I always wanted to do my own thing… Make my own rules, deep down I’ve always known I’d be my own boss someday… and make a fortune by being myself. I had [and still have] visions of my gifts taking me as far as destiny will allow. With a hustler-bone somewhere in my body, in high school I sold handmade jewelry and stickers I’d designed; in college the vision became clothing, then my own books, then my words to other publications, my visual creations, so on and so forth. Still working on that fortune, it’s been difficult to always keep that same faith in myself, and determination to make those dreams come true over the years; especially when surviving is a feat itself. The road less traveled is hardly ever one without twists and turns [or criticism], but we’ll get into that…

Born and raised in the city that never sleeps, where grind culture thrives… The world forces you into independence as a child and you are morphed into the mindset that you don’t need [or even want] help. So, you hustle, and you work, and you make it happen for yourself. You grind and grind yourself down to nothing most times. As an adult, I am finding that strength, care, help- reciprocal love in community and it has made life so much greater [and so much lighter]. As the tragedies marathon, as white supremacy threatens freedom and targets the marginalized, our safe spaces are medicinal- healing that hope. As the world darkens, I am constantly warmed by my community’s love, and how we join together to share that joy… In sharing grief, in sharing joy there’s power in pouring into each other. 

I’m a creative through and through, realizing in early adulthood the importance of authenticity, of identity, and living in truth… I’m entering another season, discovering a new level of self, confident enough to let the cards fall wherever they may- which turns out to be an integral part of entrepreneurship as well. Taking on this official title; staying true, no bullshit… I’m working on my own internal struggles with destiny [versus what I’d planned for myself?] I’m thinking about all the survival skills I’ve had to use, to bend with the unpredictable and yet, I’d been so afraid to accept the unpredictability of entrepreneurship until one day, most recently, I jumped right in- why? Plenty of fear to be had in the unknown, still, never more than the pain of staying exactly the same… never healing, never growing and learning beyond…   

The end of this month will complete my third-year post college graduation. Next month brings this space’s second birthday… Time is really something- a crazy, wild, beautiful something. This spirit of reflection, change, and growth has rested upon me indefinitely and I am grateful. I’ve gained a little wisdom, accepting that all we have is the here and now… My here and now, my survival, this creative incline I’m on, looks and feels like a metamorphosis. Constantly evolving into who I wish to be; my here and now looks like transformation and growth, discovery and wonder, feels endearing, refreshing, sexy… I could go on- My here and now gets more interesting [more thrilling] as I turn the page. Dedicated to seeing how good it can get; I’ll always be grateful for Please No Bullsh*t, where I digest life in real time and capture the ups and downs of this ride... I have this feeling that after two years [and an upcoming summer of networking, magic-making, manifesting, love-cultivating] of taking the reins and watering the seeds, my brand [this space especially] will be expanding in major ways. In true Kay Hollins fashion, I plan on honoring the journey by chronicling the beauty and nuance of creative/Black/femme/queer-life as I figure out who I am, who I want to be; as I claim what’s mine… as I figure out the here and now.