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#WednesdayWisdom
"If you’ve been going hard lately, please take time to rest your mind and recharge your soul." — Lalah Delia
Morning Musings
On Monday, I submitted my homework and completed yoga teacher training. You may recall I registered back in August (what can I say? I'm a sucker for sponsored Instagram posts), attended a virtual five-day intensive in September and then, my friends, I procrastinated.
In total we had to read The Bhagavad Gita, The Yamas & Niyamas, write 1,000-word essays on each book and record 15 hours worth of teaching — all before Dec. 31. Thankfully, our deadline was extended until Feb. 8. But even then I still managed to drag my feet.
Now, in my defense, I was sidelined due to a few IVF-related procedures where I couldn't work out for weeks at a time (and yes, that included yoga, much to my chagrin). Throw in the holidays, plus ending one job and starting another ... there was a lot going on. So much so that I seriously considered quitting multiple times. Sure, I'd be out $250 loss, but sanity is priceless.
In a plea for help (or accountability, I'm not really sure which), I shared my progress on Instagram Stories. Longtime subscriber and virtual friend Erin, a fellow Enneagram Type 3 Achiever, responded, "You got this, you're a 3!"
It was exactly the pep talk I needed to kick my butt into high gear and do what 3s do best — get shit done. So I powered up, pushed through and recorded upwards of two hours of yoga videos per day in that final week.
Whether I pass and receive my certification remains to be seen, but the fact that I did it, I finished — I set a goal and completed it — is an accomplishment in and of itself. Remembering my therapist's advice to and not the outcome kept me going. Remembering that progress is better than perfection kept me going. And everyone who texted and slid into my DMs with words of encouragement kept me going.
I share this to say, whatever Big Thing you're working toward that seems impossible now and you feel like giving up, take a break, regroup and get back in the ring. Keep going. You got this.
Love,
L'Oreal
ICYMI
I've been writing, I've been writing. Check out my interview with architect Nina Cooke John in Hunker and this piece on the future of democracy for Teach of America.
And I was also featured in Women Unite! and talked about my viral tweet with #blkcreatives.
Upcoming Events
Feb. 17: Creating Your Journalism Backup Plan. I'm teaming up with Wudan Yan and Jenni Gritters of The Writer's Co-op for a panel about switching out of journalism. I'll be sharing how I parlayed my newsroom skills into a successful career in nonprofit PR.
Feb. 27: How to Land a Literary Agent. I'm hosting a masterclass for Permission to Write, an online community for Black writers and writers of color, all about the process of finding, vetting and signing with a literary agent.
Links I Love
1. The Primal Scream: Three American Mothers, On the Brink (New York Times)
2. Glossier Seems to Be Increasing Visibility in Black Cultural Spaces (Allure)
3. The Pandemic Has Erased Entire Categories of Friendship (The Atlantic)
My Latest Obsession
As far as I'm concerned, this is the only version of Cinderella that matters — and it's coming to Disney+ this Friday. You can learn more about my obsession with Brandy's Cinderella in this 2017 essay for HelloGiggles. Will you be tuning in? Hit "reply" and let me know!
Now Hiring
Digital Content Manager for Common Future
Culture Editor for NYLON
Communications Director for The Center for Environmental Health
Art Director/Photographer for Packed with Purpose
Assistant Professor of English—Poetry for Louisiana State University
Freelance Journalist, Nonprofit Marketing Industry for Craft & Commerce
Campaign Manager (Media, Culture & Economic Justice) for Color Of Change
Manager of Communications and Pubic Relations for Girls Who Code
Thank You!
Thank you to Kristina, Rachel, Victoria, Sammy, Neicy, Jen, Chivon, Katherine, Angie, Mark, Dina, Alexandra, Jessica, Beth, Jessica, Kelsea, Priti, Katie and a few anonymous peeps as well for supporting #LTintheCityWeekly. I appreciate each and every one of you!
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