Tanya Weekes

Occupation: Photographer Website/Other

Website: www.tanyaweekes.com

Instagram: tanyaweekes

HOW DID YOU IDENTIFY YOUR PASSION AND THE WORK THAT SATISFIED YOU VERSUS WORK THAT JUST PAID THE BILLS?

Well, after I left my full-time job in fashion buying, I had more time and freedom to explore and indulge in the things that I was curious about – In my case, photography and being creative. Having that extra time made it easier for me to pursue and present my passion on social media which created opportunities that led to paid work that satisfied me as opposed to work that just paid the bills.

WHO WILL ETERNALLY BE A WOMAN YOU ADMIRE AND RESPECT, AND WHY?

For me, that would be any woman who has struggled against the odds or who has had to be brave in the face of adversity. If I have to name someone famous, Oprah Winfrey springs to mind for her courage, persistence and determination to not let her difficult start in life hold her back but there are women all around us in our families and communities that can be given the same respect.

IN LIGHT OF YOUR UNDERSTANDING OF OUR HASHTAG #WHYITRIBE, WHY DO YOU THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO CELEBRATE WHO WE ALREADY ARE TODAY?

I think it comes down to present mindedness. Living in this moment and enjoying the now. Not thinking too far ahead or looking back and living in the past. It’s easy to find fault in ourselves in photographs for instance and then a few years later think, “Wow, I looked really good back then, what was I complaining about? I should have been celebrating my health, my size, how I looked etc”. I also think it’s really important to have gratitude for the things that you have right now in order to attract more positivity into your life.

NAME A TIME RECENTLY WHEN YOU SAID SOMETHING GOOD ABOUT YOURSELF/HOW DID THAT MAKE YOU FEEL?

Usually, when I wake up in the morning and I don’t have to rush to work with dread I will think, “well done you for being brave and taking that leap of faith into the unknown to leave a job, that you were no longer excited about and pursue curiosity”. I remember, I used to wake up dreading going into work, so I am really thankful to myself that I took that leap. I feel proud of myself for that. It’s so easy to stay in a situation that no longer fulfils you because you don’t know what else to do or what other possibilities are available especially when you have financial commitments.

WHY DO YOU THINK WOMEN SHY AWAY FROM CELEBRATING OR PRAISING THEMSELVES SO MUCH?

I think it can be for lots of reasons. Maybe it’s the culture you have been brought up in, not to be boastful, not to come across as “full of yourself” or vain etc. But then I see millions of women celebrating themselves on Instagram using #feelingmyself and I’m from a family who aren’t shy about complimenting themselves when they look and feel good. Some women might just value being humble and modest and don’t feel the need to shout it from the roof tops. I also believe that comparison is the thief of joy. It’s so easy to compare yourself to others, especially if you follow social media which can feed into insecurity and the mindset that you’re not “good enough” because you are living or look different to what’s presented on social media. This kind of mindset will have you shying away from celebrating yourself.

HOW DO YOU OVERCOME THE TENDENCY TO DISCREDIT COMPLIMENTS YOU ARE GIVEN?

I don’t have this tendency to be honest. I think it’s bad manners to discredit a compliment because you’re basically saying that the other person doesn’t know what they’re talking about. I will generally just say thanks and send good vibes back. But I guess, if I did have this tendency, I would have to remind myself that, if someone is taking the time to show love why would you possibly want to block that? You’re only harming yourself by sending negative energy back by discrediting the compliment. I believe that when you stop appreciating something, that something will stop being in your life, which includes positive energy from kind words.

HOW DOES SOCIETY REINFORCE THE IDEA THAT WE, AS WOMEN, ARE NOT ENOUGH AND HOW CAN WE TAKE THAT POWER BACK?

I think this narrative of competing and comparing ourselves to men in terms of “we can do whatever men can do” is very limiting. It presumes that men are some sort of standard that we need to aspire too and that there isn’t enough power in being a woman without going down this route. I don’t believe we have to be just like a man to succeed. I think we have to lean more into our feminine energy, embrace our femininity – there is more power in this and you will achieve more.

WHY IS THE TRIBE MOVEMENT IMPORTANT?

I believe that we need to enjoy ourselves right now and enjoy our evolution as it unfolds because no good can be had from attaching strings to our happiness. Life is for living and enjoying the journey and sometimes we need to be reminded to come back to that.