In the spirit of NaNoWriMo, I dedicated time to finalizing a personal essay I’d been working on for roughly two months. If you’re unfamiliar with NaNoWriMo, you can find past posts, here.
This piece deviates from my usual stroke related content but I believe many of you will resonate. While I make mention of my stroke experience in the essay, it’s not the primary focus, instead, I speak to the influence of Beyonce’s ‘Renaissance’ album and how her music has impacted my healing process.
I’m not here to prescribe what anyone should do, but rather, share what I did—a raw and occasionally somber look at my personal journey.
I provided a brief excerpt below; full essay is available on my Medium page.
I’ll be back soon with a wrap-up!
Break Ups, Breakthroughs and Beyoncé
How Queen Bey Pushed Me Through My Personal Renaissance
I hadn’t felt the weight of an album in years—the personal significance of ‘Renaissance’ went beyond the divine. There was something uniquely hopeful, energetic, and aligned in the music. Right place, right time.
At its release, ‘Renaissance’ helped propel an almost 2-year healing journey I started in February 2022 after being swept up in a whirlwind love bomb. Although the details of the breakup matter less than the outcome, the onset sent me spiraling into a three-month depression – the kind where eating became optional—resulting in an 11 lbs weight loss on an already small-framed body.
My move to Chicago was meant to bring newfound stability; a liberating shift from a 10-year chase through multiple cities. Trying to find my footing in an unfamiliar environment clashed with the absence of an onsite support system while I was at my most vulnerable.
Those in my circle—family and friends—heard the story repeatedly; they helped fill in the gaps from a distance but there was something about this breakup that broke my soul.
The rose-colored glasses came off. Whatever mirage my mind had conjured up, faded. This wasn’t the first time I fell for the okey doke, but it would damn sure be the last.
READ MORE ON MEDIUM.