Self Quarantined - We All Stuck In The House

It’s been almost two months since we here at Donna Di Colore have been self quarantining and trying to navigate this, dare I say it, new normal. This is a historical-global event, from the unfortunate mass casualties to the earth being able to take a break from the havoc we wreak and heal. There is so much that we know and a ton of things we don’t know about covid-19 (coronavirus), especially what the future will look like. This ain’t easy, this event has been extremely difficult for so many - even introverts are ready for things to normalize.

There are so many feelings and emotions we have been forced to deal with; some for the better and sadly a lot more for the worse. People say “this too shall pass,” - well duh, we know this will all be over at some point. When? Hopefully sooner rather than later but the scars, the scars will remain. What will be the new norm? We’ve learned to work from home. We’ve learned we don’t know how we are going to keep our business open. We’ve learned how to reach out to those a bit less fortunate. We’ve learned how to start an online dating profile. We’ve learned how to start taking care of our loved ones. We’ve learned there will be a lot more people going hungry. We’ve learned a shit ton of information - overload.

We have to continue to look out for one another - it’s so easy to wear your blinders and choose not to see what’s going on in the world around you. There is no room for doubt and this is no time for selfishness, we all need one another more than ever. We’ve been disconnected for so long - of course it’d take a pandemic for a lot of people to realize what’s important in life and to realize how much we take the outside world for granted.

Yeah, some will choose to continue to walk around with those blinders on and choose to not participate in the greater social good of us all, but there’s always a few bad apples, right?! We are definitely doing this isolation thing together; it sucks, it’s relaxing, it’s challenging, it’s a break from the world, it’s time with the family, it’s overwhelming, it’s project time, it’s get to know self better time, it’s call that old friend time, it’s try a new recipe, it’s catch up on reading time, it’s literally time to do those little (or big) things you’ve been itching to do. Most importantly it’s time to show support for your loved ones and of course our amazing heroes local & abroad - thank you to those that have risked it all to help keep the world running, there is no way we can truly thank you (we can absolutely try though). Just know your time, sacrifices, energy, mind and spirit are all in our prayers - we thank you, thank you, thank you.

We’ll see each other again soon, until then wishing you nothing but safety & wellness.

Sisterly Love - Where MY Girls At?

We humans tend to become content, predictable if you will and we seem to be fine with it. Maybe it has to do with getting older, maybe it has something to do with the 21st century and technology, or maybe it’s just the nature of things; we grow in & out of relationships. We connect less. The more advanced we become the more seemingly withdrawn we are. But what does that have to do with you nurturing the friendships you do have?

Real friendships are free - make good on promises, be there for one another and most importantly make time for one another. And no, you don’t have to spend money in order to have fun. From picnics on the beach, hiking a state trail, heck even window shopping at the mall; a little girl time goes a long way. If you do happen to have a little cash to spend, consider Groupon, road trips or events where costs can be split. Hell host a potluck sleepover you provide the space and some refreshments and have the ladies bring additional beverages and favors. We are all about creating moments that will last a lifetime, a little laughter and bonding goes a long way.

The world we live in is challenging enough - we brown skin ladies need to embrace one another and continue to build on the relationships we have cultivated as well as seek out new acquaintances and potential life long friends. Only we know what it’s like to walk in this beautiful skin of ours - let’s connect and share with one another. We as women need to continue to learn from one another and always band together when in need. We have strength in numbers and we are so much stronger than the rest of the world wants to give us credit for, especially when we are together. Let’s do better and be better to each other - call up your sister, bestie, neighbor, cousin, auntie, mom, granny call your favorite gal up or just make the time.

Me Time - You Time - Find Time

Take a bite out of life and give yourself a much needed break!! Feeling burnt out? Kids driving you mad? Work stressing you out?

Yes?

GOOD!! - Glad to know we aren’t the only ones trying to figure out this wild thing called life. When was the last time you actually relaxed - like truly spoiled yourself? Read a book? Ventured out on a solo trip? Visited your favorite spot? If you can’t recall Doesn’t matter, this is the biggest-little seed you needed planted in your ‘garden of self’ - You are more valuable than you know. Take a leap into self awareness. There is nothing like growing and bettering self. How else do you expect to keep continuing to be great? You do a huge disservice to world by not being better to yourself. When YOU are happy and at peace with self [or learning to be] it spreads to all parts of your life. You will shed the dead weight and continue to water the buds of love with your peace within self. All because you make a little time for self [reflection].

Being a woman of color comes with enough weight, for some; be it from our own people or the rest of the waking world. This is the part we don’t share or show. We move with pure strength, grit, knowledge and the knowing that we have to be the village. What does that mean? It means we take care of everyone else and forget about self. We tend to let others take and drain our honey-milk. That golden essence. We say no more to that.

Going forward you will no longer be drained. You will find the time for you. Weekly, daily, hourly - just make the time for yourself. Close that door for an hour or two & get lost in a book. Go for a drive. Finish that project n the attic. Ask a friend or family member to watch the kids (or give them money to see a movie for a few couple of hours). Take a bite out of YOUR life. Grab a bite to eat SOLO. See what I did there? - Always find time for the fun!

Build that SHE-SHED, just because it’s a desk, a vision board and a curtain on a tension rod does not make it any less your ME space.

A Whole New Comfort Zone

Just get out there and do something fun and new. I sense a theme with these posts! The hope for this post is to ignite a flame of curiosity & a hunger to get up off of the couch and go outside and have some fun.

Maybe you don't have to take a ride on a camel's back; maybe it's a picnic in the park, a stroll on the beach with your dog, hell even camping out in the backyard with the kids counts - the point is save your money, plan and make the best of your time.

It's time to get excited and live just a little bit more - time to break those ignorant stereotypes. There is a new adventure just waiting around the corner for you.