These Days

Hello dear friends,

I’ll just come right out and say it: we are all dealing with a reality shift in nearly every facet of our lives these days, and it shows no signs of slowing anytime soon. These are things that I've learned and examined as a business owner that I would never have imagined I'd be dealing with this time last year. Therefore, I'm choosing to be completely transparent and diligent in my efforts to be vulnerable and open with everyone, especially as a small business owner.

I can't speak for anyone's perspective but my own. I wanted to share with you all a little about how my day-to-day has changed since the onset of the pandemic. I think stories are, and have always been, a powerful thing, and I hope mine will encourage or inspire someone today.

I think we're all experiencing the same repetitions and demands of all five stages of grief (denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance) on a daily basis, perhaps, now as our current economic, political, and sociological status quos’ of the world continue to unravel. No need for me to even try to mention them all here. In our own individual ways, we’re dealing with exponential loss, stress, instability, and insecurity in ways we have never encountered before.

By the end of March 2020, I lost 50% of my expected gross income for the month (as compared to January and February 2020), and by the end of April 2020, it had grown to 90%. Fortunately, I am so grateful to have acquired unemployment benefits mid April and with that financial burden lifted, I have been given a chance to continue working towards the growth of both of my two small businesses: this music lesson teaching business (which expanded to accommodate online lessons at the end of March), and my online record store business, Hang Around RVA (along with my life partner, Jared Frazier). We are still continuing to research and find ways to evolve and adapt as small business owners in a socially distanced world.

Since I haven’t been teaching as often, I’ve been spending my personal time organizing and cleaning every corner of my home, cooking, crocheting, reading, learning how to compost, writing and sending more letters/cards, clearing out my Netflix queue, and teaching my cat, Nico, how to do tricks! We also try to take walks or bike rides around the neighborhood at least once a day. Also, my partner will be teaching me how to skateboard soon, so wish me luck!

Just in case anyone cares to know: 60mm Slime Balls wheels, Bones Red bearings and CCS Trucks on a deck Jared found for me.

It's not been easy or perfect. Every day is a challenge in persistence and endurance. We're running a marathon where the markers are not clearly marked, the trails are treacherous, and the finish line is nowhere to be seen. We, as sentient human beings, are picking up on all the anxiety and tension wafting in the air, taking it in, and exhaling it upon our, hopefully, sterile masks. We're having to constantly question and examine our actions, our decisions, our intentions in more delicate and complex ways. Our general day-to-day threshold for stress and stability is being tested like we've never seen before. We are all currently writing the newest chapters of our own stories. And this is not even the end.

It's hard not to succumb to the snares of depression, futility, nihilism, and apathy, especially during times like these. It's easy to disassociate and try to constantly distract yourself too, but at the end of the day, the reality is that we must take care of ourselves and our choices… the only things we ever have control over in this world. I have to constantly remind myself to remain positive and trust that the outcome of these turbulent and heartbreaking events will subside and eventually grow into a fruitful and rewarding harvest for us all. I don't always know what I'm doing, but I trust that my heart is in the right place, I always seek the truth, and I will do all I can to help someone. My responsibility is to support those truths and do everything I can to diversify and expand that love and passion I already have (so...that's why I'm learning to skateboard! XD).

I'm thankful for my friends and family who have continued to support and uplift me. Without their strength and energy, I couldn't persevere through half of what I've been able to overcome. I hope my vulnerability and earnestness has come across the screen and that you know that no matter who you are or where you are, you are loved and valued. The Truth can never be tarnished. It radiates and purifies, and much like the sun, can never be extinguished by human efforts.


Sincerely and with all the Love,
Jenny Thomas

P.S. Please feel free to comment below!

Take a load off and share your story! Thanks!