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#WednesdayWisdom
"It’s ok to feel yourself outgrowing the life you’ve known and have built for yourself. You are beautifully transforming and evolving. What you’re feeling is higher-alignment drawing you in. Trust this liminal (transitional) space." — Lalah Delia
Morning Musings
If you've been following my plight on social media, then you know how desperately ya girl has been trying to schedule a vaccination appointment. I swear I've had an easier time trying to get Beyoncé tickets (now, Adele on the other hand...).
Every time someone posts a #VaccinationSelfie (or #vaxxie, as they've come to be known), I go through the following cycle of emotions: a) happiness because every vaccination puts us one step closer to "normal" (whatever that is); b) jealousy because of the aforementioned reasons; and c) impatience because this whole rollout has been a cluster-you-know-what to say the least.
It's like seeing pregnancy announcements when you're struggling to conceive. You're happy for your friends, coworkers, [insert celebrity here] and you can't help but wonder when it's finally going to be your turn. Both can be true.
I was struggling to put words to this when I stumbled upon Mekita Rivas' article about Vaccination FOMO for InStyle during one late-night doomscrolling session. As a lifelong rule-follower, this part especially resonated with me: "In a way, the jealousy was double-edged: How was it that so many people who'd largely ignored the guidelines to begin with — or who even downplayed Covid and called it a hoax — were now the ones who got first dibs on the vaccine."
I mean, I haven't hugged my family and/or seen them IRL since Thanksgiving 2019, so forgive me if I'm a bit cranky. And yet, I remain optimistic. Optimistic that more appointments will be available. Optimistic that everyone who wants to receive the vaccination will have a chance to do so. Optimistic that one day we will be on the other side of this (while also realistic that things will never be the same and we've endured so much collective loss along the way). Because without hope, without optimism, what else is there to hold onto?
Love,
L'Oreal
ICYMI
In my latest for The Muse, I talked to experts about how to optimize your job search to get the results you want. If you're on the market (or know someone who is), then this one is for you.
Upcoming Events
April 14: Secure the Bag: Salary Negotiation 101. I'm excited to partner with YWCA Evanston/North Shore for this FREE webinar in honor of Financial Literacy and Black Women's History Month.
Links I Love
1. Normalize Disliking People For No Reason (Lithium Magazine)
2. Viral Vultures: The Plight of Black TikTok Creatives (Bitch)
3. We Have All Hit a Wall (The New York Times)
My Latest Obsession
We saw it. We read it. We loved it. Now get your copy of Amanda Gorman's inaugural poem, The Hill We Climb, for your personal library.
Now Hiring
Freelance Writer for Sesi Magazine
Black Culture Editor, Podcast Editorial for Spotify
Museum Educator for The Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis
Director, Embedding Equity, Center for Health Equity for The American Medical Association
Digital Media Manager, Washington for The National Center for Transgender Equality
Staff Writer, Culture for Salon
Associate Audio Producer for Shine
Southern Education Reporter for Hechinger Report
Thank You!
Thank you to Sarah Jo, Raina and Alice for last week's coffee!
Friendly reminder that recordings of my freelance writing and salary negotiation webinars are also available at Buy Me a Coffee. Want to help fuel this newsletter and support my work? Click the button below!
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