It’s Friday, so I’m linking up with Fairytales and Fitness for the Friday Five. Since it’s the first weekend of the month, I‘m also linking up with Coco @ Running with Perseverance and Deborah @ Confessions of a Mother Runner for the Ultimate Coffee Date, too.
What is the Ultimate Coffee Date? Imagine we’re having coffee together… this post is what I would tell you. So grab a cup, “listen” and then tell me what is going on with you in the comments, please!
If we were having coffee… I’d ask how you’re doing and if you need anything. It’s been a really heavy week. The protests and violence over the deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbury and many others added to the already difficult COVID situation. Chicago was basically shut down this week and our neighborhood is largely boarded up (precautionary). You may have noticed that I posted about this on Monday and silenced my content here this week to hear other voices. I’ve been trying to listen and learn. I’m grateful to have had the opportunity to speak to many people and to be introduced to new organizations, thought leaders and influencers. I’d ask what you have been doing to process everything going on in the world right now to learn from you.
If we were having coffee… I’d tell you that one thing that gave me hope this week was that there were protests in all 50 states and most were peaceful. I also heard from many people that they were going to work actively to get out the vote to make sure all voices are heard.
If we were having coffee… I’d ask if you went running for Global Running Day on Wednesday. I did and reflected on the difference with previous years in this Instagram post. Like everything else in 2020, there were no celebrations or groups, but I still “celebrated” running. It’s been a constant throughout my adult life and has been the only thing keeping me sane through this pandemic. I also have made some of my closest friends through running and have connected with people from all over the world!
If we were having coffee… I’d rejoice in the fact that we could actually have coffee together… outside in a socially distant way. We’ve entered the next phase of our reopening plan here in Chicago. I haven’t actually done it (and my neighborhood is boarded up) but I may try to have a post run coffee with a friend or two this weekend. Our park (not the lake) is open again so it’s easier to social distance run with friends and I met up with my trainer for an outside session. My run with Holly (and JP – her Standard Poodle) and session with Bianca were two highlights of this difficult week.
If we were having coffee… I’d tell you about some great sessions I attended this week. One was with The Pink Couch on Instagram. [Follow these three best friends who tackle “Uncomfy topics on a Comfy couch.”] It was an hour long session called “Enough.” You can view it here. I especially liked the exercise at the end and the thoughtful list of action items. When the noise dies down, they suggest:
- If you see something, say something. Don’t remain silent if you see disparities and racism.
- If you see nothing, say something. If you see no change where some has been promised or homogeneity in your group or work place, say something and work to change it.
- Do things differently for a different result. Don’t expect to do things as they’ve always been done and to see a change. Work to make change happen.
I haven’t been posting my usual finds and shenanigans this week. I’m going to start again here on Instagram stories this weekend. I’ll continue to share information, events and ways to help/get involved, as well. I have commitments to brands and frankly get a lot of enjoyment on sharing finds and helping small companies in these hard times. This blog is not a social justice platform and I don’t intend to shift the focus, but I do aim to try to share more diverse finds and voices here. If you don’t see that happening, call me out on it!
If we were having coffee… I’d ask “what’s happening by you?” Please tell me in the comments!
PS. Please don’t forget my great giveaways.