Hello May— Thank you April!!
For the past 30 days, I worked on completing at least one goal a day. My personal #30goalschallenge. I’m thankful that during that time, I did just that!!
Goals ranged from completing a specific portion of a project; to finishing the entire laundry in one day (which, for me, is a huge feat); to planning quality family time activities; to just making sure I spent some time to rest! Goals weren’t too big or too small…just goals to keep me motivated and focused in the midst of COVID-19.
During this unprecedented time of quarantine, it’s important for me to make sure we give thanks and praise for the blessing of good health and strength, continue to bond as a family, provide a comfortable and safe experience for our girls during this unforeseen transition, and remain intentional in becoming a better version of myself- as a woman, wife, and mom.
A few of the personal goals I accomplished this month included:
Completing a dual certificate program at Cornell University- I committed to personal and professional development. This dual leadership certification in the areas of Servant Leadership and Executive Leadership was exactly what I needed. It allowed me to stretch my thinking, further prepared me to serve in the capacity as a University Trustee, and engage with others in other leadership positions. These courses were truly beneficial and I thoroughly enjoyed the content.
Managing the girls’ schedule- This was far more challenging than you would probably imagine. Between virtual sessions for school, Girl Scouts, Karate, modeling, birthday parties, family gatherings, and playdates, the girls’ kept us busy around the clock. Making sure they were virtually in attendance for all of their engagements while I worked and kept my responsibilities became a major goal in itself.
Taking care of our natural hair- With salons closed, I’ve had to learn how to care for not only the girls’ hair, but my hair as well. This was the first time I had to do my natural hair. I’ve been natural and perm-free for a few years now but maintained it the entire time in protective styles. Getting to know my natural texture and how to care for it was unplanned, but a process that allowed me to develop a closer relationship with myself. More to come on my natural hair journey.
Creating a new service and participating in virtual panels- Combining my passion for helping others and early childhood education, I created a virtual academy designed for children ages 0-7. The Magic of Learning Academy allows parents to engage their children in fun and stimulating lessons and activities with step-by-step directions. I participated in two virtual panels to share this new resource with parents and business leaders.
Quality family time and engaging kid-friendly activities- Planning fun and enriching activities for the kiddos is a top priority to ensure they feel safe, loved, and comfortable during this period of uncertainty and interruption in their normal routines. Family game nights, art and craft activities, movie days, walks around the neighborhood, and tons of other things were planned for them throughout the month. Stay tuned for descriptions of those events and how we celebrated my daughter’s sixth quarantined birthday.
Whatever you need to do to get you through this unfamiliar time period…just do it! Stay true to yourself, encouraged, and most importantly, stay healthy!
Until next time,
Xoxo