Oh wow! It has been a minute since my last blog post. Life has definitely been lifing, but I can also say I have been constantly growing. I want to give some major life updates.
Update #1
I had a hysterectomy in August. I have had issues with my cycle and premenstrual syndrome (PMS) for years. One of the major issues with my cycle was the pain. It had come to a point that I was only have two good weeks out of a month. I was starting to see a pattern in my cycle, my mental health, and my lack of productivity. Thank God I was able to find a great Black ob/gyn with a great practice that listened to my concerns. We talked about my concerns and my options. I spoke with my husband, mother, grandmother, sisters, and friends about my concerns and decided a hysterectomy was the best route for me. The surgery went great. I also had a great recovery. One thing I did not prepare myself for was the waiting period to resume physical activity. I started back increasing my activity pre-hysterectomy. However, post-hysterectomy I was advised not to do any strenuous levels of physical activity because my body needed time to heal. I am glad I took it slow with my recovery and easing back into physical activity with walking and some yoga. However, during the months of November and December my weight increased significantly. I now weigh more than I did when I had my daughter. My last weight check was 181 lbs. With my 5’3” frame, that weight has had some negative impacts especially as it relates to my joints and range of motion. I will not discuss it in this post, but I do have plans on how I plan to lose the weight. I will share those details in a later post.
Update #2
I completed Dr. Kemi Doll’s “Get that Grant” program. It was indeed a God send to find out about that program. Make sure to check it out if you are not familiar with the program. Initially, I was hesitant to apply for the program due to the price. However, I remembered that I had research start-up funds from when I was promoted to Assistant Professor, so I took a big leap of faith and asked my dean if I could use some of those funds to cover the program, and she said yes. The program started in July 2022 and ended December 2022. The program was phenomenal. I was able to complete a robust program that provided me with strategies for success when it comes to grant and manuscript writing. In addition, I was able to meet many amazing doctorally-prepared women of color in allied fields. I am still applying the strategies I learned in the program. Some days are better than others because I tend to let that perfectionist mindset get in the way, but I continue to take it one day at a time. I am ultimately proud of myself for having the confidence to ask my dean for that amount of money and for taking that chance on myself.
Update#3
I cut off my hair! It was time. I was feeling antsy and in need of something different. I was busy navigating academia, being a wife and a mom, so a haircut was the easiest thing to do. I love it, but I also know at some point I will grow it back out.
Yay to life, growth, and the blessings of each day.
