Today we’d like to introduce you to Chantal Smith.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Chantal. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
From the time that I can remember, I have always been different, went against the grain, fought to not be placed in a box, or defined by my circumstances. What others saw in black and white, I saw in color and still do. Yet somehow, I always managed to “fit in.” Not always an easy road, heck, who am I kidding – it never has been easy but what I am beginning to accept is that the fight is always worth it! Throughout many of the “downs” in my life, I have always managed to see the brighter side of things “on the way back up” no matter the circumstance. I saw and still do see the same in others. As a young adult, I began to discover that God gave me a gift of encouragement and resilience.
This became especially clear to myself and others, when my husband and I experienced the devastating phenomena of infertility. It is an experience that I would not wish on my worst enemy. After processing the grief and reality of infertility and lots of prayers, we were led to adopt. Adoption was one of the best choices I have made and definitely the best make a ” lemonade out of lemon” moments in my life. As beautiful of an experience adoption was, the road was familiarly difficult and challenging for us and I often wondered how other’s managed these infertility and adoption journeys. I talked to many people that experienced infertility and adoption in various forms but most could not fully relate to my journey as everyone’s journey is unique to them. Very later in life, I realized that during this process, unbeknownst to me, I created a “box” to safe-guard and protect myself and feelings- my view and outlook began to dim my perspective. Nothing was in color anymore.
In 2013, we were blessed with our baby girl and thirteen months later, blessed with our sons, who happen to be biological siblings of our daughter. It was an amazingly beautiful experience and time in our lives- that is, most of the time. We experienced very challenging moments in the midst of it all, oftentimes suffering in silence.
After much crying, fussing, and prayer, I felt the Lord lead me to start a blog to share my journey. In retrospect, now I realize it was also to have an outlet to vent and discover that everything that I needed to be the woman, wife, mother, friend I wanted to be- was already within me. Through tear-stained, sleepy eyes, a flat, curly afro, and a fear-filled heart, “You Are Full of It” was born on a very late night in 2018. It became addictive because I had an outlet, an amazing place where my light could be relit again. I was finally able to verbalize what I just thought to myself and in the midst of typing my heart out on the virtual web for all to read and judge, I slowly was unpeeling a box that I had created for myself that I didn’t even realize existed. Although life is not perfect, my colorful view began to saturate my life again.
My blog “You Are Full of It ” and Instagram Page (@you_arefullofit), became my corky canvas to display all the colors of my thoughts, perspectives, challenges, and journeys to help encourage others and myself. “You Are Full of It “became a love letter to Jesus, my kids, my husband, my readers, and ultimately myself. We, as a people can be so hard on ourselves, compare and strive to be something we are never going to be. Everything we need and are, God has blessed us with- it is each of our jobs to unbox what we are already full of and paint the world with these gifts. The awesome thing is that we all have a gift to unwrap and discover! I am still in the unwrapping and discovery phase and this can be observed on both the blog and IG platforms I use viewed through my love and advocacy for adoption, natural hair, mental health, self-love, my blessing of being a Mommy and Wife, and words of encouragement for every aspect of life.
I have realized over the course of my life, that the worst place to be in is a box that you created for yourself that causes the color in you to fade away. The best place to be in is when you become aware of where you are, get to a sense of clarity, let go, and start the journey to set yourself free with guidance from Him- Life becomes so much more colorful and joy-filled.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
When I first started blogging, I had so many hopes and desires for it to be a blessing to others and honestly, a little stream of revenue as I was a stay-at-home mother and money was tight. I have never earned a penny from blogging, yet I gained so much more personally and socially. At first, I did not have a clear focus for the blog. Over time my niche became more evident to me and also freeing to not worry about meeting others standards of a successful blog.
However, as my family grew and life continued to happen, my blog hasn’t gotten nearly as much love lately, unfortunately. Now being a wife, a mother of three school-aged kiddos, and working full-time as a medical social worker has made it extremely challenging to focus on blogging and other creative ventures that I would like to pursue. I find at times I have very small “windows” to blog and post and at times, take advantage of those moments as much as I can but I typically don’t. I also have found that I need to be in a certain creative space to put all the thoughts and ideas I have swirling around in my head on paper. I love being creative and encouraging others, just wish I had more time to dedicate to my blog “You Are Full of it” and the “You Are Full of it ” subscribers and followers.
We’d love to hear more about your work.
“You Are Full of It” is a blog platform that was created to encourage others in all aspects of their lives, including adoption, motherhood, womanhood, and embracing all of yourself, including natural hair. The blog is a reminder that they are enough and have exactly what they need to be who they want to be. Through my life’s experiences and journeys, I reflect and share the lessons I have learned and, in turn, hope that my vulnerability speaks to others where they are in their lives. It is my hope that the blogs encourages them to realize the good they have within themselves as well. I also have a deep love for Jesus. I literally would be dead without Him, so I always try to lead people to Him through my life experiences, good or bad.
“You Are Full of It” is known for humorous, corky, witty, transparent, spiritually based, introspective posts based on revelations that I have learned, usually the hard way, along with encouragement which we can all use a little of daily. My blog is different from others because it is a part of me and the different outlook that I have on things- which no one else can convey. I am really proud of my blog, “You Are Full of It,” because I pushed past fear and cares about what others thought and just let go to reveal the strength, courage, resilience that I had all along and to encourage others to do the same.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
As I reflect on my blogging career(as I cringe hearing the word “career” because it is more of a ministry to me) some of the fondest moments has been having people to reach out to me to share how my blog has encouraged them to be brave to share their story and recognize all that God has created them to be. Because of my willingness to share my raw emotions and thoughts about experiences and challenges I faced, including raising my three young children that we adopted, depression, infertility, low confidence, and embracing my natural hair – to name a few, it opened up some doors for me to reach people that otherwise may have never been reached or doors that would have possibly remained closed. I had the opportunity to be featured with several natural hair product companies in Atlanta as an “influencer and model,” and I was selected to blog and capture photographs of the 2019 Curls, Kinks, and Culture Fest( CKC Fest) hosted by Taliah Waajid that highlighted the beauty of peoples unique stories and life journeys. It has been amazing to experience such great moments, most of which would have never been likely without my life struggles, listening to the Lord, and my willingness to be obedient, push past the fear, and start my little blog.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://youarefullofit.wordpress.com/
- Email: youarefullofitblog@gmail.com
- Instagram: @you_arefullofit
Image Credit:
Heather Smith
Blume Photography
Jessica Saunders
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