I don't meant to start this blog post off sounding sad but this is the honest truth. I don't remember the last time I celebrated an accomplishment, holiday, birthday or event with someone that is not my parents.
Life has changed drastically for me since my sister past away in 2016. I mention that a lot in my blog posts but it is the truth. When your entire immediate family goes through grief of a loved one, then you sorta lose everyone's personal connection forever.
I haven't celebrated a birthday, holiday, or event with my parents since 2017. Most of the time, they just buy me stuff and call it just another day. I am really grateful for everything that I have but sometimes I just want company when I achieve something and the internet is not exactly the place to celebrate.
Since high school graduation in 2017, I have learned how to celebrate and enjoy things by myself. It's definitely a hard thing to do when you are still a young adult. Although, sometimes you have no choice but to survive on your own.
When I graduated I graduated from University during the global pandemic in December 2021. And like every other student who graduated during the pandemic, I felt lost, I didn't know anyone, and most importantly I didn't know what I was going to do with my life post-grad.
There was no celebration after I survived 5 years of college, 2 of them being in the pandemic and one of them being at home. I didn't get a grad party like I did in high school. All my gifts and checks were sent in the mail. It felt like I didn't even know who was sending me grad gifts since I haven't seen anyone in years.
Not only was I emotionally lost but I was also depressed and lonely. My graduation was post-poned until summer 2022. During the ceremony it was thunder storming and they told us to walk on the stage then leave ASAP. They even mailed us our diplomas.
So.... why am I writing about all of these negative events that happened pre-2022?
I'm writing about this because I want to let you know that it's okay to celebrate alone.
Good things don't have to be celebrated with someone.
Sometimes you need to take a step back and see how far you've come without company or an audience.
January 2023: I joined a bookclub on Instagram. I've made some pretty cool friends on there and read great books by POC authors. (Celebrating the new year with new friends and new books is always a good way to start the year)
February 2023: I went to my first concert post-pandemic. I saw Gunnar in D.C at The Pie Shop. I went with my dad since that area is not safe and since I had no idea where it was. But I had the time of my life and I got front row at the most intimate concert ever. I also got a picture with him and a signed poster. How cool is that? (That was my own personal celebration since I figured out that I wanna work in the music industry, thanks to Fan to Band)
March 2023: March 28, 2023. A day that I will never forget. My first Joshua Bassett concert. It didn't go as planned but I enjoyed myself that night. My goal is still to see Josh and get good seats at his next DMV concert. Hopefully, his meet and greet isn't a mess and it's accessible. It drives me crazy seeing all these girls celebrate birthday and holidays and celebrations at his concert but they are all able-bodied and can stand in like for 6 hours to see him. (Blog post about concert up now)
April 2023: April 29, 2023, indie bookstore day. I am thankful that my parents were able to drive me to a bookstore that day. My dad shoved me out after an hour though. I think it's my favorite holiday. LOL. I think that's one holiday that I can celebrate alone since I can get lost in a bookstore all day.
May 2023: May 13, 2023. I went to go see SIX the musical by myself. That day, I didn't need a reason to celebrate. The musical itself was a celebration of female empowerment and history. (Also props to the Hippodrome for having a close caption reader machine)
June 2023: June 2, 2023. I saw Hayley Kiyoko at the Fillmore. This show was a way for me to celebrate pride month. I am still figuring out who I am and what my sexuality is. And that's okay to be a work in progress. It was also a celebration of facing my facing my fears. If you've read about my Joshua Bassett experience at the Fillmore than you probably understand why I had PTSD about going back to the venue. As a disabled concert go-er, I never know what my experience is going to be like till I get to the venue. It's scary going back to a place where you feel like your excluded from other abl-bodied people.
And on June 11th, 2023 I saw Hadestown by myself. It is a musical that I have been dying to see ever since I heard the soundtrack on Spotify. I am kind of a musical theater nerd even though I hate the spotlight. I bought the tickets on a whim and I told my self that this was going to be my beginning of the summer celebration. And it was quite a celebration, the cast celebrated PRIDE month with a very colorful stage lighting set up and rainbow flags on their costumes. The best part of my experience was that I had the fourth row, middle seat, and non one in front of me. How cool is that? That's the best seat in the house for someone who is barely 5' and has hearing aids.
I'm also writing for a record company and I got into the 1520 Vision music mentee program hosted by Stacey Morales.
I may not be celebrating all these things in-person with someone but that doesn't mean that I can't celebrate.
Sometimes the best way to celebrate is with yourself.
Happy summer!
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