Tag Archives: New Year’s Day

Goodbye 2021. Hello 2022!

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I can’t believe it’s been a year since I last blogged and/or updated my website. Life and staying busy have prevented me from posting updates…up until now. Truthfully, nothing much happened in 2021, but I’ll provide a short recap here.

2021 started out excruciatingly slow. In February, I received an email from the editor of a local publication…two years after I had originally emailed her indicating that I was interested in a position at the publication. I went in for an interview and she stated that if I didn’t take the job, she’d still like for me to contribute to NorthBay biz magazine—which I agreed to. I’ve been contributing to the magazine since about June 2021 and this contributing position works perfectly for me right now with my schedule. In fact, there could possibly be a new opportunity soon with another publication. 📝🙏🏽

The writing position came at the best time since I’m still helping or caregiving for my parents and my (older) brother—which consists of me providing transportation, taking them to follow-up appointments, going shopping for them or taking them shopping with me and much more. Although it can be difficult, I still try my best to incorporate some self-care time for myself (e.g. a walk, lunch with a friend, etc). What I could use though is more help, especially when I need to take an extended break.

I’m extremely grateful to the editor at NBb magazine for giving me the opportunity to contribute to the magazine AND to those who have helped me with my parents and brother, either by providing transportation when I wasn’t able to or by just providing me/us with moral support. Those are the people you need in your corner whenever you don’t know where else to turn to. 🙏🏽❤️

This winter, I’m also grateful the weather has cooperated for the better for my county. We have had several days of rain here and there between November and December, which has tremendously helped our area! The drought here is no longer as bad as it was these last five years, when at least twice we were evacuated due to fires (the last one being the Kincade Fire in late Oct. 2019) that were located within close proximity to where we live. I’m intending that the upcoming rain will provide us with more relief between now and through April. ☔️💦🙏🏽

Despite being busy with my family, I’m so glad I have never given up on my goals. I hope 2022 will allow me to: work on my other writing goals, help me to fulfill another dream of mine later on this year and celebrate a milestone birthday come this fall. 🖊☀️🏝🎂

On one final note: thank you to the ’man (or woman 😏) upstairs’ for always guiding me and for answering some of my prayers involving my family’s health and for allowing me the time to complete a few lifelong accomplishments in 2021. 🙏🏽❤️🙂

I hope you have a healthy, joyous and prosperous New Year! 📆🎊😃🎉

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Welcoming 2019

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In perspective, 2018 seemed somewhat tame compared to 2015, which is when I stepped in to help my parents and brother, who all became ill that same year. It’s been tough, not only for them, but for myself. I’ve had numerous challenges come my way and I am still learning. Fast forward to the present, they are fine at the moment, but only God knows what will happen in the future. I’m trying my best not to worry when it concerns them, but–as with most families–you sometimes can’t help it. 🤔 At this point, all I can do is just take it one day at a time and not dwell on what could happen.

For the last three-plus years or so, one of my best friends (“C”), who I’ve known since fifth grade, has been encouraging me to start writing again. I’ve hesitated to pick up my pen and paper to do just that because I’ve been going through my own personal challenges, as well as keeping busy with helping my family. For the most part, I felt unaccomplished for much of 2018. 😔 I also know that I’ve always placed a lot on pressure on myself into setting goals and completing them. However, I didn’t complete any of my goals for lack of motivation and because I became discouraged. It wasn’t until I read an article written by a friend, where she briefly discussed her upbringing, the genre of writing she got into and the television pioneer, whose own life inspired her to follow her dream of becoming an entertainment writer and reporter based in Los Angeles. She has inspired me to seek out new opportunities, as did my brother, who has encouraged me to carve my own niche and write about things around me. In 2019, I intend to seek out more adventures and write about them. I may not be taking that once-in-a-lifetime trip to Europe just yet, but I can find other things or places to discuss and share with readers.

In 2018, I took small steps into practicing self-care. As a caregiver, you tend to forget about yourself because you’re always taking care of others. Well, in 2019, I intend to do the opposite. I will still be there for my family, but I will also be putting myself first when it comes to working on tasks that are of importance to me.

On a sad note, 2018 ended with the deaths of two people, who were part of my extended family: my cousin’s husband–who I had known since I was an infant–and my other best friend’s (“I”) father, who was a good friend of my parents’ and who I had known since I was three-years-old. This will be a somber week, but both families are strong and they have the support of one another, including their friends.

Intending you have a joyous New Year, one filled with great health, happiness, love and prosperity. 📆 🤞🏼