My name is Yasmin Jameela. He is a founder, journalist, freelance writer, and dog mom. Wellness is at the intersection of everything I do.
Six years ago, I started a small wellness community on Instagram after embarking on a healing journey in my mid-20s. I chronicled that journey in a blog about healing, therapy, singleness, and growth after what felt like years of turmoil. Six years later, that wellness community has grown into one of the largest online wellness platforms for Black women called Transparent Black Girl, with over 5 million Black women.
It still sounds crazy to say that out loud knowing that a 24-year-old girl planted the seeds for the life this 30-year-old woman is living now.
While growing my company, my love for writing was so strong that I went back to school and earned a master’s degree in journalism. I have worked as a freelance writer and editor. And I have frequently contributed to publications that I respect. xoNecole is one of those girlfriends. My journalism career reflects my passion and heart for health and culture. Every day is busy, but I manage to get it done. On days when I can’t, I give myself space and do what I can.
My day consists of events, long walks with my dog, freelance pitching, and deciding what content and events will look like for my wellness collective, Transparent & Black.
Go ahead and follow a random day in your life.
morning
5am
My Goldendoodle keeps me on a schedule, waking me up like clockwork at 5am every morning to go to the bathroom and feed me breakfast. Do you usually finish it first thing in the morning? 100%, but since he is on a schedule, I need to stick to mine and start his day in a productive mood. He is a healthy dog, so we feed him homemade meals and supplements daily to support his health. I also receive dental treatment every day to keep my teeth healthy. Taking care of your dog’s dental hygiene is essential for a long life and good-smelling breath.
I’m going to the city today, and I’ll be there almost all day, so if I’m not gone that long, I’ll take him to dog daycare.
7:00 am
Drop-off and pick-up from dog daycare is filled with a lot of barking and my dog almost jumps out of the car in excitement to see his friends. Now, some of you may be thinking, dog daycare, big sister, that’s too much for a dog. But that’s not the case. Socialization is key for dogs, as is keeping the house intact when I’m gone for long periods of time. Does he go every day? No, we are not rich (still, we must manifest! ) But when my dog is happy and experiencing play and I am happily participating in an event, I feel a sense of accomplishment.
Owning a pet is a serious responsibility, and I’m proud to contribute to the mental and emotional well-being of our pets by facilitating their interaction with our pet friends.
7:30am
I headed to a local coffee shop to pick up my regular order. Iced coffee, 1 shot of espresso, half and half, 3 pumps of agave. I’m an iced coffee girl, winter, spring, summer, and fall. I love it especially after a sweaty workout. Nothing feels good about drinking hot coffee after sweating for over an hour.
8:00am
When I got home, I took a shower and listened to Carlos King’s commentary on YouTube (after all, listening to reality TV commentary is relaxing. Please don’t judge me!) while I was listening to Carlos King’s commentary on YouTube. Prepare for the event within. . Without traffic, it’s about a 25-minute drive to Manhattan, but since it’s rush hour, 25 minutes equates to about 55 minutes. This means you need to leave immediately so you can arrive on time.
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9:00am
Headed to Manhattan to participate in Black History Month events with Meta, Peloton, and We The Culture. He wanted to take the train, but he ran out of time, so he took an Uber because he didn’t want to be late. I did my daily check-in with my best friend while riding in an Uber. We talk every day and have been checking in on each other since our early 20s. I am grateful that even though many aspects of my life have changed, this remains the same. It’s certainly harder to prioritize friendships as you get older, but if you’re both passionate about it, it’s not impossible.
9:30am
From my car, I emailed the editor to ask for a deadline extension and share my ideas for this month’s work. I am grateful to have been on both sides of the journalism field. Over the years, I’ve been the editor-in-chief of a publication, and I’ve had the opportunity to work with editors-in-chief, deputy editors, and editors-in-chief. They focused on me and understood how quickly my schedule could change. It’s an honor for us to create magic together.
As a storyteller, I am once again enjoying this season of my life, from the content I share on my platform to my written work, and I love it.
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10 am
The event will begin. I can’t lie, I’m not scared when I host events on my own, but as a girl with social anxiety, events can be a little scary. I’m a very shy girl by nature, but wellness events always feel like home. No need to dress up. Even during an event, most of us are experiencing some form of health and fitness, so you can come in your workout clothes. As soon as the panel discussion began, I was treated to a seated meditation with Peloton instructor Dr. Chelsea Jackson-Roberts. Let’s talk about how to start your day.
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The discussion hosted by Mehta and Peleton touched on the importance of Black women and people taking up space in industries and spaces where they are underrepresented, how we take care of ourselves, and We The Culture also talked about their work. I shared how it came about. It was such a powerful event, and of course we got the inside scoop on Peloton’s newest machines! I also talked to a few people (it’s important to me to always say hello to people hosting events) and ended up sitting next to Pilates girl Raven Ross. She was a very sweet person and we talked about her love of Pilates and the importance of community events like this.
afternoon
2 pm
After the event, I headed to Sephora to find Topicals’ Slick Salve, which is always sold out, but I couldn’t find it, so on the way back to the station, I pulled out my phone and ordered it on their website. Go home. I’m a girl who loves walking, so whenever I have time, I always take a long walk to the station and then walk home. That’s exactly what happened. I covered about 4 miles just walking back to Penn Station and getting off the train and heading back to my apartment.
4:30pm
My phone exploded because the Oprah Daily asked me to write an article that was published during Black History Month and my face appeared on Oprah’s website, AOL’s homepage, and the publication’s Instagram page. I started doing it. My mom, aunts, cousins, dad, and everyone who has known me since I was little were so proud and excited to see that and how far I had come.
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evening/night
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5:30pm
Before I picked up my dog from daycare, I went to my home gym (praising the apartment’s amenities), took a quick swim, and then headed to the sauna where I ran into a neighbor whose dog was also killed by a successful black woman. Her own rights in the technology field. We discussed life updates and the importance of taking time for mental health. And it felt good to ground myself through swimming. A lot of my life has changed over the past few years, but swimming has remained the same.
Every time something great happens, I take it deeply and immediately ground myself and do everything I can to stay present, humble, grateful, and focused on what’s in front of me. I will do something.
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6:30pm
It’s starting to rain heavily and you’re on your way to pick up your dog and you’re full of anxiety, but you can practice deep breathing and remind yourself that you’ve had a peaceful day, so you can end your day peacefully. There’s no need to rush that far, and you can run at a pace that’s comfortable for you. Her mother called to check on her because the weather was bad, and she asked that she contact her when she arrived safely.
7pm
We arrived at the dog nursery and the rain had subsided. You know why I take him?! They keep an eye on him all day! My dog is exhausted in the best sense of the word and ready to go home and sleep. When I get home, I can sit and relax.
9 pm
I went home, took a bath, ordered my favorite healthy Chinese takeout (beef and shrimp with broccoli, light sauce and brown rice), and sat on the couch drinking my favorite sustainable black wine. Masu.Owned brand: House of Brown Watching SisterAlso served with kimchi for dinner. The candles are lit and silence falls as you prepare for bed, feeling the best of the day.
10:30pm
We took the dog out for a final walk, gave him a bedtime treat, and turned off the lights to get ready for the next day.
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