LT in the City Weekly
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#WednesdayWisdom
"How liberating it is to pursue wholeness instead of perfection." — Morgan Harper Nichols
Morning Musings
A few weeks ago over coffee, my CEO asked me when was the last time I took a vacation? I paused to think and was coming up empty. Sure, my husband Jeff and I took a short road trip to Milwaukee earlier this summer, but that was more of a long weekend.
"Umm, Cuba last year?" I answered.Â
By my count, we had four or five trips planned for this year. Then the pandemic hit.
And instead of keeping my PTO requests on the calendar, I deleted them and plowed through, much to my detriment. Now six months into this mess, the consequences were starting to catch up to me.
To celebrate Jeff completing his MBA (yay!) and, honestly take a much-needed break, we took off the week of Labor Day and booked a staycation at our favorite boutique hotel.
In true L'Oreal fashion, I was working up until the last minute on deadline for a freelance assignment. And also in true L'Oreal fashion, I was frantically checking my Gmail app for feedback from my editor up until check-in.
While waiting for valet, I made the executive decision to put myself out of my misery and delete the app from my phone altogether. (Spoiler: we've been back for five days now and I still haven't reinstalled it ... I know it seems minor, but this is a BIG step for a workaholic like me).
What helped was this article from Chief about rethinking vacation. Sure, we may not be boarding planes to exotic locales -- well, some people are, but you won't catch me on a plane anytime soon -- but we're still deserving of time off, whatever that looks like for you.
For us, it was ordering takeout from our favorite West Loop restaurants; visiting the Garfield Park Conservatory for the first time and watching Titanic until 3 a.m. I had high hopes of basking in the sun at the rooftop pool, but Chicago weather had different plans. Nevertheless, I vacationed.
If you need more convincing, check out this article from The Muse. As career coach Heidi Ravis mentions in the piece, "Everyone needs a break, regardless of their work situation ... These are unprecedented times and many people are confronting new stresses and emotions. Taking a break to unplug and recharge can help to give us the strength and resilience we need to manage all that we have going on."
Unplug. Unwind. You deserve.Â
Love,
L'Oreal
ICYMI
In my latest for Shondaland, I interview debut author Cole Brown about his memoir, Greyboy: Finding Blackness in a White World.
If you missed my #Lemons2Lemonade chat with Brittney Oliver, the replay is live now. We're chatting about all things freelancing, pitching and rejection.
Virtual Happenings
Sept. 16 (TONIGHT): Pinot x Poetry. My girl Pam is back with her boo, DeMico. Tune in for poetry, music and, of course, love and laughter. (FREE)
Sept. 20: Grow Your Own. If you missed Flower Girls Meet's collab with Black Girls With Gardens earlier this summer, then you're in for a treat. Learn how to care for your plants and help them transition into fall. (FREE)
Links I Love
1. These Moms Have a Lot in Common But Faced a Big Difference: One Got Paid Maternity Leave and One Didn't (The Lily)
2. It's Time to Take Inventory of Your Personal Boundaries (ZORA)
3. Capturing Worlds: Kihmberlie Breaks down Photography’s Exclusive Boundaries (Bitch Media)
My Latest Obsession
If you read last week's email, then you already know I've been in a nostalgic mood and Netflix has been feeding into that. While getting my hair braided last month, I binged Moesha with my stylist. A couple weeks ago, I started rewatching Sister, Sister and on Friday, I started Girlfriends.
I don't remember the early episodes (I was 13 when it first debuted), but I caught the reruns when I was older. Now that I'm a Grown Womanâ„¢, I have a newfound appreciation for the sitcom and my real-life girlfriends.
Now Hiring
Senior Editor for The Newsette
Communications and Digital Marketing Manager for the Illinois Network of Charter Schools
Engagement and Equity Coordinator for Planned Parenthood of IllinoisÂ
Visiting Scholar of Social and Racial Justice for The Social Justice Initiative at UIC
Branded Content Writer for Girls' Night In
Managing Editor for Her Agenda
Senior Digital Strategist for The League
Senior Yield Analyst, Global Strategy for Spotify
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