JunieB.org is B A C K! It’s been a long 3 months, but I appreciate each of you for returning to read my blog. These last 3 months have truly been life changing, I shut down both my business sites and took some much needed time to myself. I needed a break to get my mind right and get my life in order. I missed my blog and interacting with my readers. I got some nosey readers so I know ya’ll wondering what’s been going on these last 3 months…soooo I guess I can give ya’ll a lil tea.

So chille these last 3 months have been C R A Z Y! My last post was January 30th, when I tell ya’ll I was in a rough headspace during that time, I was going through it. I had just started my second quarter of graduate school, I was unhappy at my job, my personal life was in shambles and to make matters worse I felt like my depression was returning. I honestly felt stagnant and was in the process of planning my next steps in my career and life overall. After overcoming a battle with depression that damn near ended me a few years ago I vowed to NEVER go back to being in a place that dark. I decided to take a step back from my business, blog, friends and just really lock in with myself. I needed to identify why I wasn’t happy and what I was going to do about it. After sitting down and assessing what was causing my depression and overall unhappiness I came to these conclusions:

• I was no longer happy with my job and was ready for a higher position at a new institution
• I was beginning to feel complacent in life and needed something new, I was starting to feel like I wasn’t reaching my full potential anymore.
• I was allowing my friends to be a part of my personal life far too much. I needed to create some distance between them and I so that I could have a sense of individuality and peace.
• I needed to get my spirit and emotions aligned. I was carrying a lot of hurt, anger and negativity on me and I wasn’t using positive coping mechanisms to overcome them.

Once I identified what the issues were, it was my responsibility to handle them. On my personal break I did the following things:

• Spent less time with my friends and more time with myself, doing self care and just listening to my body and giving it the rest it needed.
• Officially became a member of my church by completing the New Member class and figuring out what type of relationship I want to have with God.
• Prayed more and was specific in my prayers.
• Got more organized with school and took more time to ensure that I was making it a priority.
• Evaluated my relationship with my friends and saw the relationships I have and where I saw them heading.
• Made the decisions to revamp my branding site and blog site. I wanted to ensure I was still passionate about both and give them the full effort they deserve.
• Talked with a therapist to help me sort through where I am now mentally and emotionally, where I want to go and what I need to do to get there.

Needless to say, these last 3 months have been dedicated to me healing and growing. I used this time productively and I feel so damn good. It’s amazing what taking time for yourself will do. The happiness I have at this moment is indescribable; this is the happiest I have been in a very long time. I feel blessed, free, revitalized and more motivated than before. Things I have been calling out to God for and praying through in the last 2 years have been answered in a matter of months. This is why I pray the way I do, this is why even when I feel at my lowest I still hold my head up, THIS is why I stay resilient. Things often do not work the way we want them to out of our own protection. We must realize that things happen when they are supposed to, not when we want them to. I told you all about where I was 3 months ago….now honeeyyyyy let me tell ya’ll about where I am now.

In the last 3 months:

• I got a new job as the Project Coordinator for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion for a private institution.
• Got a scholarship for my graduate program for this spring.
• Got a 4.0 my first two quarters of grad school. (lets pray I end this first year with a 4.0 cumulative.)
• Selected the PhD program I’ll be applying to.
• Started working with a relator and financial advisor to plan my move back to Chicago. YA GIRL IS MOVING BACK HOME!
• Realized I value privacy more than anything. I truly limit how involved I let my family and friends be in my personal life. I love my people, but at this point in my life, the less people know the better. I share what I want them to know and the rest I keep with me. Nothing personal, you just get to a place in life where I crave peace and privacy.
• I became more consistent with strengthening my spiritual health. I stream service, do bible plans, pray more and just overall do my best to connect with God daily.

I’m telling ya’ll, these months have truly been a blessing. I feel so good about life and so healthy. My blog is BACK, my business is BACK, I’m just excited for what’s to come and really blessed for all I have going right now. We back at it posting every other Sunday. I just had to check in and let ya’ll know where I been and what’s been going on.

I don’t know who needs to hear this but….TAKE TIME FOR YOURSELF. Listen to your body and mind when they tell you they need rest. YOU are YOUR main priority, nothing is more important than ensuring you are at your best. Step back from everything and everybody and do what you need to do for yourself. I promise you’ll thank yourself in the end. See ya’ll on May 9th for a new read.

XOXO – Junie.