My First Blog Post, EVER!

Hi!

I’m an aspiring creative learning different skills and crafts to grow myself and be able to progress. I’m currently 24 years old. The 2020 was a year of clairvoyance and mystery simultaneously coinciding. Near the end of 2019, there was major news developing about the release and spreading of a deadly virus. Here in North America, he merely observed and did our best to understand but couldn’t relate on a personal level. January 2020 felt prosperous; it’s a new year, a new chance to live and learn more than before. At the time, I was juggling a full-time job and attending a part-time course learning special effects software. My goal was to learn these skills and get a new job in the movie industry along the way. It was tough physically and mentally however I was determined to do what was needed. February strolls along, and the news is starting to get a little shaky with word of the virus spreading more and more around the world. The Canadian Provincial and Municipal governments making announcements regarding health concerns and practices pertaining to the safety of the public and what we could expect. Yes, you read that right. Their announcements were as vague and easily confusing as that last sentence. All that was a given was the possibility that the virus could encounter the country however not much was discussed regarding preventative measures. It was black history month, and there were so many in-person events and gatherings happening that looking back it was fun and educational to attend yet kind of crazy to look back on considering how things presently are. For the life of me I equate February 29, 2020 as the last day of semblance to “normal life” or “life as we knew it”. That day for me felt like physical limbo when I look back. Was it the fact that it was an extra day in February due to leap year, or the fact of it being the last day of that month, or the fact that it was a family members’ birthday? I’m not sure tbh. One thing is for sure March 2020 is where things tipped off…for the change of today. The virus hit the U.S. and sure enough made way into Canada. The Gov’t started to talk about possible shutdowns, classifications of essential and non-essential businesses, wearing a medical/surgical mask and gloves or some form of PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) and so much more. Leading towards the end of March, the lockdown had started and people who worked average jobs were advised to stay home and apply for E.I. or additional financial assistance and folks whose professions were in link to healthcare were considered “frontline work” and had to meet a new demand of work—combating the virus and fighting to save and keep people alive. The nursing homes took a major hit, businesses like restaurants and small ‘Ma and Pa’ shops were seeing a slow decline in revenue and isolation was slowly creeping up on everyone. I was temporarily laid off, and with my program coming to an end, I was home. I signed up for e-learning courses, I learned to practice meditation, try my hand at cooking more, and a handful of other things. Whenever I needed to do essential shopping I’d put on my mask and head out there just to get back indoors as soon as possible, all April and May 2020. As June was around the corner and I was adapting to my new made habits, work reached out back to me. On one hand, I felt excited to get back to work, on the other hand I felt my newfound flow was being disrupted, and it was. Upon returning to work I felt miserable, more stressed out with health and safety measures and just mentally drained. In a month I resigned due to all those factors and decided I needed to what was best. I wanted to start own business as a freelancer in photography. Since I made that decision, a poor decision I may add, I felt right on my face and suffered. By the time I caught good footing I had to jump back into a job. I took side gigs from wherever possible and did my best to keep myself afloat from summer through fall and winter. I haven’t gone into much detail about my art or even much of my life or experiences as a whole throughout last year; needless to say, it’s been a doozy and very uncertain on what will happen with life currently. At this point in time as of February 2021, I’m in stable full-time work, learning new skills, and wanting to grow. I haven’t progressed much with my personal business, but just like anything new, it takes time to build just so long as you’re taking a step towards building up each day. This is my very first post and I appreciate whoever took the time to read this, my first step at writing a blog post. Have an awesome February and May 2021 be great to you.

Cheers!

Rome