I was what you'd call a latchkey kid, largely raising myself as my young parents hustled to build a life in the arts. Then, when I was five, everything changed. My mother became gravely ill with a mystery illness, and no doctor could help her. She went from specialist to specialist until, finally, a Japanese herbalist and dietitian prescribed her an extreme healing diet—very similar to macrobiotics. It was a complete lifestyle shift: no sugar, no processed food, not even metal silverware. We ate brown rice, seaweed, and tofu with wooden forks and chopsticks. It was strict, but I watched it heal her.

That wasn't the only transformation I witnessed in my mother. She was always a seeker, exploring different religions and spiritual practices while building a remarkable dance career. She was a member of the original Alvin Ailey Company, danced on Broadway in The Wiz and Timbuktu, and traveled the world performing. But alongside her art, she studied healing. She got her MA in Spiritual Psychology, became a therapist, and mastered breathwork long before Silicon Valley rebranded it as a "biohack." She was always evolving, always searching—but never forcing her beliefs on me. She taught me to pray, but more importantly, she taught me to cultivate my own relationship with God.

Stepping into the entertainment industry as a young Black actress was brutal. The rejection, the lack of representation, the endless uphill battle—it required resilience I didn't always feel I had. But I had seen my mother gather her tools to navigate life, and so I began collecting my own.

Right out of drama school, I was blessed with an incredible mentor, the great Michelle Shay, who taught me grounding meditations before stepping on stage—rituals I still use today. I worked with Reverend Lynn, who guided me through spiritual practices that carried me through the rough patches. I listened to Abraham-Hicks cassette tapes in my car between auditions, learning to align with joy way before The Secret made the law of attraction mainstream. I found solace at Agape Church, soaking in Michael Beckwith's wisdom.

Over the years, I've explored everything—silent Vipassana retreats, raw food detoxes, wheatgrass enemas (yes, really), and the Hoffman Process before it was cool. I've sat with spiritual mentors, life coaches, and therapists, all of whom have left an imprint on my journey. One coach, a brilliant Black woman, helped me reclaim my power—not just in my personal life but in my career. She was the one who told me not to give up on my Love & Basketball auditions when I was ready to walk away.

Blubell is a collection of those meaningful tools that have supported me and with contributions from my cousins Aichi and Shakai, who have been walking this path alongside me. We were born just weeks apart and grew up more like sisters than cousins. Our bond is rooted in deep love, shared values, and a lifelong commitment to inner growth and truth-seeking.

Aichi has supported thousands of women through birth as a labor and delivery nurse. She is also a certified wellness & life coach, and yoga teacher. Her calm, nurturing presence brings structure to the overwhelm whether it's organizing a space or helping someone untangle emotional blocks. Her coaching is deeply intuitive and rooted in helping people reconnect with themselves.

Shakai is an acupuncturist, meditation guide, hypnotherapist trained in Rapid Resolution Therapy, and a plant-based chef. Her approach to healing is integrative, soulful, and intuitive. She supports people in caring for their emotional, physical, and energetic bodies through ancient practices and nourishing lifestyle rituals. Her presence is both steady and expansive, and her insight runs deep.

This space will continue to evolve as a place to nourish you, support you, and gently strengthen your resilience from the inside out. It will do so through practices that invite presence, deepen self-trust, and gently guide you back to your center.

Let's start this journey together.

x, Sanaa