We had the good fortune of connecting with Bri Cain and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Bri, what role has risk played in your life or career?
For majority of my life, I’ve been intimidated by risks. I thought if I did everything “right” and followed the rules, everything was supposed to work out in my favor. Being silent and compliant made others comfortable while it made me miserable. Eventually I got tired of everyone around me being accommodated by my meekness. 2020 hit and I decided to change that. I let go of what I thought I should be doing and started focusing on what I want to do. I found my voice, started using it and haven’t looked back. For me, that changed everything. I welcome risks now. Believing in myself and taking chances is exactly what I needed to do in order to grow.
Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Writing has always been a huge part of my life. As a child, I was very timid and reserved in nature. Writing allowed me to be as loud and as expressive as I wanted to be. When I got in trouble, I had to write essays and apology letters. When I was mad, I’d write diss raps about whoever upset me. And of course, I had several diaries and I used them fervently. I never felt comfortable sharing my innermost thoughts and feelings with anyone. I always felt too different and people were not shy about telling me how weird they thought I was. I always felt like I lived a double life because I actually had a lot to say, but I could never say any of it out loud without fear of being judged. Summer 2017, I decided to challenge myself and do something completely out of my element. I found an open mic event in Chicago and signed up to perform. I was petrified, but I did it. It was the most terrifying yet liberating experience of my life. I wasn’t great at it initially, but from there I kept making myself perform anyway. Two months later, I started performing as a featured artist in various showcases around the city and eventually out of state. I never thought anyone would actually care about what I have to say, but life just keeps proving me wrong. I love when I perform or post my work on social media and it resonates with folks. To be seen, to be heard AND understood blows my mind. I am most proud of the courage I have developed because there are so many people in the world who have not yet found their voices. I am humbled and honored to share mine. I’m excited to continue sharing my truths and taking up space that is and has always been rightfully mine with the hope that others will follow suit.
If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
The way I live my life now, I want to do things and go places I’ve never been before. So, our weeklong adventure would embody exactly that. I’d want to be spontaneous, have fun and bottomless mimosas would be a must!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My shoutout goes to my late grandfather. I learned how to read at three years old. My fondest, earliest memory is my PaPa picking me up from preschool and us going home to spend hours taking turns reading words out of the dictionary. We had a special notebook where he would write sentences for me to read aloud and to store all the big words he taught me. My adolescent years consisted of this routine. We are forever bonded through our shared love for knowledge and I am grateful for the investment he made in me.

Instagram: @btheexample

Image Credits
Brian G. and Keirra J.

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