2020 & the effects of Covid

Hi Ribbies!

It has been a long while since I have posted. This mostly has to do with seasonal depression, life changes a.k.a. growing pains and more recently… anxiety about dealing with everyday life during the corona virus pandemic.

Last year, I was so excited for 2020. The beginning of 2020 felt like a sad outer body experience. First , the plane crash killing 9 civilians including Kobe & Gigi Bryant . I literally felt the sadness of the world everyday. Next, my thirty second birthday. Anyone who knows me knows how much I love birthdays and weddings. Only this year, not one thing in my spirit said celebrate. I was still very sad and keeping busy doing the only thing that kept me which is being a mom. My children have saved my life in more ways than one. Following Kobe and Gigi Day, the sadness began to cease. I actually became inspired to do more as I have been blessed to live, have a family, do art and help people. So I decided to book a girls’ trip.

Less than a month later, reports about the spread of the corona virus via a man from New Rochelle began to surface. After watching the news for days on end, my kid’s father and I decided to take the kids out of daycare and school. As parents, we did not know much about covid but, we followed our instincts collectively. Fear of the unknown is real, ladies and gents! I began to have a tight chest every single day. Anxiety and lack of sleep had me spiraling into a head space that was not conducive to growth or scratching goals off of my vision board.

Self care , getting an adequate amount of sleep and reading inspirational books in addition to the Bible has helped thus far.

Five things I realized while I was on quarantine:

•I needed to stop worrying and spend as much time as I could with my kids

• Life is short ( I lost a pretty amazing acquaintance )

•75 Percent of my job could be done from home

•Ignorance is not bliss

• Essential workers are superheroes

Meditate and pray often. Unapologetically do what you always wanted to do!

The time is now which is why I started a virtual book club and now offer art group therapy and paint parties online.

How are you all doing during quarantine?

xoxo,

Shay

I would like to wish you all a happy, productive quarantine despite the circumstances.