grief & gratitude go hand in hand 👐
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#WednesdayWisdom
"And still, I rise." — Maya Angelou
Morning Musings
What a time to be alive ... and for that, I am grateful. For waking up another day. For my health and that of my loved ones. And if we have to be quarantined, I'm happy to do so with Jeff (even if this time has heightened our respective extroverted and introverted personalities). I'm grateful for our home and our jobs and so much more.
And yet, I'm also the mourning the loss of being able to come and go as I please, to gather with friends, to visit and vacation with family. Just last week, I had three trips canceled or postponed within a 24-hour timeframe. Put it plainly, this sucks and yet, it's necessary.
I've also been feeling some guilt in between the grief and gratitude because I'm aware I have a good amount of privilege in the midst of all this. Whenever anyone asks, "how are you holding up?" I can honestly answer, "Pretty good, all things considered."
And yet, part of me can't help but wonder when the other proverbial shoe is going to drop. I've always been someone whose mind immediately jumps to worst-case scenario when confronted with dilemmas (or, in this case, a global pandemic).
Then this past Sunday, my pastor Jeanne Stevens reminded us that "gratitude is the antidote for anxiety." You can watch the entire sermon here, if you'd like. Or listen to the podcast version here, if that's more your jam.
Her sermon reminded me that I'd purchased a new gratitude journal earlier this year, but hadn't made time to use it yet. That will change this week. She also gave us some homework (those who know me know that I love homework, just ask my therapist!): tell someone we're grateful for them and why.
While I've mentioned it before, now is as good a time as any to let you know that I am grateful for all of you -- for inviting me into your inboxes every week; for holding me accountable; for cheering me on; for replying and reminding me that yes, there are real live humans on the other side of this email; for trusting me with your heartache and hopes.
I am grateful for each and every one of you. Gratitude is contagious. Pass it on.
Love,
L'Oreal
ICYMI
I first interviewed Samantha Irby back when I was the digital content editor at JET. She had just published her first book, Meaty. And the rest, as they say, is #GirlCrush history.
But seriously, Samantha is one of my favorite authors and so I was honored to interview her again, this time for ZORA. Oh yea, and be sure to check out her latest, Wow, No Thank You. It's everything we've come to know and love about Samantha and her writing. 10/10 would recommend!
Links I Love
1. You're Allowed to Grieve the Year That Would Have Been. Despite what anyone says, it's okay -- healthy, even -- to take time to process your losses (no matter how seemingly small they may be). (ZORA)
2. The Backstreet Boys Performing I Want It That Way While All in Isolation Weirdly Emotional. Listen, I started off as #TeamBSB, but eventually moved on to #TeamNSYNC; however, there's no arguing as my friend Chasity tweeted that "*NSYNC could never." (Huffington Post)
3. Rihanna Talks New Music, Fenty Skincare & Her Plans to Have "3 or 4 Kids." Take it from someone who spent $50 in Fenty products during a stress-related quarantine shopping spree, there is nothing this woman can't do.
What I'm Reading Now
Last weekend, I started reading Hood Feminism: Notes From the Women That a Movement Forgot by Chicago author Mikki Kendall, as voted on my peeps on Instagram. And let's just say I wish that I could spend all my time reading it.
If we're being honest, I haven't always claimed the feminist title (growing up, I definitely thought it was about burning bras and hating men -- thanks a lot, Catholic school education). But since coming into my own, I've defined what feminism means for me and through this book is helping me deepen my understanding.
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