To say that I am tired would be an understatement.
I am EXHAUSTED!
The last eight weeks of my life have consisted of:
- Moving…three times!
- Hosting two recruitment events at work
- Finishing my last grad school class of spring semester
It’s been a busy time and now that I am on the other end and can see the light at the end of the tunnel, I am realizing how exhausted I am. We moved into a new house and thankfully, my boyfriend has tasked himself with unpacking and organizing the major parts of the house. I am doing my best – but know I can be doing more.
The embodiment of the stereotypical “strong Black woman” is a behavior that is taught and applauded as I grew up from adolescence to adulthood. Now – I find myself rejecting that rhetoric and not having a problem admitted that I am tired.
Now that I know why I’m tired…what am I going to do about it?
Well – thankfully life has calmed down. Lately, I have been am giving myself that time to enjoy my hobbies. My main hobby is right now is diamond painting. This form of paint-by-numbers is pixelated art where you place small, shiny gems on a canvas to create gorgeous piece of art. I’ve been enjoying this craft since 2019 – but stopped when my life changed and I was working through my divorce. As a way to calm my nerves when I started grad school, I got back into diamond painting and have been really enjoying the tedious process.
My passion project, the Black. Girl. Iowa. podcast has also been giving me a way to express myself and relax. My goal prior to the launch date of Saturday, June 1st was to have ten episodes recorded and posted. Right now – I have seven of the ten episodes completed and another six interviews scheduled. I have three solo episodes to write, record and schedule with the topics including journaling and reflecting on my divorce.
This process of creating a podcast has been relaxing because I am doing something that brings me job. Doing research, engaging in conversations and writing has been a way for me to get back into the groove of being a journalist – something I haven’d done since college. By no means am I a professional – but I am happily surprised to how easy it was for me to create a groove that works for me and my creative process.
These last few weeks have been a good reminder that I need to continue to give myself grace. Nothing about the last eight weeks has been easy, but I also have a lot to be proud of in what I was able to accomplish.
Black. Girl. Iowa. 