Proof of Passion
If I hear one more person talk about “the new normal,” I think I’m going to scream. But hey, that’s normalized now too, right? If you gotta scream girl, go ahead and holler.
Finally, the ennui and listlessness that most people feel on a daily basis is allowed to be acknowledged. Once we were sent into isolation, many of us caged with little more than sanitizer, gloves, and a rapidly growing sense of dread, it became apparent that something had to give. We’ve all coped with the rollercoaster of emotions that the big Q has brought in varying ways. From ignoring our phones, to ignoring the travel advisories and heading on a vacation (lucky you, being able to afford a vacation!), we’ve slowly begun to settle into a new routine. Is it for better or worse?
We should have suspected that 2020 had something life-changing up its sleeve—did anyone notice how eerily symmetrical those New Year’s Eve glasses were, for the first time since Y2K? (You know, the ones where the 0’s line up with your eyes). Could we have guessed that the entire world would be stricken with tragedy? No. Are we learning how to appreciate community, treat ourselves better, forge bonds we might not have made otherwise, and perhaps how to relinquish control, just a little bit? Hopefully.
As a Musician with an under-the-table day job, in March 2020 I was left precariously, although not uniquely, straddling my two occupations. I didn’t qualify for unemployment, despite having held my day job for years. Exhausted and unfulfilled, I had allowed it to take so much time from my music that I didn’t have enough proof of my passion to qualify for artist grants. Jobless, and two months away from homeless, I decided to casually look for real estate listings outside of NYC, knowing that a new home would come to me if it was meant for me. Smash cut forward to June, to a 2-bedroom house in Maine, to a 75 degree summer on its rocky coast, and to enough time (and space) to finally finish my album. Inspiration shines frequently these days, through the cape house windows into the yoga + music room. My plants are flourishing, and so am I.
The one thing that I am missing, the irreplaceable puzzle piece, is platonic human connection. Working with BoldHER is such an exciting and welcome opportunity, and one that has arisen at the perfect time. Amidst a sea of emotion—grief, from losing my Aunt in April; guilt, that it was to the very virus that gave me such freedom; pride, for finally completing the EP that I will dedicate to her—I feel gratitude welling up alongside these other feelings. BoldHER’s mission of holistic mutual support is a noble and much-needed one. Let’s empower each other to find (and flaunt!) proof of our passions. It’s time to confront, embrace, and fully be ourselves.
