October Rose & Thorns – A monthly recap of the highs and lows experienced each month.
Thorn – Time Off
I believe those who read my posts about Rose & Thorns are individuals who are more interested in my life beyond the fun vacations. The point of these posts is to create a platform for me to connect with others beyond the carefully curated travel content filled with smiling photos. These moments are just a small part of my life, and sometimes, they are the moments when I’m trying to regain my composure, self-confidence, or sense of direction in the world.
I wasn’t active here in September, and I want to thank those who reached out to me to check if I was okay. I wasn’t able to find the time or energy to sit and organize my thoughts, and even now, I still feel disoriented. Balancing everything (work, school, personal life, friends, & family) for the past three months has been quite challenging, and it feels like I’m pushing a boulder uphill.
Like my gluttonous eyes during Thanksgiving dinner, my plate is full. This blog was the dessert I did not save room for. Moving forward, I cannot guarantee consistency. This is a place of fun for me, and I would like to keep it that way. But it will not be the priority over the challenges in my everyday life.
Rose: The Girls
Whenever I feel like I’m alone on an island, spending time with the women in my life helps me gain perspective. I prioritized time with the women in my life because it’s the only time I feel seen and understood. The honesty and frankness that comes with these relationships are unparalleled.
My world is typically a very male-dominated place where emotion and not sharing is the norm. There were a few moments this month when I felt seen and understood, which helped to relieve my built-up anxiety. The first moment was when I was scheduling a meeting with my female boss. While checking her calendar, I noticed a blocked-off portion that was color-coded as a personal block but without any label. I asked her if it was a mistake or could be moved. She replied that it was her standing hair appointment and would only reschedule if our office burned down. Like my hairdresser, my boss’s hairdresser doesn’t work on the weekends, making it difficult for me to book appointments.
Since I am new to working Monday through Friday, I was unsure how to manage scheduling appointments. But it was a huge relief when my boss told me that I could take a half-day or a whole day off if I block out the time in advance on my calendar. I could have burst into tears. It may seem like a small thing, but I have never had a manager who could relate to the struggle of scheduling a simple hair appointment without having to explain the importance of keeping these appointments or why some hairdressers don’t work on the weekends.
During a get-together with some of my girlfriends, I experienced a second instance of feeling understood. One is single and does not reveal too much in the initial stages of dating, while the other is married and believes in being completely open and honest about her feelings. I prefer the latter approach. The ping-pong of debating the correct method left me with no answers. Nonetheless, it was reassuring to know that none of us had all the answers. We shared stories, and despite any crazy things I may have done in the past month, they didn’t seem so bad compared to some of the stories we told each other in the cozy corner of the dimly lit restaurant.
Rose: Grad School
I have some exciting news: I got accepted into Grad School! I will start in January and pursue a Master’s in Public Administration. It’s a mix of excitement and fear as I embark on this new phase of my life. If you had asked me a year ago if I would attend grad school in 2024, I would have rolled my eyes and said absolutely not! But here I am, eager to take on this challenge.
As a kid, I struggled with reading and writing. My mom worked tirelessly to get me tutors, additional help in school, and after-school classes. As an adult today, I still have moments where it takes me longer than average to comprehend an email. That’s probably because the email’s sender can’t write either, but I digress.
Getting to this point is a big deal for me. It further proves the point that what people tell you about yourself is made up. You get to decide the person you want to be. You get to control what decisions you make to better your life.
If things weren’t already hectic enough, I’ll be on another level of craziness come January.
October Favorites
Mushroom Shelves – These mushroom shelves from Etsy are the definition of dopamine decorating. I don’t remember how I stumbled across them, but these little shelves make me smile every time I walk through my front door. These 3D-printed mushrooms are lightweight and easy to hang on your wall. I’m already looking for places in my house where I can add more.
Shoes – Lately, I’ve been on a shoe-buying spree and I can’t seem to stop. Just this month, I purchased a pair of Nike Air Force 1 shoes and a pair of Dr. Martens boots. These two pairs of shoes couldn’t be further apart on the shoe style spectrum. I’ve realized that shoes play a big role in making or breaking an outfit, and I wanted to step out of my comfort zone and explore different styles. This has made me more excited about dressing up when I go out. Now, I take more time to think about what I’m going to wear and how it will make me feel, instead of just throwing something on and rushing out the door.
October Blog Post Recap
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