Who would've thought? You probably wouldntv’e.
All I cared about was Hot Wheels, dolls’ hair, being a doctor one day and maintaining my small close group of friends. Not much has changed. I’m still consistent, God is still consistent.
That’s the post. 🤣
At the top of last month, a lovely girl from the PR team at my job reached out to me and asked if she could nominate me for the Young Changemakers Award. This award celebrates the next generation of PR & Communications stars, helps to launch their careers and creates more opportunities for those in marginalized groups. Nominees had to be between the ages of 22-29 (I just made it) and identify as a minority race.
I help others write resumes and cover letters because it’s a very hard task to write about yourself. It’s much easier to talk about yourself and let others write about you. Luckily, that’s the situation I was in with this surprise nomination. Because I’m in the same boat as most of you, and also deeply suck when it comes to writing good things about myself.
She asked if we could set up a call so that I could walk her through my work history and accomplishments and she would write up my life for me to present to the judges. Instant imposter syndrome kicked in. Why would I even agree? I haven’t done anything award-worthy. There’s no way I had a chance at winning. I should back out. Forget it.
I proceeded to oblige with a kick back to my imposter syndrome from my husband and a few great friends.
The questions came through, I made a little outline so I didn’t forget any part of my story. The day came for the call, I put on my best smile and proceeded to gab about Dominique Middleton.
At the end of the call, she said, “I can’t believe you’ve accomplished so much to be so young! This is amazing!”
This wasn’t the first time I’d heard those words. I hear them kinda often. I NEVER believe them.
My 10-year-old self is my worst critic. She still reminds me that I could’ve been out of medical school and would’ve been a year out of my residency, doctoring it up out here by now. She still reminds me that I’m not a homeowner, and the market also reminds me to FORGET ABOUT IT for now. She still reminds me that I should be paying a bit more attention to my cosmetology career. She still reminds me that I need to be a fashion icon and a car aficionado. She still reminds me that I could’ve been a dancer and maybe this baby fat would be gone by now.🤣 She still wants me to believe that what she thought then is exactly how everything falls into place now.
But I’ve learned SO much in 20 years.🤯 WOAH—twenty is crazy.
I’ve learned that God humbles us through lessons in disappointment. That he uses opportunities when you don’t get what you want to eventually encourage you. That His plan leads you down paths greater than you anticipated or imagined.
I mean, she thought she was going to be proposed to in Paris by a man she’d been dating for 2 years or so, plan a wedding for another year and then have the wedding of the century. I mean, she was right about one part.😏
I’ve learned that dreams are just dreams until they turn into skills and those skills are just skills until they’re put into practice and that practice is just practice until it turns into a positive impact, and then you have a gift. I’ve learned that I don’t want dreams that stay in my head, I want dreams that turn into gifts out of my hands. I’ve realized the world doesn’t need dreamers, it needs the gifted.
And, I am gifted.
I’m dedicating 30 to myself and all my friends who’ve come out of the trenches of our own unrealistic expectations, striving for perfection, and disgusting self-deprecation and have seen that on the other side, there’s glory and grace to receive and to share. And even more so, there’s so much more life to live—and THAT is the blessing. What we thought was the bottom was actually a trampoline.
I’m dedicating 30 to my girlies and guys in their 20s who feel they’ll never figure it out, or feel they’ve reached the pinnacle, or feel stuck on literal stupid, or feel they’ve given all there is to give, keep going, there’s more to do and learn and see and experience and it’s what you need.
I’m dedicating 30 to all my sisters and family in their 40s+—tell us, teach us, remember, respond, get in front of, get behind. We still need it, even if we act like we don’t, the same way we did when we were 10 too.
There are enough gifts for us all, especially when we share them with each other.
It’s 12:22 AM on March 14th, 2023. I’ve walked into this new year writing; and how metaphorically beautiful is that to affirm my gift to this world? ❤️
This past weekend I spoke to our church about humility. The grace that Jesus offers us about humility is that it’s not only what we’ve always been taught about being humble. It’s not being shy, or lowly, or quiet, or understated. Humility is not what you do less of.
Humility is doing more looking around - reflecting on how you’ve contributed to the lives of others.
Humility is doing more looking in - reflecting on what you believe about yourself and where you are refusing to acknowledge God as your source of accomplishment.
Humility is doing more looking up - reflecting on who God is, that He has all the power, that He’s in control, and that He can be trusted.
And that’s what I’ll be doing for 30 - looking around, looking in and looking up.
Dominique Middleton
is a result of the goodness of God
has been graced to provide support and guidance to those around her
is the lowest of keys hilarious
is a fierce introvert and terrible at small talk
reflects Jesus in truth-telling
knows Jesus resists her self-reliance and over-critical attitude and she’s learning to trust him and give into grace
loves love, food, family, friends, having (but never planning) outrageous events, massages and comfort
is a wife to the greatest husband of all time
is a mom to the sweetest boys to ever be birthed on this earth
is a top-tier sister, daughter, friend and everything else to all the people
is a creative writer
is a designer - web and graphic
is a communications strategist
is a mastermind
maintains her cosmetology license
authored The Words I Didn’t Listen To and IKIGAI
founded align agency (finalized website WIP) - a boutique strategic planning firm that helps non-profits and writers turn problems into plans one idea at a time through personalized ideation and organization that gets you recognition
graduated from Northeastern twice with a BS in Management and Marketing and a MS in Corporate and Organizational communications
co-founder of Acts Church where she is the Director of Communications and Organizational Development
is an associate strategist at Codeword where she’s responsible for managing and brand strategy for 7 Google accounts
is a trusted co-worker and leader
is a gifted resource to everyone she encounters
This is the year I’m accepting it. I accept that God has been GOOD to me, that He is reliable, and that I owe Him to do His work wherever I am and whoever I’m with to impact His world. Happy Jesus year to me! It’s giving full trust, personality and Queen vibes all the way!
Oh! Y’all should know, I didn’t win the award. Oh well, their loss! 💃🏽 & that’s not something I would’ve actually believed years ago, and that’s a win! ✨
