The end of June has brought some tough news these last few years. In 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. This year, three big rulings were announced in the last few days, and for me, it was personally and professionally overwhelming. So I took a step back. Not only from writing here for a few days but also from some writing I'd hoped to finish up after finishing a major project.
But the news of the end of affirmative action in higher ed, the blocking of student loan forgiveness, and another decision that allows some business owners to make decisions on who they serve based on sexuality and religion, citing expressive freedom, all impact so much of my work and values. I felt overwhelmed yet numb. So while I finished editing a blog to send to an agency Friday, I held off on sending it, knowing that these decisions would change up my work to make the information as timely and relevant as possible. I'd planned on adding the new details yesterday, but when I opened my email and social accounts, I was flooded with more information and perspectives.
Don't get me wrong; these are critical decisions that SHOULD be talked about and not lost in the news cycle. However, given my personal and professional experience as a millennial in this country, I'm beyond tired of talking without action being taken. I'm tired of promises, and this writing is a perfect example of even laws that we believe in and live by and that make our world a better place are so egregiously broken.
I've worked my fair share of 40+ hour work weeks not being paid for overtime or not being paid enough, so I can move up and make ends meet to pay my bills and put food on the table. I've done that, AND I've made sure to participate in our political system, voting, canvassing, protesting, advocating... I'm tired. I'm almost 36, working on my master's degree because I believe in the work and industry I'm a part of and want to be a part of making it better; I was laid off from a job I loved that I finally made a living wage to save for a house and to start a family; I've done everything I could to walk the walk and talk the talk within the confines of societal rules and standards with very little but experience and lessons learned to show.
I'm tired. I'm taking a break. I'm going at my pace for a bit. And I'm going to do life my way. These last two months have been some of the best since I was an innocent, naive kid growing up. I'm not stepping back on the hamster wheel that threw me off just yet, and if I do go back to a 9-5 job, again, it'll be my way. I'm incredibly thankful that I work in an industry where evolution and change for the better are inherent and that there are still so many of us who believe in those practices.
Huh. I'm not a huge musical person, but my sisters are, so even I caught the "Wicked" bug in high school, and that last sentence I wrote sprung up the duet between Elphaba and Glinda, "For Good."
So, I'm gonna keep going with my break today - maybe even tomorrow - so I can return to my work ready, renewed, and able to give it the effort it needs to help make change.
I'm switching up my coffee pic to share a sneak peek from the photoshoot Chris, and I did on Thursday for the Clark Collective project we're starting. I'm drawing energy and inspiration from the work on this project to help overcome the exhaustion I'm also feeling physically, mentally, and emotionally. I've used that energy to get out on my bike almost every day this week to feel the wind move against me and to challenge my body and mind in a way I know I'll see results - see change and evolution for the better. To be reminded I can make that happen, that it does still happen.
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