May is National Stroke Awareness and Mental Health Awareness Month

We are closing out this month speaking to a two-time stroke survivor, author, journalist and speaker, Sekou Writes.

After surviving a deadly hemorrhagic stroke, Sekou Writes made the conscious decision to put himself first—his health, his emotions, his joy. In the darkest hours, he chose to smile. He found a way to encourage himself because he knew how far he’d come already and that better was ahead.

Before his strokes, Sekou Writes worked as a successful journalist for prominent magazines such as Essence and Ebony, and served as the Editor-in-Chief at Uptown Magazine. He also founded his very own publication, Simply Rides. Despite his professional success, Sekou quietly struggled with his emotions—something many people would not realize until after the release of his 2023 book Hack Your Pain Now: An Emergency Survival Guide in 10 Easy Commandments. This book exposes some of the deep scars of his past life. Sekou will share with us how different his mind is post-stroke and how jarring it is to remember different parts of himself pre-stroke.

Sekou’s recovery has given him a second chance at life. He now chooses joy and intention each morning no matter how difficult it may be, and he is sharing his story with the world to encourage anyone else who may be struggling to keep going.

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