Don’t Cancel the Year that Woke You Up!
The best year ever?
At least until next year.
And not because it was fun.
Not because I didn’t cry more than any other year.
I lost an aunt that was like a 2nd mother two weeks after her birthday.
She passed away in her sleep suddenly.
I lost a friend that was like a brother.
He stood next to me on my wedding day and lost his battle with Sickle Cell a week before Christmas.
We almost got through the year without another loss, but it didn’t happen.
2020 was the best year ever because despite all the pain, we are still blessed.
We are blessed because during the year 2020 with social distancing and minimal travel my values were reinforced.
I was reminded of what mattered.
I hope you enjoy some personal pictures from my most important moments in 2020.
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In January, one of my closest friends came from Austin to spend time with my family.
We spent New Year’s Eve together and talked about some of our goals and reflected a bit on the year that passed.
shortly after he left, we spent a warm weekend in Miami and that can never be wrong.
Especially when you include a family excursion into Wynnwood.
We went to Miami for my cousin’s wedding.
Good thing they planned it for January.
It was lots of fun and we danced the night away under the stars at the Ancient Spanish Monastery.
Two of my close friends (by way of Akeylah) got engaged in January before Covid-19 was a threat to all of us.
How great it was to gather in a small space with nothing to worry about.
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I know you guys love seeing my son whenever I do show him and in 2020 he turned One!
We decided to have a small birthday party outside with family and I remember being so nervous.
In hindsight, I’m extremely grateful that we did have a birthday party for him.
My Aunt who I lost this year was able to come.
And having her included in these pictures puts a smile on my face.
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After all of the early joy that we experienced.
We did have some rough times.
Unfortunately, the summer was full of negative emotions in addition to the anxiety that the pandemic brought.
So many tears were shed.
There were many sleepless nights.
Anger.
Fear.
Grief.
Here are few pictures from the summer that I’ll never forget.
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Garyvee shared something with the world a few months ago.
He said, “Don’t Cancel the Year that Woke You Up”!
When I first read the quote, I was speechless.
In a year full of sadness, it was at that moment that I realized I still needed to be grateful.
Personally, 2015 was the hardest year of my life.
I was depressed and alone in a place I didn’t want to be.
It was the hardest year until 2020.
But looking back, I’m grateful for 2015 because without that year I would not be able to have handled this year.
With so much loss there is still much to celebrate.
Time spent with family, new opportunities, and even time to sit still and reevaluate what is important.
This post is dedicated to the ones we all lost this year.
I lost Aunt Joan and Kendrick.
I won’t forget to live a full life in their memory.
They sowed so much into me.
I’m the fruits of their labor.
So to 2020, you were a tough one, but thank you for the tears and the laughs.
The missed moments and memories we made.
I hate you and love you at the same time because you made me a better person.
Here is to the Year that Woke us all up.
I pray we continue to move forward.
Because without movement there is no change.
P.S.
Also, this Gender Reveal Video will put a smile on your face =) Happy New Year