En (Joy) the Journey
Alicia Belton and Janice Downing at the Historic Coliseum Building during Doors Open Minneapolis, May 18 + 19, 2024.
Every year, I brace myself for the month of May.
With the approach of the school year ending, it is filled with a flurry of activities that requires a delicate balance of my work and family calendar. Over the last several weeks, I have attended two school band concerts, watched baseball playoff games and track meets and celebrated my son going to prom. We still have more to come with high school final exams, an 8th grade graduation and celebrating my parent’s birthdays just 2 days apart.
In my parallel life as Principal of UDP, we received our Certificate of Occupancy for the Coliseum and moved our practice into the building. We had a “Thank You Dinner” for Design and Construction Team, welcoming almost 400 guests at Doors Open last weekend and are preparing for our Grand Opening on Juneteenth as part of the Soul of the Southside.
Whew, it is appropriate that May is Mental Health Awareness month!
As small business owner, wife, and mother, I have purposed to find joy each day this month between the project deadlines, client meetings, volunteer, and family activities. I am remembering:
The last middle school band concert as my daughter begins high school next year
Celebrating my son’s first date and four games of straight wins after five straight losses
The inaugural tango dance at the Coliseum as of one of our staff shared his gift of dance at our thank you dinner
Meeting the owner of Liberty Photos, one of the former tenants from the 1960’s in the Coliseum, at Doors Open
What I know for sure is that you can choose joy in spite of all the busyness that life brings. For me in this season, I am relishing in these precious life moments as part of my own wellness and making sure to put me on the never-ending list of things to do.
