In years past on my lifestyle blog, I’d do a round-up at the beginning of the year of things I’m looking forward to and recently, I saw the "Get To” beaded bracelet while look at the jeweler Hart’s website in advance of attending the recent Heart to HART Galentine’s Day Tea with my sister. It struck a chord with me regarding the reframe of “have to” to “get to,” especially as I continue my healing journey.
While so many opportunities have dried up for Black women in the digital influencer/creative arenas as a result of the post-2020 racial awakening backlash, there are still a few things I’m looking forward to both in the personal and professional spheres of my life.
I’ve rounded up a few here:
My youngest sister’s upcoming wedding - I can’t believe it was just 4 months ago that I was down in Charleston surprising my sister for her engagement. At the time of this post we’re just a little over a week out from her big day!
Finding out my daughter’s high school - I’ve been participating in my daughter’s 8th grade photo challenge on Facebook, and it’s been so fun reflecting on her elementary and middle school experience while we await news of her high school. I vividly remember that part of my childhood, and it really feels like a Choose Your Own Adventure novel!
Getting my reel completed and launching my podcast - The wheels ARE in motion on these two long overdue tasks. In alignment with my WOTY, forward, no matter how slow is the keyword here!
Returning to Alt Summit - It’s been 10 years since I’ve attended my first Altitude Summit, a dynamic, creative entrepreneurship conference. This year I’m reviving my “Joy Swap” roundtable from 2022, and I’ll have a special guest joining me who I can’t wait to introduce to Palm Springs!
Celebrating my 15th wedding anniversary - My husband and I are college sweethearts and are returning to Puerto Rico where we got married with a host of friends and family. It’s also my son’s 10th birthday the day after our anniversary so more reason to celebrate!
Continuing my community involvement - I’m at the beginning of my 2 year term as VP of Mass NOW (last year was my first year on the board as an at-large board member); I’m continuing the work with my high school classmates on the founding of our non-profit to honor the memory of our beloved middle school science teacher (so proud of us achieving 501(C)(3) status last year!); I’m continuing on the board of my local Wellesley alumnae club; I continue to swap between leadership roles on my kids’ schools’ respective PTAs. There’s more but I’ll stop there!
Leaning into my Cape Cod Refresh retreats - Since January 2020 (with a pandemic hiatus in-between), I’ve been hosting getaways for small groups of women where I champion fellow small-business owners and my 5th one was in January and soon after my next one sold out. The feedback I receive from both the attendees and vendors is so affirming and I stand confidently knowing I’m fulfilling a need. I’m grateful for my husband to be able to have the privilege to do so.
Seeing Simone Biles win gold LIVE at the Olympics - putting it out there! I was able to snag tix for my sister and future brother-in-law to see a different event, but have had no luck for myself so far. Attempt #4 when the resell marketplace opens is in the works…
What are you looking forward to this year? Let me know in the comments.
There is so much up in the air over here as far as the next handful of months, but I am looking forward to warmer weather and travel with my awesome kid. Putting all the love out for my husband's feature film to fall into place and when it does Abigail and I will be doing some ladies only traveling.