The Year in Review: A Special Message from Our CEO
QOTD: When was the last time you celebrated yourself? No, really celebrated yourself. Not just a mental pat on the back held captive in your mind but a real-life celebration — a deviation from your norm that made space, significant space, for a private or public enjoyable moment to honor something awesome you did.
If you’re anything like me, self-celebrations are as far and few as a new Rihanna album. I wish I could blame it on a lack of time but in actuality it’s me. You see, for most of my life I’ve existed in the self-sabotaging gap of ambition and inadequacy. For me a win is never really a win. It’s more of a check off my “to do” list that gives me a full-throttle mental pass to proceed to whatever my next is because of course, the completion of the current task just isn’t enough of a reason to stop and smell the roses. On top of that, the act of even qualifying something as a win is well, a ‘whew chile’ type of situation in itself. Because if something didn’t meet my own expectations or original vision, is it even a win? Well, “of course it is!” is what I tell my friends because, do as I say, not as I do. *shrugs*
The thing is, the problem with carrying this type of mentality is that it became a little too heavy for my 5’2 frame and overthinking mind. If nothing is ever a success then I’m essentially failing in life all of the time, right? Worked out 4x this week but did I lose 15 pounds? No, so time to submit my story to My 600-lb Life. Finally launched that business but is it the second coming of Fenty Beauty yet? Nope, so my small business is just that — small, sad and fledging. Booked a spa day but still haven’t quite achieved an IG-worthy “soft girl life” so guess I’m destined to be a workaholic, basic chick with overpriced degrees for ever, eva. This is my mind and if yours is anything like this, we all need to STOP. And the good news is, I kinda have.
When I settle my mind long enough to focus on the facts and not the ebb and flow of my feelings, I realize I’m not failing at life, and neither are you. I’m thriving, and I pray you recognize that at some point this year, you have too. If something could have prevented you from doing it and you still prevailed, celebrate it. If it took your last bit of might to accomplish it, or it happened to come easy to you, celebrate it. If you had people along the way to encourage you, or you did it all by yourself, celebrate it. If you did it in spite of, celebrate it.
In the midst of life and it’s lifing ways, we’ve found joy, had hearty bouts of laughter, hopefully had some good lovin’, created moments of rest when our minds and bodies needed it most, maintained some sense of sanity, paid our bills and even caught a flight or too for unfiltered adult fun. And if all else has failed for you in 2022, you are still here and that in itself is worthy of a celebration.
So, in an effort to actually do as I say, I wanted to take a moment to celebrate some of ThriveIN’s top moments of 2022. The road wasn’t always easy and running a business ain’t for the faint of heart but through it all we made space for more Black women to thrive in work and life; and had a great time doing it.
We were selected as a recipient of the “Enduring Progress Initiative” and granted $50,000 by the Women’s Fund of Central Ohio.
We launched our WorkSpace professional development program. WorkSpace is a one-of-a-kind, 8-month professional development and leadership program equipping Black Gen Z and millennial females in Columbus, Ohio with the vital resources, access, tribe of support and glass-breaking confidence needed to advance and accelerate their careers.
We hosted our inaugural State of the Sisterhood event, an open forum for women to listen, learn, talk their talk, and gain actionable strategies on how to live their best lives on and off the clock.
Because we all sometimes need a reminder that our time is coming, this post went hella viral on social media with more than 100K impressions and 40K shares. AND, we also gained 5k new social media followers.
We hosted some super dope LUNCH BREAK episodes on entrepreneurship, getting the job you deserve and more with Dr. Erica Jordan-Thomas, Dr. Tega Edwin and others.
We worked with brands including Nationwide, Eryn PiNK, the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission and more to bring employment opportunities to our community.
2022 was a time and most importantly, we created community and safe, supportive, and owned spaces for thousands of Black women.
And we’re not done yet. 2022 was amazing and I’m excited to continue and expand that momentum in 2023. I’m equally excited to intentionally allow myself the space to celebrate ThriveIN’s growth and impact this upcoming year and beyond.
So, as we wait for the ball to drop and 2023 to bring whatever it has for us, take time to count your blessings and victories, and name them one-by-one, because I’m certain there are many. Here’s to making it through another year and THRIVING in a new one. See ya at work…or a beach. Wherever we meet, I know we both did our best to get there and we shall toast to that.