Dear 2021: Recapping 2020 and Looking Ahead...

Dear 2021,

I am sitting here racking my brain on how to approach this letter. 

Well first, if you are reading this letter then you are blessed to have made it to see another year. I understand how hellish of a year it was for many people and my heart goes out to all who have lost a loved one(s) due to COVID-19 or any other unfortunate occurrence. 

I always want to address my readers in a transparent manner even when it’s not the most politically correct. So about 2020, I have to say, it was filled with masked blessings. You see, I’m much more of a glass half full individual rather than a glass half empty one; I am always trying to see the positive in a situation.

A lesson I learned in 2020 is to trust in God’s timing. December 2020 made it two years since I completed my final class of my college career yet I was and still am working for the fashion retail company I started during the first semester of my Freshman year. One can imagine the feeling of failure of not moving into your dream career or at least one that matches with your college major. Especially when you have put yourself in tens of thousands of dollars in debt to obtain that bachelor’s degree.

Here is where the lesson kicked in. That retail job, the one that I took for granted, well that saved my ass during the entire lockdown. All of those years of working which led to rapid promotions, once I completed college, pushed me into manager territory. That manager position financially protected me for those three months when New York City was shut down. This then put me in that first group of individuals to be called back as soon as the city reopened in June of 2020. That alleviated any worries I had financially and allowed my three month stay-at-home order to be much more of a needed vacation rather than a weight of worry of an impending financial and personal catastrophe.

Speaking of those three months, the first two months were a blur of making Tik Tok videos, recapping HBO’s Insecure with Sherice and my nights becoming my days. In the last month of May my attention was yanked into the direction of the racial injustices against my people in the United States.

I’ve now lived in the United States for six and a half years. I also have lived in the bubble that is New York City for that entire time. Mind you, I’ve been active in race-related causes in the years before but the real awakening was watching Ahmaud Arbery being gunned down. So I was awakened, and then a thrust of cold water splashed my face came in the form of that gut-wrenching video that displayed George Floyd being suffocated to death.

This was another level of consciousness for me. I was compelled to go out and protest, something I thought I would never do. It was such a moving experience to be a part of speaking out against the injustices of black people in this country. The fight for justice, for Breonna Taylor maintained my care for the cause for the months that followed. While I do not consider myself an activist, I hope to maintain this spirit of speaking out against racial injustices wherever I take up space in.

Also can we speak about that Saturday morning, November 7? Days after the General Election, it was finally announced that Joe Biden was elected as the 46th President of the United States. It felt like weeks waiting but the feeling and the energy felt in the streets of New York City was like a choreographed scene from a Hollywood movie. I lived for that day.

With a huge part of my heart being wrapped up in social and political interests, it also served as the perfect distraction from something else my heart was dealing with. In 2020, I was able to let go of an unrequited situation that should have never lasted past the first 24 hours. People joke around and say, “It ain’t over until I say it is.” For me, this is a major truth. It has nothing to do with ego, pride or possession. It has to do with the simple fact of me receiving the message of disinterest causing me to be the last step away.

I give a lot of space for a person to be himself because I am already whole. I am never looking for my other half; anyone who comes along is a supplement. With that being stated, I can accept a great deal but there are certain things that will turn me off quicker than the flick of a light switch. 

I look above and ask why, many times. Why do I put myself into these situations? I now know the answer but I’m going to keep that for myself. Ever the optimist, I will admit, there was a bright side to my entire situation. I made new acquaintances(mere and close) and I was also reintroduced to someone from my past. Funny how life works out...

There were also blessings that entered this world in the first month of 2020 and the last month of 2020. My good friends Zina and Lamarr welcomed their beautiful daughter Nola Bea Kinslow-Womble in January. She is just so precious, I just can't get enough of her. Then in December my amazing niece Lexi and her partner welcomed their princess, Zurianna Lesile Destiny Kelly: cuteness overload. Although not born this year, baby Payton continues to bring added joy into my life on a biweekly basis.

With this general recap of 2020 where does that leave me for 2021? What is my resolution for 2021? Well I’ll tell ya, it is the same as it was intended for 2020 except I’m actually going to follow it this year:

“Don’t talk about what you’re gonna do, don’t just dream about what you’re gonna do. Don’t criticize somebody else for what they’re not doing. You be it, be about it, be about that action and go do it. Keep your eye on your intentions. Don’t let any outside distractions or your own insecurities stop you from your goals.” - Beyoncé

In June 2020, a resolution that I had let go of was articulated so perfectly that I’ve been holding onto it ever since. Yes, words by Beyoncé Giselle Knowles-Carter and her team are what will guide me through this year that is 2021.

Since November 2020, I’ve been on such a spiritual cleanse. Heck, I even gave up drinking which I have never done. I watch an endless amount of YouTube Tarot card videos based on my sun sign Taurus, consulted with a psychic medium and I pray. As a very close friend of mine told me, “Welcome to the land of Mimiville (Mariah Carey): the place of high standards.”

Another resolution I have moving forward is to be more consistent. There are moments when I’m a burst of energy and productivity but I need twice that time to recharge. In all of my work efforts and goals I am going to become more focused and plan ahead. I also intend to be a little more selfish to ensure that I protect my space and energy.

I truly feel a major shift coming in 2021 and actually, there were already some changes in the final weeks of 2020. What were they? Well, for now, we’re not going to talk about it. *wink* 

On that note, if you are reading this sentence, thank you for reading through till the end and I wish you a prosperous and optimism-filled 2021.

With love,

Chet Alexander Kincaid.