Dear nécessité,

Happy Summer!! How are you feeling emotionally? Check-in with yourself and ask, because after all, you are a nécessité. I have been feeling relatively positive, overall good. A bit hormonal at times where I can cry more quickly, but other than that, I am divine. Super grateful that I can walk and move my body because I have known what it’s like not to have that mobility at times.

I was in NYC recently and walked, walked, and walked. I love walking because it’s easy on my body, my body does well walking, and I can window shop along the way, learn and see new things and be around people. In addition, it serves my mental health well. I love walking and hearing foreign languages spoken. It makes me feel like I traveled abroad without requiring a passport. 

I love love love that so much (I’m a language person who loves and appreciates other cultures). While I was in NY, I decided this time to go to the Pride parade. In the past, we typically were not in the city, and while I had witnessed the parade before, not like this. This time I stopped and attended the parade. I was front and center for this year. 

“Unapologetically Us” Pride parade 2022. It was televised live for the first time ever on one of the channels in NYC. I arrived early, walked around, met people that traveled from many places to be present, took photos for other people, and had mine taken. 

I walked many times by the historic Stone Wall Inn (a bar where the gay rights movement came about due to the riots in 1969) but never had I stopped and taken a photo; this time, I set the intention to go specifically there to do so. We sometimes take for granted what’s in our backyards. 

The feeling and the energy of this moment felt like many of us were on the same page. It felt happy about love, and at the same time that many individuals were simply over the old mentality and the audacity of people thinking they own rights to anyone’s body. In my honest opinion, this is so closed-minded, small thinking, and a sign of lack of evolvement and much more. 

It shows how stifled we can be in our thinking. Of course, we are all entitled to our own opinions and views, but to think one has the right to say what one can and cannot do to their body is mind-blowing. Think about it for a minute. Which planet is this??? I have to ask sometimes. 

Imagine if someone told you you could not style your hair the way you want, do dental work the way you want, see a doctor of your choice the way you want, read want you to desire the way you want, eat what you want, and the list goes on and on. It’s more than I am articulating here, but hopefully, I am conveying it clearly enough. 

To me, this moment of Pride felt like LOVE and acceptance. It felt like honoring who we are, coming together to be exactly who we are, and to be LOVE and prideful of that. To honor ourselves. Our beautiful beings. 

The vibrant colors of orange, yellow, pink, red, green, turquoise, and purple. Each color represents a different meaning- Sexuality (pink), life (red), healing (orange), sunshine (yellow), nature (green), art (turquoise), harmony (indigo), and soul (violet).

It was truly a colorful day. I feel like this flag color should represent all people- the human race because it’s so cheery, free, and bright. These colors are like the primary crayons we drew our elementary photos on construction paper. Happy and colorful. A day that I am proud and thankful to have been able to watch in person. 

I wore yellow because I felt extra bright; we were all sunshine and shining as we basked in this moment; with all the challenges going on in the world, it felt good to celebrate regardless of what the ego chooses to do. 

Here I share some photos of my Pride 2022 moment that was fun! I hope you enjoy it. Remember to be your honest self for yourself because 

You are a nécessité! 

Much love & gratitude,

Erica Reid, Founder of nécessité

Certified Holistic Health Coach

Certified Gut Health & Auricular Therapy (Ear Seeds)

Certified in Plant-Based Nutrition

Certification T.Colin Campbell for Nutrition Studies.

Author of The Thriving Child and Shut Up and Cook!