LOOKING BACK
I asked my followers on Instagram whether they would love to see the post back and the response was 100% yes. I have been mulling over that for a long time, probably before summer started as I was swamped with papers and presentations for school.
Balancing work and school full time is not an easy task. By the end of Spring I was ready to run outside and never come indoors. I promised myself to enjoy Summer fully. With a capital F.
A lot happened over the summer, day parties, trips, hanging out with my girls, adventures, and my favorite, a family reunion in Harlem. It’s been amazing and super grateful to God for all these joyous moments.
At the back of my mind was the question of the blog. Did I want to keep it? What’s next for the blog? Why do I keep it? Frankly, I haven’t been as intentional as I have been with this platform for a few years now. It ebbs and flows. It made me sad because I enjoy writing and creating here but I never gave it time of the day. I even convinced myself that no one reads anymore. I knew coming back here and typing out these words, the truth would reveal itself.
My first post went live on October 1st, 2012. If you would have told me that the blog would be turning 9 years old in a few days I would have thought of it somewhat laughable. The blog was my connection to the Fashion industry back then. It gave me something to do right after college. It allowed me to research and write on tales close and dear to me through life lessons, inspiration, random tit bits. It was geared to be a direct link to a future clothing line. Well, that one is still up there. The blog is where Anneconventional was forged. A space for conversations that connect to you. It was where I came to find solace when I was far from New York with the dream of working in the industry. I learnt so much from jotting on this space. I can recall countless hours sitting at Barnes and Nobles with a stack of magazines. Fashion with Roshie started here. Some great friendships were forged through this domain. Then I tucked away my special place in the dark. To the furthest attic of my mind and leisurely took a peak at it now and then. I have a habit of not reading previous posts. Once Published. It’s gone and no longer mines. I haven’t read a recent post in a long time, however, I have promised myself to look back in order to appreciate where I am today. Now more than ever.
It’s time to dust off and perform a deep cleaning. While at it, some reckoning as well. To remove this space far from the attic, to a brightly lit room that’s full of intention.
Post-Covid has brought a lot of changes, starting with how we consume. I will be sharing stories on that because it’s all my professors talk about and it would be a good need to know.
The blog needs a little face lift. Templates, style, fonts need little love. I am ready to march into year 9 equipped with the same fire I started in this wonderful space. I will be reading my posts for the past three years,tears will be shed. Crying is very therapeutic. It should not come as a surprise that I cried plenty jotting this down. I felt bad leaving my baby in the dark for so long. vowed to navigate these feelings and give myself grace. Reading 3 years of stories will be like flipping through an old journal and finding gems I may have forgotten. Every writer has a voice. I have missed THAT voice.
I had these images taken at 7am. Time has become my only luxury. Mariama, my photographer also has a full time job and loves taking photographs. If it takes 7am photo shoots for the work to be done, we are here for it. It was us and the birds that early in the morning. I love how the shadows came to play. With a touch of the golden hour from the sunrise.
If you are back from the many, many months of . Thank you for rocking with me and welcome back. Please say hello in the comment box. It’s wonderful to have you back. Also, where are you reading from? I am intentionally trying to have conversations with you moving forward. Thank you for being here :)
Intentionally!