This past year was a year that we didn't see coming.
We all had our individual, unique experiences of this past year. Some found it more painful than others. The collective grief is palpable.
What I didn't see coming, and what I'm truly grateful for is that this year became the year that my heart cracked wide open.
This year I felt the weight of being Black in a way that I had never experienced before.
The experiences, pains, struggles, trauma and grief of my ancestral history was unleashed in me and shook me to my core.
I had racist ideas, opinions and judgements for my own community that I had held most of my adult life.
I felt shame, blame and embarrassment for the choices that were made, the pain we experienced and the hardship of our lives.
Yes, I held racist ideas and beliefs from being raised in a racist system. And yes, I am learning and growing in this work of racial and social justice.
This is precisely why I LOVE 2020 and everything that it forced me to look at within myself.
The lessons I've learned and the work that I do for myself and others, would have never been this powerful and impactful, if it wasn't for the events that unfolded in 2020.
I now have a better understanding of the effects of ancestral trauma. I now have a deeper compassion for those who may be less resilient than others and I know my community's history better.
I realize the sacrifices, not only my parents made, but the sacrifices made through the generations, so that I could be here and be free.
I've felt the deep wounds of the trauma of history well up inside of me and have a deep gratitude for, not only the pain, but the resilience.
Yes, 2020 has smacked me in the face and woke me up and for that I am grateful.
So far, 2020, you have shown yourself to be the most impactful year of my life. I am thankful for the growth I chose to have both personally and professionally, as a result of this powerful year.
I hope that you have chosen a path of resilience and growth this past year as well.
I'd love to hear what your experience of this year has been and how you are heading into 2021.
Yes, I too am glad to see this year end, but I'm so glad to have experienced it and come out to see the start of 2021.
Reply back to this email and share your story.
Thank you 2020, you took us on a helluva ride.
