As I sit here thinking about how I will tackle 2021 personally and professionally, I find myself at a crossroads. What does success look like to me? I am not in the same space as I was two years ago. I know what my success looks like for the people on the outside looking in. I am a mother of two, In school full time. I am a fiancé to my excellent partner, running a business and a Non-profit, wearing multiple hats at any given point.
However, due to this pandemic, I have added a few more hats to my shelf. I am a professional architect specializing in lego castle building with my 18-month-old son, a teacher, sitting with my daughter as her first year of school has become an online experience. I find myself a counsellor for my daughter as she expresses her frustration about not seeing her classmates in person. The list goes on, but juggling all these hats and showing up for my work-life's responsibilities and obligations has differently shown me a new side of myself that I have never met. Moreover, through it all, I ensure to keep a smile on my face.
Nevertheless, my truth is that success for me during this pandemic is to positively make it through the day. Real success is understanding I will not and can not be superwoman every day. I decided not to place unrealistic goals on myself when the luxury of childcare or help from extended family has been temporarily removed because of COVID19. Acknowledging that some days will be better than others. I accept the reality that I will have days where I cannot check all the boxes on my to-do list. However, as long as I choose not to give up and keep on doing my best, this is what matters most. So as I sit here writing this today, success for me in 2021 will be more of living in the moment, acknowledging and allowing myself to accept the things I can not change while changing the things I can. My wish for you this new year is that you can find joy in celebrating the little victories in your day. Even if that means choosing to dress up for your next zoom meeting or taking the stairs in your building instead of the elevator, congratulate yourself on making it through the day.
Stay safe, and Happy New Year!
-Khadijah Cardwell
Founder of F.O.W Foundation of Hope