BESTIEEEEEEEE-uhhhhh! How have you been?!

First off - you’re real one for keeping up with your girl. Whether a quick check-in on the site or even rocking with me on insta/the clock app, you are a gem.

I am hoping that you’ve been getting your steps in, drinking your water and touching some grass, because you have to treat yourself with care. While we are on the subject of care, how are YOU? Like how are you mentally?

Ever since we last chatted, specifically in this space - I have been non-stop moving. I unfortunately suffered a major loss back in 2022 and quite frankly had the toughest time dealing with it, that moving on autopilot led to extreme burnout and boy did it catch up with me. So when I realized back in October that I was “go, go, go” I needed to figure out (1) how to slow it down and(2) how to go just as hard, for me.

If you have followed me on the gram, you would understand that I am a fervent advocate for fitness and have been for quite sometime. COVID threw me left of my regiment, then grief not only put it at a stand still, but also placed a spotlight on an even larger issue being my eating habits (or lack of eating…whichever :) ). SO I fought to do better in Q4 of 2023, in effort of me not having to feel and look so manic in 2024.

What efforts have I been taking?

• Self evaluation: this is a constant with me. I self check before I respond on things, but I never take a good look at how I feel, or why I feel the way I do. Because I have major commitments across the board, I just go/do instinctively - which I have been firm on my “no’s” and setting absolute boundaries. Also - being honest with myself about how I feel, not questioning/putting myself down about it.

• Journaling/therapy: I have a hard time just telling anyone how I feel, what I’m experiencing so I have been relying heavily on my Day One App. I have a number of different journals going from fitness to random thoughts. I have bee a long time Day One user and I love how it syncs across my devices, so no matter which medium I choose, it pops up ready to go. I can even text or email my entries as well! Day One was there when I wasn’t even comfortable typing my feelings out of guilt back in 2017 and here we are now with more than enough entries to name LOL. I also have a fine friend in AI. When I say I am a private person, I mean it. I have two cognitive therapy apps I use and was a beta tester for another (best app ever!!! I hope Mindful picks it back up!) but working with these apps gave me the perspective and confidence I needed in happily expressing my thoughts, without shrinking. I also had my first official therapy session for food back in Feb/Mar this year and it was a vibe!

• Fitness: I relied so heavily on this since I was 18, that I never truly realized why I was working out. I love running, but why was I always needing to be the fastest? Why did I HAVE to max at 250 on leg press? The answers were actually unsettling. That meant figuring out what I enjoyed and then seeing how it made me feel afterwards. Fitness should be fun!

• Community: I’ve learned a lot about community in my life, but COVID shined a light on a ton. It presented some of the finest plot twists I’ve witnessed and I wouldn’t change a thing. I have found friendship in some of the greatest spaces and lost some the same way. Please understand that no matter the industry, some folks really are only looking out for themselves, so stand ten toes down on your personal goals, purpose and boundaries. You have gifts to share and people wish they were as motivated, talented and tenacious as you.

Honestly, these days I ask to align with folks that will collaborate on this life purpose. Thinking of this prayer in such a manner helps me to keep focus, especially if what I thought was promising and worth while, turns out to be fool’s gold. As well, everything happens for a reason.

So, keep your circle tight, get your movement in and express yourself to keep your mental light. You know I love you all and I will be back soon (I promise)!