Hey Friends! I’m jumping back on the blog after a week of mostly unplugging. This time away has given me the opportunity to listen, learn, donate, and read from those who need to be heard. I have such a heavy heart for everything going on right now, and I’m committed to continue learning and listening. The time is now to educate ourselves on the racism in this country, and not be silent about this matter. Let’s work together on speaking up and showing support for the black community. We need to seek change and stand up for what’s right – now more than ever.
This year has brought a lot of challenges, but also eye-opening opportunities to grow, ask questions, and dig deeper. I’ve asked Cory multiple times in quarantine “when are things going back to normal again.” But, now I’m not sure I want “normal” anymore. I’ve been feeling a push toward embracing change…a mix of something new and possibly different. No, this hasn’t been an easy shift for my anxiety. But, the one thing I’ve learned in quarantine is that I need to take things one day at a time.
I really value this community, and recognize this isn’t a time to take a backseat on important issues. I honestly love being an influencer and sharing recipes, home decor, local restaurants and travel tips with you. As much as I enjoy these things, I’m also committed to sharing more ways to get involved and speak out about things that matter. I’ll continue to share things I love here, but I’m also diving deeper into topics I feel passionate about.
Many of you know summer is my favorite season here in Michigan. It’s walking barefoot in the grass, running outside to catch the sunset, swimming in Lake Michigan, my mom’s blueberry pie, mosquito bites, growing vegetables in our garden, dinners outside, trips to the pool, and sticky fingers from s’mores. These are the things I love the most (yes, even the mosquito bites). We took a drive to Leland on Saturday, and it was just what I needed after countless days at home. I’ll be honest it was odd making sure we packed masks, hand sanitizer and disinfecting wipes, but we still found so much joy being in that place. Let’s embrace change, continue to speak up, be kind, and look for opportunities to help each other. Yes, this summer might look and feel different in some ways, but I’m here for it. Every second of it.
Local Links
Grand Rapids Area Black Businesses (GRABB) is great for finding local black businesses to support right now.
I’ve been reading and learning from the posts in this Allies for Black Lives Matter Facebook Group.
Many businesses are opening today in Grand Rapids. This article from Experience Grand Rapids is helpful for info on hotels, restaurants, shopping and outdoor activities.
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.