Notes from April and May
This essay originally appeared in the Monday morning newsletter on 6/7/21.
As one of the items on my 21 in 2021 List, I’ve committed to writing a quick recap at the end of each month to better remember all the little things that happen. I didn’t send out a recap at the end of April, so I had fun jogging my memory of what happened two months ago and combining it with some of my highlights from May.
Sharing my notes below in case this idea sounds interesting to you. I’m loving how the exercise helps me reflect on what’s just happened and set the tone for the new month. If you have a ritual to mark the end of the month or if you try this idea out, I would love to hear about it!
10 Notes from April and May:
- I got vaccinated!! I got my first dose on April 1 and my second toward the end of the month. For such a big step forward, the whole process was over so fast (my Uber rides were longer than my actual appointments!). I’m so thankful and so relieved!
- I also got to see friends who I haven’t seen since 2019. It felt so good, especially because the opportunity to see these girls came right in the middle of feeling like I was in a rut. Countless times while I was with these friends, I thought to myself, “wow, I really feel like ‘me’ again.” Reminder of how powerful relationships are! So happy we can start safely seeing people again.
- May is graduation season and I happily got to celebrate my brother and a few friends. Graduations are such a hopeful, celebratory occasion. Super proud of the graduates in my life!
- For my birthday week in April, I got my nails painted varying shades of pink and it made me ridiculously happy. This “joyful manicure” idea (getting your nails painted something other than just one solid color) is on my summer fun list since I’ll still be working from home this summer and want to take advantage of the fact that I don’t need “professional” nails just yet.
- I purchased, framed and hung art in my apartment in April. FINALLY! This August will mark three years of me living in my apartment, but I’m so hesitant when it comes to things like decorating decisions. However, when I saw the print that’s now on my wall (thanks to my friend Emily for sending it to me!), I knew I liked it more than anything else I had seen. It was reasonably priced, so I went against my cautious instincts and purchased, framed and hung the print in quick succession because I knew I would be happy after it was done. And I was!
- I wrote about this last week, but I also purchased a new desk and I’m loving my new and improved at-home work setup. Only took 15 months of remote work for me to finally invest in an actual desk, but now that I have it, I can’t imagine working without it!
- Chicago’s April and May weather this year did not feel as rainy as normal. But I also recognize I’m writing this statement with my “Chicago summer glasses” on (AKA the tendency for Chicago residents to forget about all the treacherous months once wonderful summer strikes).
- Speaking of weather, to me, one of the best things about temps warming up is getting to wear something OTHER THAN JEANS! By the end of winter/spring, I’m ready to throw out my jeans in favor of flowy dresses and skirts. Personally, I’m so glad the midi-length style of dress is “in ” right now because they are just so comfortable and easy to wear. Here’s a few that I have my eye on right now: one, two, three, four.
- For most of April I was in a reading rut, but thanks to the following books, I found my reading stride again in May. Favorites from May include Most Likely (YA), The Last Thing He Told Me (thriller/mystery) and Drop the Ball (nonfiction).
- I set a new personal running distance record in May! On what would have been my grandma’s 85th birthday, I ran 8.5 miles. I like to think she gave me a bit of help with accomplishing that. 🙂
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