabbed.