405 | Who Do You Want to Be?? Building a Life That Matters: Taking Small Steps Toward a Lasting Legacy | Pep Talk Wednesdays

Summary

Affirmations for Black Girls Podcast - Episode 405 Summary

Title: Who Do You Want to Be?? Building a Life That Matters: Taking Small Steps Toward a Lasting Legacy
Host: Tyra The Creative
Release Date: January 29, 2025
Episode Type: Pep Talk Wednesdays

---

Introduction to Building a Lasting Legacy

In Episode 405 of the Affirmations for Black Girls podcast, host Tyra The Creative delves deep into the concept of legacy, urging listeners to consider not just what they leave behind materially, but the intangible impacts they make on others and themselves. This episode serves as a heartfelt pep talk, encouraging women to take small, meaningful steps toward creating a life that truly matters.

Defining Legacy Beyond Material Wealth

Tyra begins by challenging the conventional notion of legacy, emphasizing that it extends beyond financial success or significant accomplishments. She states, “Your legacy is so much deeper than that. It's the love you give, the values you stand for, the family you create, and the impact you leave on everyone you meet” (02:15). This perspective broadens the understanding of legacy to include emotional and relational contributions.

Personal Story: Great Grandma Willie Mae’s White Potato Pie

Tyra shares a poignant personal story about her great grandmother, Willie Mae, and her unique white potato pie recipe. She recounts the viral attention the recipe received, both positive and negative, during Thanksgiving. “This is my great grandma Willie Mae's recipe. She made this pie for everyone in my hometown” (03:45). The recipe became a point of contention online, sparking debates about traditional versus unconventional holiday dishes.

Overcoming Criticism and Embracing Her Heritage

Faced with criticism and mockery of her great grandmother’s recipe, Tyra initially felt the urge to defend her heritage vehemently. However, she chose a path of education and reflection instead. “I had to take a step back and say, hold on now, Tyra, don't get on this Internet cursing these people out” (04:30). By explaining the origins and significance of the white potato pie, she highlighted the creativity and resilience of her ancestors during challenging times, particularly the Great Depression era.

Emotional Connection and Honoring Her Grandmother’s Legacy

The experience of defending her great grandmother’s recipe led Tyra to a deeper emotional realization about legacy. “I ended up getting really emotional because I was just like, not my grandma, not my grandma recipe. Like I just lost her” (05:10). This moment underscored the importance of preserving and honoring her family’s history and the lessons learned from her ancestors.

Building Your Own Legacy

Tyra then shifts the focus to the listeners, encouraging them to reflect on what matters most to them and how they can contribute to their own legacies. She asks, “What matters the most to you? Reflect on what you want to be remembered for” (10:00). Tyra emphasizes that legacy is built daily through actions, values, and the way one interacts with others. She advocates for small acts of kindness that can have a ripple effect, stating, “Small acts of kindness ripple outward and become a part of the larger story that you're creating” (12:30).

Tyra’s Personal Journey and Legacy

Tyra shares her own journey of building her legacy through her passion for cooking and baking. From her early days with an Easy Bake Oven to founding her business, Tyrus Tasty Treats, and pursuing a career as a pastry chef, Tyra illustrates how her actions have continuously shaped her legacy. “I started my business, Tyrus Tasty Treats. I got a scholarship for it, it put me through college, and then I went to culinary school” (14:00). Her upcoming cookbook aims to further solidify her legacy by sharing stories and recipes that reflect her heritage and personal growth.

Challenge for the Week

To engage listeners actively, Tyra presents a weekly challenge: “Find one way to pour into someone else's life. It could be mentoring a younger sister or brother, volunteering your time, or simply offering encouragement to a friend who needs it” (15:45). She encourages listeners to connect their actions to their values and recognize the significance of contributing to something greater than themselves.

Conclusion: Embrace and Build Your Legacy

Tyra concludes the episode by reinforcing the idea that legacy is an ongoing process influenced by both past and present actions. “Your legacy is already in motion. Your story is already being written” (16:10). She urges listeners to protect their peace and continue building their legacy through deliberate, joyful actions that reflect their true selves.

---

Notable Quotes

• Defining Legacy:

  • “Your legacy is so much deeper than that. It's the love you give, the values you stand for, the family you create, and the impact you leave on everyone you meet.” (02:15)

• Personal Story:

  • “This is my great grandma Willie Mae's recipe. She made this pie for everyone in my hometown.” (03:45)

• Overcoming Criticism:

  • “I had to take a step back and say, hold on now, Tyra, don't get on this Internet cursing these people out.” (04:30)

• Emotional Connection:

  • “I ended up getting really emotional because I was just like, not my grandma, not my grandma recipe. Like I just lost her.” (05:10)

• Building Your Legacy:

  • “Small acts of kindness ripple outward and become a part of the larger story that you're creating.” (12:30)

• Personal Journey:

  • “I started my business, Tyrus Tasty Treats. I got a scholarship for it, it put me through college, and then I went to culinary school.” (14:00)

• Challenge for the Week:

  • “Find one way to pour into someone else's life. It could be mentoring a younger sister or brother, volunteering your time, or simply offering encouragement to a friend who needs it.” (15:45)

• Conclusion:

  • “Your legacy is already in motion. Your story is already being written.” (16:10)

---

Final Thoughts

Episode 405 of Affirmations for Black Girls serves as a powerful reminder of the profound impact individuals can have through their actions, values, and relationships. Tyra The Creative beautifully intertwines personal anecdotes with motivational insights, inspiring listeners to consciously build a legacy that transcends material success. By sharing her journey and encouraging small, meaningful contributions, Tyra empowers women to embrace their unique stories and shape a life that truly matters.

Transcript

[A]

This podcast is sponsored by Ramp. Look, there's feelings and then there's the facts. If you're feeling like your finance team is bogged down in mundane manual tasks, the fact is you need ramp. Ramp is the corporate card that makes the expense process fast and easy. The moment your team makes a purchase, Ramp handles everything receipt, collection and approvals the works. With Ramp, you can cut your month end close from five days to one, customize approval workflows, and get complete control over every transaction. Facts. Over 25,000 businesses trust RAMP, including Shopify and the Boys and Girls Club of America, which is why they were just named number one in spend management by G2. Facts. Start using ramp and you'll have more time to spend scaling your business and that'll feel really good. Upgrade to Ramp for free today and get $[e-mail] that's ramp.com r a m p.com cards issued by Sutton bank members. FDIC terms and conditions apply.

[B]

Have you ever stopped to think about what you're leaving behind, not just for the world, but for yourself? Every decision, every challenge you overcome, and every goal you set is building a legacy that matters. Few things are as powerful as power. What is up, beautiful people? Welcome back to another Pep Talk Wednesday. I am Tyra the Creative, your host and virtual cheerleader for the day, delivering a midweek pick me up that you have been craving. So get ready for some encouraging words and a dose of inspiration to brighten your day. Ready? When you hear the word legacy, what comes to mind? Too often we think it's just about material wealth or humongous accomplishments. But your legacy is so much deeper than that. It's the love you give, the values you stand for, the family you create, and the impact you leave on everyone you meet. Legacy isn't just about what you leave behind for others. It's about what you build for yourself and the memories you leave people with is about creating a life that reflects your truth, your joy and your dreams. And I've been thinking about this a lot lately. As you guys know, we've talked about this, but my great grandma Willie Mae passed away in 2020. Passed away in 2023. And I told you guys sometime at the end of last year about her white potato pie recipe going viral in good ways and in bad ways. And if you don't know what I'm talking about, I'll give you a little synopsis. So for the Thanksgiving holiday, I chose to share her white potato pie recipe and it got into the hands of some comedians and Basically the discourse around the white potato pie was, oh, I've never heard of this. This is some weird new stuff. What is a white potato pie? Cuz, you know the age debate, what's better? Sweet potato pie, pumpkin pie. Black people love sweet potato pie during holidays. You know, it got swept up into all of that. And through that, when I found out that there was a video being made making fun of it because who they had never heard of it, I immediately took offense and I had to take a step back and say, hold on now, Tyra, don't get on this Internet cursing these people out. Even though that's very much so what I wanted to do in that exact moment when I found out what was going on. But I instead took a step back and I just decided to educate. I said, hey, I've been eating this pie my whole life. This is my great grandma Willie Mae's recipe. She made this pie for everyone in my hometown. This is a recipe back from the 40s, the Great Depression era. And we made stuff work when we didn't have sweet potatoes. Sweet potatoes are also more expensive than a white potato. We always had white potato in the house, so we made a white potato pie out of it. And while my grandmother wasn't the creator of this recipe, it just goes to show how creative, how creative our people are and how much ingenuity we have and how innovative we can be. And through all of that, it just made me realize like I, after all of this stuff was happening and stuff, I ended up getting really emotional because I was just like, not my grandma, not my grandma recipe. Like I just lost her. Do not, don't say that about my grandmother. And it just put into perspective the legacy that she left behind and how I am continuing that. And during that whole experience, I started to find a little bit more of my place in that legacy. And one thing that I kept saying, like I was in my room and I was crying my eyes out and I was like, oh, this is up to me. I'ma keep her name alive. Like this, this is my role. Like this is up to me. And I, I don't know, it was just such a surreal experience because I was going through all of the emotions and you know, people were saying some really awful things. Pie that tastes amazing, by the way. But it just made me realize like my grandmother really like paved the way. And then you hear a lot about people saying, I'm my ancestors wildest dream. And that's what legacy is all about. And eventually we are going to be those great grandmas, those grandmas, those ancestors that our family talk about in 20, 30, 40, 50, 100 years. That is what legacy is.

[C]

All you homeowners have unique needs. Some feel the need to leave up holiday decorations year round. Others have the need to use their garage as practice space for their new metal band. And because each homeowner has unique needs, GEICO helps you get the right coverage for your home and what's in it. That way you get exactly what's right for you, even if your needs are unique. Get more with Geico.

[A]

This podcast is sponsored by Ramp. Look, there's feelings and then there's the facts. If you're feeling like your finance team is bogged down in mundane manual tasks, the fact is you need ramp. Ramp is the corporate card that makes the expense process fast and easy. The moment your team makes a purchase. Ramp handles everything receipt, collection and approvals, the works. With Ramp, you can cut your month end close from five days to one, customize approval workflows and get complete control over every transaction. Facts Over 25,000 businesses trust Ramp, including Shopify and the Boys and Girls Club of America, which is why they were just named 1 in spend management by G2. Facts Start using ramp and you'll have more time to spend scaling your business and that'll feel really good. Upgrade to Ramp for free today and get $250 at ramp.com that's ramp.com ramp.com cards issued by Sutton bank members. FDIC terms and conditions apply.

[B]

When was the last time you really checked in with your body? The start of the year is the perfect time to reflect on how we're feeling, not just physically, but mentally and emotionally too. If you've been pushing through low energy a little too often, occasional bloating, mild MO shifts, or just feeling off in general, it might be time to stop ignoring the signs and start taking charge of your hormone health. Hormone Harmony is a plant based supplement designed to support optimal hormone levels. Using something called Adaptogens, herbal ingredients that help your body handle stress and natural hormonal changes. Whether it's pms, discomfort, perimenopause shifts, or sleepless nights leaving you drained, Hormone Harmony offers targeted support to help you feel balanced and more like yourself. I'll be honest with y'all, paying attention to my hormones hasn't always been at the top of my priority list. But as I've learned more about prioritizing my health, I've realized how much better we can feel when we support our bodies in the right ways. And that's why I'm excited to share Hormone Harmony with y'all. It can help you feel more in control, less reactive, and way more energized throughout the day. After all, it's not about quick fixes. It's about equipping your body with the tools it needs to thrive every day. For a limited time, you can get 15% off your entire first order@happy mammoth.com. just use the code affirmations at checkout. That's happy mammoth.com and don't forget to use the code affirmations for 15% off today. Now, legacy doesn't really live in material things. I mean, a pie is a material thing, but it's about what. What goes along with those material things is about your values and how you uplift others and the memories and the feelings that you do create. Like I said, great grandmother made this pie for everyone in our hometown. And I've even learned so much after this huge thing on social media from my family members. Like, everybody was calling to check on me. My grandmother and her siblings were upset about what was being said. They saw some of the stuff, and I was just like, you know what? Y'all don't say nothing, because, first of all, God got me my grandmother's prayers got me like Grandma Willie May got me to where I am today with this pie. Like all of the prayers and the. And the pouring into life that she did has helped me get to where I am today. That is legacy. And I think a huge part of legacy is to honor your story. Every experience, every challenge, and every triumph adds to your legacy. So embrace it all as a part of your unique journey. And I know that's what I'm doing. You cannot talk to me without me bringing up something that has made me who I am. And honoring my story is paving the way for my legacy as well. My legacy is a continuation of everybody, not just my great grandma. But this is, like, the. The most potent vein that I can pull from right here in this season of my life. But my legacy is formed from everybody that pours into me, everybody that has brought something to the table for who Tyra is. And the same is happening in your life. So ask yourself what matters the most to you? Reflect on what you want to be remembered for. And not exact things, but things like your kindness, your strength, your creativity, your honesty, the way you make people laugh and let that guide you into making decisions that will honor your legacy that you are creating because we are building that every day. Our legacies are not built in a day. It's built every single day from the day that you're born, even before that. Because your legacy is a continuation of the people that came before you. Your legacy is not just about you. It's about the impact that you have on others. So our challenge for this week, I want you to find one way to pour into someone else's life. It could be mentoring a younger sister or brother, volunteering your time, or simply offering encouragement to a friend who needs it. Small acts of kindness ripple outward and become a part of the larger story that you're creating. So reflect on how this act that you do connects to the values that you want to embody and how it makes you feel to contribute something, to contribute to something bigger than yourself. For me, one of the things that I have, I started self subconsciously and also, you know, start taking inventory of the things that you do subconsciously. One of the things that I started subconsciously way back when is cooking and baking for others. I have been doing that, y'all, since I was little. I started baking for real, for real back when I was in high school. But before that, my mama and daddy bought me Easy Bake Oven and I was making little birthday cakes and stuff for people like my family with my little Easy Bake Oven because that brought me so much joy to share that. And now just going forward with life, I in high school, I started my business, Tyrus Tasty Treats. I got a scholarship for it. It put me through college, and then I went to culinary school and now I'm actually a pastry chef. And these days, I'm more so working right now, and I'll just say it, I'm working on my first cookbook. And a big part of my first cookbook is going to be what was brought to the table to make tyranny who she is. And telling stories through food and really focusing on how that food makes you feel is my priority in that way. So figure out what, what you do on a day to day basis, maybe subconsciously or based on the challenge of this week, what do you do that makes you feel tremendous joy just from giving to others in any way? It doesn't have to be baking. Like that's just something. I just have a service heart and I just love to. To do it. And I love people's reaction when they taste my food. So really see what makes you feel joy and what comes from that. Your legacy is already in motion. Your story is already being written. Your legacy is a conglomeration of the people who poured into you, the people you pour into and the things you do on a day to day basis, you are the legacy. You build it. You have that power in your hands. So think about the things that really bring you joy and really reflect on how much of an impact impact they can have on those around you. For me, I am as a great grandchild of Willie Mae Young, I wear her name with pride. I speak about her with the utmost respect. That is legacy. So with that being said, thank you guys so much for listening to today's Pep Talk Wednesday episode. And if today's episode resonated with you, share with a friend who might need this reminder. And until next time, you guys make sure that you are protecting your peace and make sure that you are doing everything in your power to build your legacy. And with that being said, make sure if you're not already subscribe to our YouTube channel and make sure you subscribe to the podcast Leave us a rating and leave us a review and follow us on social media, on Instagram at Affirmations for Black Girls and on Tik Tok at AFBG Podcast and on YouTube at Affirmations for Black Girls. Thank you guys so much. I will see you guys again next week, but I will see you guys again in two weeks for another Pep Talk Wednesday episode. But thank you guys so much for listening. I love you all and this is Affirmations for Black Girls.

[C]

All you homeowners have unique needs. Some feel the need to leave up holiday decorations year round. Others have the need to use their garage as practice space for their new metal band. And because each homeowner has unique needs, GEICO helps you get the right coverage for your home and what's in it. That way you get exactly what's right for you, even if your needs are unique. Get more with Geico.