Written By: Dr. Camille “Sea” Gaynus® November 12, 2026
Working with people is hard. But, it is a necessity for life. The details of how we do it depend on our lifestyles, personality, and previous experiences. Where we live,our homes, how and where we eat, our professional spaces,the extracurriculars we invest time into, all require some level of communal work. While humans are 99.9% similar on a genetic level, that 0.01% makes all the difference in how we coalesce into these groups for common understanding, elevation, and wellbeing. I have learned a lot about myself in how and where I choose to work with others. Whether it be the community of farmers that come together to grow foods in West Philly, or the grocery stores that I frequent; there is a level of communal work that is required for these enterprises to persist, and I can forget that at times. As I reflect on how I work with others, I see the journey inward that has and continues to happen. It's been a journey into obtaining knowledge on myself to find and reaffirm who I am.
Many of the spaces that we as Black women navigate require a certain level of solidarity, for protection as well as self-perseverance. It has happened for generations. I can see, sometimes better than in myself, the ways those before me within my family lineage have utilized this skill. Not getting too attached, it helps me to feel as though I am keeping parts of myself safe, especially as I navigate spaces that were meant to exclude rather than include us.
I ask myself though, can we successfully infiltrate a space without it rubbing off onto our personalities, our souls, our greater communities? Navigating such spaces has required me to ignore my inner voice too many times, dampening my own soul energy. I used to think that once I leave this lab, this building, this conference, this zoom call, the energies would dissipate from me, cause I never took them on. I realize that’s not the case. The energies that surround me, both physically and mentally do in fact infiltrate parts of my mind, body and soul. This self-realization has required me to be more cautious on the spaces that I blend into, taking a closer look at the reason why I do.
For me to uproot these thoughts and energies takes time and patience. Practices that cultivate inner patience have been vital for me to maintain my wellbeing, and be a better, more consistent source of energy for the communities that I embed, willing and joyously. It is very much a balance for me, while I enjoy time with others, I also know the time that I spend with myself is just as important. I need the space and time to truly unpack my own thoughts and feelings to see and pour energy into potential futures for myself and those around me. As the weather gets colder in my home city, I am reminded of this inward journey. Warmth must be cultivated internally before we journey out into the cold.
The voice which we all have that speaks to us matters, and too often Black women in particular are told that voice doesn’t matter, or it is trained to speak to us in negative tones, using derogatory tones. We gotta stop this. In my own life I equate my own wellbeing with that voice. How am I speaking to myself, where are my thoughts taking me. I love a good daydream, but when my daydreams turn more into nightmares, or worst-case scenarios, I know a reset is needed. Being in solitude with myself and thoughts is important for me to make this realization.
It wasn’t always like this however. Society tells us our time is precious and if we are not consistently moving, thinking then our value decreases. This lie is so dangerous, especially in the Black community and unfortunately we are living in a time where most Americans are being forced into this thinking and physical space because of the cost random folks have put on life.
I am gliding into this November, keeping my value high; my inner voice reminding me when I start to slip down the path. Letting the voice in my head, uplift and alert me in ways that protect my wellbeing so my internal energy pours out in channels dedicated to communal Blessings and eace. I am amplifying the quiet moments within myself. These moments are not just pass-thoughs to the next phases of life, but an integral component of my life. The society we live in looks down on alone time. We must be moving and thinking in ways which the masses want if not, we are devalued. Everyone who reads this, I beg you, don’t fall for that. Explore and find the ways you need to check in with yourself. My solitude helps build confidence, and inner love, which then makes it easier for me to determine when and how to pour into the communities I embed. We are a community and I hear your inner voice. Can you hear mine?
About the Author
Dr. Camille “Sea” Gaynus shares a strong bond with water. Throughout her life she has been fortunate to find spaces to cultivate this relationship, which has built upon scholarly research and knowledge base. Originally from Philadelphia, Dr. Sea continues to cultivate and feed her spirit through water connections as a researcher, teacher, and student.
