A longside ethically sourced products, the U4IA website shines due to the wealth of knowledge provided through its blog. As a wellness hub, the U4IA community comes together to share practical tips and personal experiences on health and wellbeing. In a swiftly moving world, U4IA Wellness reminds us how important it is to slow down, be present, and smell the roses. Taking care of ourselves will always be essential, as it’s the best way to care for our families and communities. “I’ve learned to be a lot more present, and motherhood has taught me that a lot.” Referencing her daughter, Simmons continues, “She’s taught me the power of presence. I’ve incorporated that into my professional life because you cannot thrive when ignoring what’s happening in the present.” “You’ve just got to take advantage of the present, and you can’t always pretend to have it all together… Being on reality TV at an early age and dealing with criticism, I have pondered what people think of me, which has held me back.” “You can’t pretend to have it all together. It’s okay to show transparency because no one has it all together. We’re all figuring this out day to day. And so, relinquish that feeling of needing to be in control. Let your story develop beautifully... and allow things to come together.” “You don’t have to have it all together. That will foster so much anxiety, and that is something I’ve learned through building U4IA, about why anxiety comes into play, and then the depression and all the other things that follow, is pretending to have it all together.” Simmons' genuine understanding of the importance of wellness rings like a bell in my ears. It is an echoing reminder of how necessary self-care is, especially when carrying the weight of entrepreneurship on your shoulders. She’s also the most fitting individual from whom I could hear those words. As the eldest daughter in a Jamaican household, watching new episodes of Run’s House was a family occasion. It was so rare to see a family so similar to our own on television, and watching Vanessa and Angela Simmons strive to achieve their dreams felt like a mirror for my younger sister and me. I still vividly remember finally getting my hands on a pair of Pastry sneakers, layered in blue, black, and white and embossed with small gold letters on the laces. For my sister and I, that new shoe smell did more than satiate our fashion appetite. The Simmons sisters changed our entire worldview of what success could look like f or two young Black girls.
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