Alberta Hunter’s life was a testament to the power of the “unpolished” authentic soul. She was a woman who conquered the world’s stages, walked away to spend twenty years quietly nursing the sick, and then returned to her art in her eighties with more grit, humor, and truth than ever before.

Her quote reminds us that technical perfection is often a mask, and that the most profound truths come from those who have lived them, not just studied them.

Here are a few affirmations inspired by her journey and that specific, hilarious and grounded wisdom:

• I trust the wisdom that was forged in the fire of my own life. I do not need a title or outside validation to be an expert on my own survival.

• My raw truth is more valuable than a polished lie. I give myself permission to be unrefined, as long as I am honest.

• There is dignity in every season of my life. Whether I am center-stage or quietly tending to the needs of others, my worth remains unshakable.

• I value the “musicians” in my life who lead with their hearts. I surround myself with people who understand the language of feeling, not just the language of power.

• It is never too late for my second act. Like the blues, my voice only grows deeper and more resonant with time.

• I do not need to “know all about” the rules to play my own song. My intuition is a more reliable guide than the expectations of a system that wasn’t built for me.

• I build from what I know to be true in my bones. I honor the “socialized bottom” within myself—the parts of me that are humble, resilient, and deeply human.

Alberta Hunter proved that you can lose everything—your fame, your youth, your platform—and still possess the one thing the world can’t teach: soul, baby, SOUL!

Know who you are.

<p>The post Playing by Heart: Alberta Hunter and the Power of Soul Wisdom first appeared on Survivor Affirmations.</p>

• • My feelings matter, even during the holidays. I’m allowed to honor them.

  • I choose to notice kindness instead of chasing approval.

  • Light is still here, even when the world feels quiet or cold.

  • I give myself permission to celebrate in ways that feel true to my soul.

  • I am not behind. I am exactly where my story is unfolding.

  • I can create warmth — with patience, gentleness, and presence.

  • I release pressure. I keep the heart of the season close instead.

  • Community doesn’t have to be perfect to be meaningful.

  • I am worthy of love without performing, proving, or pretending.

  • When I feel unsure, I return to gratitude — it steadies me.

  • Hope may arrive softly — and I still welcome it in.

  • I let myself slow down, and I trust that peace will meet me there.

  • Even when I feel out of place, I still belong — I am part of something bigger.

  • What looks small or ordinary can hold deep beauty and grace.

  • I don’t need flashy or perfect — love grows beautifully in simple spaces.

<p>The post Merry Christmas Brave and Courageous Survivors! first appeared on Survivor Affirmations.</p>

I woke up and encountered this story by BigBoi. Made my morning.

Your story has the power to do that too. Keep living. Keep crafting your storytelling skills. 

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And This is why I don’t fly private ….. True Story pic.twitter.com/9npozDNqca

— Big Boi (@BigBoi) November 20, 2025

I woke up and encountered this story by BigBoi. Made my morning.

Your story has the power to do that too. Keep living. Keep crafting your storytelling skills. 

Fight injustice when it comes to storytelling and representation —
but never stop telling your story.

There will always be people who try to silence others

There will always be systems that twist narratives, erase voices, or elevate the wrong ones.
And there will always be those who benefit from keeping the truth hidden.

But your story is not optional.
Your story is not disposable.
Your story is not too much, too messy, too emotional, or “not the right time.”

Your story is evidence.
Your story is wisdom.
Your story is survival.
Your story is power stitched together from experience, clarity, and courage.

Injustice thrives when the truth is quiet.
Power strengthens when the harmed go silent.
Representation disappears when some voices are talked over, rewritten, or ignored.

So yes — fight the injustice.
Push back against misrepresentation.
Name the ways your truth has been flattened, softened, or erased.

But do not stop speaking.
Do not stop sharing.
Do not stop taking up space in the world with what you lived through and what you learned.

Because every time you tell your story with honesty, with boundaries, with strength, and with love for yourself…

You shift the world.
You widen the path for someone coming behind you.
You become the proof that silence is not the only option.

Your voice is a lighthouse.
Let it shine.
Let it warn.
Let it guide.
Let it heal.

And let it keep on telling the truth.

<p>The post Your Voice Is a Lighthouse: Keep Shining Through the Noise (Featuring Amazing Animated Story by BigBoi) first appeared on Survivor Affirmations.</p>

Photo by melvin Ankrah/Unsplash.com

Gratitude and appreciation to @Kimbar1313 on Tiktok for reminding us that we can be going through difficult times but creating your own joy. In fact, we must. Thank you.

<p>The post Growing Up in the 70’s | Black Perspective first appeared on Survivor Affirmations.</p>

She’s right. It was pretty amazing. It was HARD. But that just meant you worked harder to bring in the joy. And we definitely did that.

Gratitude and Appreciation Kimbar1313 on TikTok for the beautiful reminders.

<p>The post The 80’s Was a Great Decade| A Black Perspective first appeared on Survivor Affirmations.</p>

<p>The post We Do Not Care. That’s it. That’s the message. #wdnc #perimenopause #menopause #midlife (I adore this club) first appeared on Survivor Affirmations.</p>

 Nature is my favorite instructor. 

1. We do not need to accept crumbs. 
2. We have every right to get angry in the face of unfairness and injustice.
3. Know your worth.
4. Laughter is the best medicine. Phenomenally healing.  

<p>The post How the Dog Got Angry…and Maybe We Should Too. first appeared on Survivor Affirmations.</p>

Emory Richardson Moms Mabley Boarding House Blues (repaired)

<p>The post Surviving Abuse Daily: I Can’t Do This Without Laughing first appeared on Survivor Affirmations.</p>