It felt like just yesterday we were going into lock down, being introduced to face masks, Tiger King, and were given the promise of what was supposed to be a two-week break which turned into a year of struggle, sadness, and anger. I always come back to my blog in reflection of this year because there was just so much that tested me and my mentality that writing it down seems to be the easiest way to cope and grow from it all. As I'm writing this, I'm listening to Kacey Musgrave's "Rainbow" and one of her comforting lyrics struck a cord in me:
Well the sky has finally opened
The rain and wind stopped blowin'
But you're stuck out in the same ol' storm again
You hold tight to your umbrella
Well, darlin', I'm just tryin' to tell ya
That there's always been a rainbow hangin' over your head
No matter the dark clouds we face, there will always be sunshine waiting for you on the other side. As we near into the season of blooms, rain, sunshine, mud, and everything in between, I am looking forward to this new change in seasons no matter what turbulent weather it brings. No matter what disaster of a year we face, there is always something to look forward to. And I'm marching towards it with a spring in my step. Here are some things I'm looking forward to this month:
01. Brighter days and longer evenings are an uplift from the seasonal depression that isolates us indoors at 4 o'clock, not to mention winter. Everything looks so drab and dreary around my neck of the woods, so in its most simplest form, blooming nature and sunnier days are going to keep me motivated.
02. Rotating my wardrobe. I have been wearing the same three pairs of pants this winter because my endeavors are limited to grocery shopping, dog walking, and the occasional trip to Starbucks, but other than that I don't think I've been around enough people for them to notice that I've worn the same pair of jeans over and over. Spring just expands the options from jeans and a sweater to a possible dress and a sweater or at least a blouse of some sort. I'm ready to put the snow boots away!
03. Developing a new fitness routine that I'm actually motivated to do. I spent so many years doing yoga that I think I dreaded doing it in my basement these past few months. Going to a studio acted as a place of solace and routine, so the thought of having to try and continue to be motivated in my freezing concrete basement was never something I succeeded at. I started running, which I found to be a great way to decompress and just release my emotions through a blasting Lizzo song. Perhaps this spring will be a time to try something new, I need to get out of my comfort zone (safely, of course), so I want to make it a goal to at least find a new type of exercise or activity that I can routinely enjoy doing this spring.
04. Continuing my reading journey. In 2020, I read 17 books in total. Most of them were a blend of non-fiction and fiction, so I've been proud of my openness to try so many different genres as well like historical fiction, thrillers, sci-fi, fantasy, and much more. This year, I want to read at least a book a month. I am currently reading Yaa Gyasi's Transcendent Kingdom which is an emotionally raw and intimate book about a Ghanaian family living in Alabama. The main character, Gifty, is a sixth year PhD candidate in neuroscience at the Stanford University School of Medicine who studies the neural circuits of depression and addiction in mice. Their behavior mimics the same experiences she has faced with her brother, who suffers from an OxyContin addiction, and mother who suffers from a deep depression. It parallels between mother nature and human nature through science and religion in a refreshingly relatable way.
05. I am finishing my second to last quarter of senior year strong. With 24 more days to go, I am reflecting on the good ol' days as a freshman and how I imagined I would spend my last year of college. Probably partying or thinking about jobs, but mainly focusing on the latter. It has been great being able to put my energy towards figuring out what I plan to see myself doing, and the support from my professor's and past employers has helped immensely. For my last quarter of senior year, I will be taking copywriting, advertising campaigns, climate change communication, and of course, wine education and management. An elective that only seniors (of age) can take, but since it will be virtual, I'm curious if we will be able to try any of the wines. Perhaps ordering a bottle or two will be considered our "reading material". I'm excited to have a laid back last quarter and celebrate by learning something new about the drink that has gotten me through this year. Cheers!
What are you looking forward to this month?
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