A Year in Review…Pandemic Style!
I literally can not believe we have been dealing with this pandemic for a year now. I felt it was only right to share my year with you, here we go!
March 12th 2020, was the last day I wore a full face of make-up, commute to work, or be in a office. A week or two into working from home, I set up my home office by the way it has changed so much since March. My life turned into scheduled out grocery store runs talk about a new way of life.
April My birthday month is always a PARTY! Last year I had to celebrate Quarantine style. It was for sure the BEST birthday EVER! Since salons were closed I had to take it back and press my own hair out, Girls’ gotta do what a girls’ gotta do!
May I tapped into my creativity started to create my own content, Amazon and I became best friends! The highlight of the month was being able to visit my Grandma Eunice. The staff of the nursing home where she lives coordinated a family day for the residents. We were able to drive by and take pictures, my heart was happy. Also snuck in small gatherings with my family I missed them so much!
June was filled with murder, anger, riots, peace rallies and so much anxiety for me. George Floyd’s death rocked me it could have been one of my family members. The frustration, pain even some taking advantage of the situation with looting and riots was so sad. I turned to doing more running and taking long walks through the city to help my mental. The month wrapped up with a much needed cautious gathering of my girlfriends in the city.
July one of my closest friends announces she is going to be a mommy! I led my first virtual conference for kids and teenagers, stressful but rewarding! Happy Birthday to my Grandma Eunice!
August My girl Allie and I went to the Drive Up Drag show..it was an amazingly good time! The end of August rocked my entire world, my Grandma Ruth passed away. Her passing left a hole in my heart that I had to learn and I am learning to live with. I created Girl Be You Book Club it helped me have moments to escape.
Tik Tok became my new scrolling addiction during September. New recipes, new cleaning hacks, outfit ideas and business ideas I have created. My cousins and I took a trip to the apple orchard it was so much fun. I added a special pop up breakfast photo of the cutest cousin of mine, Mr. Eli. YouTube taught me how to do my own Halo braid, my favorite style.
October was a quiet month of reading, putting my Tik Tok scrolling to use by cooking more, ordering our less, Girl Be You content and putting together my bookshelves in the house. Made sure I voted, it’s my right and it was necessary for change!
Married at First Sight was suggested to watch by my girlfriends, so I binged watched the last season in November. Right after my mom’s birthday COVID to the front steps of my family, both my mother and aunt had it, by far the scariest moment in my life. Thanksgiving we celebrated via FaceTime. I went to visit Amazon Books for the first time, and was introduced to Chicago French Press coffee. The best coffee in the city! Go and support. President Joe Biden & Vice President Kamala Harris won the election!
December was a month of embracing my smile, my path and my journey. Throughout the year my nail game has been amazing due to my girl Brownluxe Nails, here is my December set. I became a plant mommy my mother was very proud. I decided to grow my hair out I only trust Denise at HairWiz to make it happen. Christmas much like Thanksgiving was quiet, definitely enjoyable I got some really amazing gifts too!
January I won’t spend time to tell you how racist stormed the capital attempting to kill folks my goodness! I literally got dressed up to watch the inauguration at my desk, such a momentous occasion, I’ll just say Michelle Obama, that’s all. I had no resolutions this year only choosing myself which I hadn’t done in years. I took a leave of absence from work, stepped down from organizations I was working with, continued therapy, and Fitness + with Apple changed my life. I unknowingly bought a signed copy of my favorite author Terry McMillan’s book. I begin to part ways with relationships that did not bring peace, even if those relationships were family ones.
February was a time to learn to love all the things I have experienced this year. I came with the realization that I am worthy of naps, worthy of slowly waking up and living with intention. Throughout life I have had ideas of the way life is to be now I am learning that isn’t always true. Life is a series of decisions you make that are best for you. No one can tell you how to do that, you embrace wisdom along the way while making the tough decisions for yourself to have the life you desire.
Here we are a year in since the world shut down. When our normal lives were changed in ways we couldn’t even imagine. Was it scary? Yes. Was there a lot of uncertainty? Of course. COVID is terrible, its painful, we lost so many due to this terrible disease. Through it all it has helped me personally to appreciate what is given, this life journey and the simple things we take for granted. Through it all I have a clearer vision as to what I want to be and do in this life. What a year!
