"And so we keep prolonging the pain of trying to be people we aren’t in a world that no longer fits that old version of ourselves.". BOOM! This is the sentence that inspired me to become a paid subscriber. Worth.every.penny.
Well, shit. This was beautiful--and after dealing with my workplace (and all academic term so far, to be honest) pretending/gaslighting us that everything is NORMAL and we just need to "Smile more--it's good for your health!" (a literal thing the college president told us)) it is incredibly powerful and important to be reminded that whatever normal was is lost to us, and that those of us who survive are here and alive. Thank you.
" I need to learn how to love freely in the reality that those that I love could be taken from me at any minute." - This, along with every other word in this essay gets to the heart of things for me right now - we lost two of those we love this past year and nearly lost two more. It's a struggle to find the way forward when the truth is, as you say so well, nothing will ever be the same. I hope your ankles continue to recover and that, every day, your house feels more like home and a haven. Thank you for this post.
A year ago on Tuesday I had surgery to repair my knee that's been injured since 2007. I reinjured it during the pandemic doing tiktok choreography to "WAP"- AND I stretched first! Thank you for writing about this, it inspired me to write a reflection on the last year. <3 Wishing your ankles speedier healing.
So sorry to hear all the things you have gone through, especially being targeted because you are black. Covid, the quarantine and everything that entails, is/was hard for everyone, and then to add the racist BS into it, is just horrible. I don't know that any of us will be the same ever again and that is sad. Hugs
"But even if I get that layup down, it won’t heal me...Who I am now is not just some phase I’m in while I get back to the 'real' me." Never been an athlete but this really resonated. Sometimes I see things as "holy grails/quick fixes" even though I know that's not how life really works. So glad you're writing online again, thank you for this.
Thank you for writing this. I read (and listened to) your book last year and began following you on social media. My husband, young daughter, and I also went through a flood at my home in MLT, WA at the same time you were sharing your story about your house fire. I can relate so much to these struggles and especially your response to the fall on the court. You are such an inspiration and I've learned so much from you💗
I’m so glad you wrote this. I keep thinking about how we’ve changed, all of us, as a result of this pandemic. And I’m so grateful you brought in trauma, too. Much love to you, Ijeoma.
This is so beautiful. Sometimes we collapse under the weight of the pain we carry. I’m happy to hear there’s been some healing on the other side. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you for this. I feel like I have been shedding "normal" for the past year and I am still not sure what this new self is going to be but I am hoping it is resilient, empathetic and present - at least some of the time.
"And so we keep prolonging the pain of trying to be people we aren’t in a world that no longer fits that old version of ourselves.". BOOM! This is the sentence that inspired me to become a paid subscriber. Worth.every.penny.
Well, shit. This was beautiful--and after dealing with my workplace (and all academic term so far, to be honest) pretending/gaslighting us that everything is NORMAL and we just need to "Smile more--it's good for your health!" (a literal thing the college president told us)) it is incredibly powerful and important to be reminded that whatever normal was is lost to us, and that those of us who survive are here and alive. Thank you.
" I need to learn how to love freely in the reality that those that I love could be taken from me at any minute." - This, along with every other word in this essay gets to the heart of things for me right now - we lost two of those we love this past year and nearly lost two more. It's a struggle to find the way forward when the truth is, as you say so well, nothing will ever be the same. I hope your ankles continue to recover and that, every day, your house feels more like home and a haven. Thank you for this post.
A year ago on Tuesday I had surgery to repair my knee that's been injured since 2007. I reinjured it during the pandemic doing tiktok choreography to "WAP"- AND I stretched first! Thank you for writing about this, it inspired me to write a reflection on the last year. <3 Wishing your ankles speedier healing.
Thank you for sharing this story. It was impact and at time difficult to read, I can only imagine how hard it was to write.
Thank you for this! I am so tired of hearing things will get back to “normal”. No such thing-we are in a different world.
Blessings to you and your family. Thanks for sharing such brave, beautiful vulnerability.
So sorry to hear all the things you have gone through, especially being targeted because you are black. Covid, the quarantine and everything that entails, is/was hard for everyone, and then to add the racist BS into it, is just horrible. I don't know that any of us will be the same ever again and that is sad. Hugs
this was so amazing. thank you.
"But even if I get that layup down, it won’t heal me...Who I am now is not just some phase I’m in while I get back to the 'real' me." Never been an athlete but this really resonated. Sometimes I see things as "holy grails/quick fixes" even though I know that's not how life really works. So glad you're writing online again, thank you for this.
Thank you for writing this. I read (and listened to) your book last year and began following you on social media. My husband, young daughter, and I also went through a flood at my home in MLT, WA at the same time you were sharing your story about your house fire. I can relate so much to these struggles and especially your response to the fall on the court. You are such an inspiration and I've learned so much from you💗
I’m so glad you wrote this. I keep thinking about how we’ve changed, all of us, as a result of this pandemic. And I’m so grateful you brought in trauma, too. Much love to you, Ijeoma.
That was so beautiful, Ijeoma.
Well said! Thank you for sharing this!
This is so beautiful. Sometimes we collapse under the weight of the pain we carry. I’m happy to hear there’s been some healing on the other side. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you for this. I feel like I have been shedding "normal" for the past year and I am still not sure what this new self is going to be but I am hoping it is resilient, empathetic and present - at least some of the time.