Summer is almost over! Can you believe it? While I'm not as in touch with my calendar as I normally am, the business of my daily life sure has changed. For that reason, I’m thankful to have Coffee Days circled on my calendar with our virtual gatherings on Zoom three times each month.
I never thought I would find myself writing this blog post, but here I am saying farewell to an organization that welcomed me with open arms almost two years ago. This group of talented people has become my second family. While there’s a new adventure to look forward to, you know you really enjoyed your job when you feel bittersweet about leaving. Before I part though, I want to share some details you didn’t know about me when I started.
Black people are facing two pandemics: COVID-19 and racism. It’s no secret that life in the U.S. is unjust for the Black community. With each passing day, we see another headline about Black people dying from COVID-19 at three times the rate of white people, and more videos where Black people are being discriminated against, targeted by police, and killed. How is this affecting the mental health of the Black community?
This morning, I awoke to my 21-month-old slapping a used Band-Aid gently on my face. Ah, a new day. What does coping look like as a parent of small children right now? For me, it looks like lowering my expectations (especially of myself), tuning in to what each member of my family needs, and claiming time for myself.
On page 240 of my high school yearbook from my senior year, you can find me featured on the superlatives page. My best friend and I were featured as “best bromance.” Alec and I have been best friends since as long as I could remember. Alec and I grew up in the same neighborhood and went to the same Jewish day school. We then went to the same preschool and stayed at the same school until we both graduated last summer.
