What does receiving support as a Black woman look like when there’s no one to call, no one to reach for, and no one checking in on you?

In this episode, we’re getting real about what it means to be your own support system when you’re literally all you’ve got. Not because you’re too proud to ask. Not because people keep letting you down. But because the support just isn’t there.

I share my personal story of navigating lonely seasons, the grief that comes from having no one to lean on, and how I  learned to show up for myself in the meantime. But I also speak to the ache — the soul-deep longing to be supported for real.

This episode is not about pretending it’s okay. It’s about naming what’s hard, holding space for it, and finding tenderness even in the absence.

What You’ll Hear in This Episode:

The grief of not having anyone to reach for

The difference between being strong and being supported

What receiving support as a Black woman looks like without a support system

The small but powerful ways grace held her through it

How to start with what’s real, even when it’s not enough 

Let’s Stay Connected:

Related Episodes

Shirl is the creator of Support Languages™ and host of Shades of Strong® — a movement shifting the narrative from Strong Black Woman to Supported Black Woman™ through language, rest, and real support.