Monthly Feature: Under 40 & Changing The Game (1)

Who is Linea Johnson @locsofpoetry_?
I am a platform that focuses on the Black experience through a Black woman's lens.

What has contributed to your personal growth?

I would say age. I'm not the same person I was five minutes ago. I've evolved and I'm becoming the person I need to be.

In the next 5 years where do you see yourself going?

In terms of success? I see myself being self-employed and clearing six figures. In terms of a relationship? My ass better be married. Kids? I don't know..

What are the 3 images that best describe your growth?

This image is the first image on my boutique's website, it shows my persistence with opening up my first place and it was one of the first images I took when the idea first came to fruition.

This second image is the first trip I took by myself. I went to Minnesota for the first time and I was touring the campus of the University of Minnesota. It was there, that I spent time with my King. It was the beginning of our relationship.

This third image was taken during the first time I met Ketsy. She was such a beautiful soul and a lovely person to be around. She stayed with me for the entire duration of the shoot when she did not have to. Rest in power, my love.

What message would you like to provide those people who have hit a road block with their personal growth?

Being persistent is essential. You'll hear one millions no's before you get a yes. But if you give up prematurely, you'll never accomplish anything. Life isn't handed to you, you have to be aggressive and stay the course - no matter if you've been handed lemons.

How would you like to be remembered?

I want to be remembered as a great advice giver with a beautiful mind.

What are your current ventures?

Modeling, IG, Strange Fruit Boutique

Monthly Feature: Under 40 & Changing The Game (2)

Who is L. Wesley or Mr. Wes @thelsquire?

 A southern raised man looking to leave his lasting mark on the nation's capital and be an inspiration to those who dream to be something greater than their surroundings. 

What has contributed to your personal growth?
 I would have to say the one major factor that has contributed to my personal growth would be my difficult childhood. I am a product of a single-parent home, however I never knew what it meant to be in need of anything. At one point my mother worked two jobs while finishing her degree at night. I learned how to set a goal for yourself and to achieve it, now matter what. My mother taught me that life will be difficult, times will be hard, nothing will come easy but at the end of the day; if you want it, go get it. The second factor to my growth would have to be my older sister who passed in 2005. She taught me to truly believe in my own gifts. She would often tell me to "believe in the star in yourself". Keia supported me in every way humanly possible. She got me in trouble A LOT lol but she also pushed me to simply be great. She was the first person who supported my political and musically dreams. She gave the confidence that I could do both and and be damn good at them. 

In the next 5 years where do you see yourself going?
This is such an interesting question for me right now. Had you asked me this in 2016, I would have said that I'm going to be working for the government and collecting this check and those "good government benefits" lol. But as we all know, sometimes God has a different plan for us. So in five years, it is very likely that I would be sitting in the House of Representatives or doing music full time with my own label. I'm on the path for both so only time will tell. But one thing I do know is that wherever I am in five years, I will enjoy it and be doing an amazing job at it.

What are the 3 images that best describe your growth?
 

Climbing - when life gets hard, hold on. The larger the blessing the harder the trail 

  

Believe in yourself- a large part of believing yourself, is learning to be comfortable with who you really are. And realizing, that there is a winner in you 

Dreams- no one ever achieved anything by giving up on themselves. So if you want success you have to work toward it

What message would you like to provide those people who have hit a road block with their personal growth?
It's ok! Everyone hits a road block at some point. We all get to that mountain that is just a little larger than others. And because we have conquered the smaller ones, we often beat up on yourselves for not knocking this one day immediately. Road blocks are simply a larger victory we will soon have, so don't worry, just take it one step at a time.

How would you like to be remembered?
 I would like to be remembered as someone who beat the odds. There aren't many success stories of people who come from my background. There definitely aren't many success stories on a national level. I would like for the younger generation to see me as an example of how great they can be if they simply believe.

What are your current ventures?
Now this question could go on and on lol. As most people know, I am currently signed to a record label. We are currently working on the 2nd album; scheduled to be released in June of this year. I am also a new appointee to the city council so I am working hard to my political align myself with the right people to make an honest run at this. I am also CEO of my own consulting firm (W2 Consulting). We specialize in event management and restaurant consulting. My "Waffles with Wesley" brunch series is starting to gain some steam, so I am enjoying being able to show off my culinary schools from time to time. And I have a few other project in the fire but we will save those for another time

Additional message from Mr. Wes - I just want to encourage people to not give up on themselves or their dreams. It took me almost 25 years to achieve one of my musical dreams but I made it. I was homeless and living out of my car at one point in time but I didn't allow that stop me from achieving one of my educational dreams. So anything you want to do and are willing to put forth the effort towards, you can do it. Simply Believe.

This Tea Though (3)

 Dating is such an interesting thing because it can go left very quickly without you even expecting it. You assume things are going to be flowers and happiness all the time but when it comes to dating it’s never that. A generation with so many options sometimes we are greedy and want everything instead of accepting what’s already present. An anonymous stranger, who let his guard down for a moment and life changed, shared this tea with me to share with my readers.

When we think we find a great person we never want to let them slip through our fingers. We literally have future talks with them about taking trips and enjoying life together. As we get older we realize we don’t want to be 40 and alone, still hitting those 21 and older clubs. When dating someone for more then 7+ months, talking everyday, spending time with each other, I feel like you both have an understanding. You didn’t go into this to waste time but ultimately that’s what happens.

So this guy (Guy A) went to a day party to go link up with his friend. His friend brought another guy (Guy B) who just moved to the town about 3 months ago. They’re exchanging information and then Guy B proceeds to say that his girl is coming to the day party. He said that they are moving in together and that she has been so great to him. A couple moments later the girl walks in and Guy A realizes that’s the girl that he has been talking to for the past couple months. He is completely crushed. The girl is in complete shock and doesn’t even know how to handle the situation. Guy A kept his composure and mentioned to Guy B that’s the girl that he has been talking to for the past couple months. Fast forward, after the entire situation the girl kept hitting Guy A’s phone to try and fix the issue that she caused. It was too late, as you publicly came out with someone and you are moving in with him (“was” moving in. Guy B dropped her after hearing that she had a Guy C). Crazy thing is that friends and family knew about Guy A and would constantly call him for things in regards to her. They didn’t know about Guy B (or Guy C).

If you have options just say you do. No one wants to spend time and put in all this effort with someone who has multiple people. Dating shouldn’t be a game and more value should be put into it. Situations like this make people don’t want to date anymore and just be alone. No one is perfect but wasted time is something we can never get back.

Drunk Texting

Sometimes I find myself in random situations that I magically put myself in knowing that they happen to all of us. I've always been a stubborn person with my emotions (as most men are). As men we clearly don't open up but with everything that happened last year in my life that stubborn wall I had up came crumbling down. I would find myself trying to fix the wall but then I'd be out drinking with some friends and it would come down a little more. Then I'd be stuck in my feelings texting the wrong people.

We all drunk text and let our drink get the best of us. Sometimes when people know you are drinking they want to get the truth out of you, so they hit you up first. We are all extra friendly and a lot more truthful when we are intoxicated. The truth comes out and you just want to tell people whats really on your mind. Either how they fucked up, how you hate them, how much you love them or just something that doesn't apply to them. You just want to get whatever off your chest that's just been bothering you but you acted like you didn't care about. Once you finally get that liquid courage you just let go. I've found myself a couple times in the past year doing that. I know better but I was completely in a different space and I definitely didn't care while I was intoxicated.

The next day I'd wake up looking at my phone like, "Did I really send this?" or "Did I really talk to this person like this?" I mean drinking relaxes you and makes you more susceptible to your feelings. We all know this. It's all about what you do after you get to this point. Drunk texting is apart of life so don't get to caught up. Lessons are learned quickly from messing getting drunk and saying what's really on your mind.