hey friend, hey! 

The other day I had tons of sh#t to do. My list had everything from laundry to work to website redesign to catching up on a copy writing class I'm enrolled in. 

Naturally, I did what any logical (motivated) human would do and spent nearly my entire day sifting through bullsh?t on my phone. 

I bought a really cute dress online, unfollowed a bunch of people on social media and got caught up on everything Bravo. 

Then I went through my saved old pictures and felt the twinge of nostalgia when I came upon a bunch from the last market I was a vendor at. It was only March, but March in 2020 is like a lifetime ago. 

The event, was one of three “Loca for Local” events; an invite only market put on by a super badass business woman. She super intimidates me so I usually try to keep conversation to a minimum with her so I don't say anything ridiculous and if you know me, you know most of what I say is ridiculous so, really, I'm doing her the favor. Long story short, I was beyond honored to be a part of this event and it was a hit, per usual. 

It was truly a great start to a great year that held promise for so many great things to come.  

And it's crazy to think of now, but we didn’t know this would be the last event in Corpus for a while. 

At the end of December and the beginning of January, I felt super jazzed about my future. 

I just kept thinking about how this year was going to be the absolute BEST year ever. 

I had two blogs written AND published after a three year block. 
I had my goals set. 
My vision board done.
My business plan set up.
My workouts on point.

I was 100% completely, absolutely, without a doubt ready to be the truest and best version of me. 

No one could have predicted the following months...

The chaos. 
The fear. 
The pain. 

I, like many of you, have been suffering mentally, fighting to pull myself out of bed each and every day. I've been feeling helpless, hopeless, angry, frustrated...unsure of who is an ally, who I can share my emotions with, whom I can turn to for guidance. 

I've been feeling all the feelings so much internally that they've crept out to my physical sense, leaving me feeling weakened and in constant pain. 

And yet never losing sight of the fact that some are suffering much more than me. And as we’ve come to find out, some have been suffering for much much longer than we ever realized or maybe allowed ourselves to ever acknowledge. 

But amid the hurt, the destruction, the disappointment I’ve learned so much about this world and myself already and I’m committed to learning so much more. 

I’m committed to doing the work to help bring healing to a world that has needed it for far too long. I’m committed to having the uncomfortable conversations that will help lead us to a better place.

So in the end, it may seem like everything is burning to the ground. But truly we are learning to rise. It may seem like people are cruel (and yes we’ve learned some people are) but we are seeing that truly many people are brave. 

And kind. 
And want nothing more than to love. 
And to be loved.
To be seen. 
To be heard. 
To be SAFE. 

Maybe we don't always get what we want, but possibly we do get what we need, and what we needed, as a nation, was a huge wake up call. 

So in the end, this year has given us the greatest opportunity that we never saw coming. 

The opportunity to truly truly be the best version of ourselves. 
A version we never knew existed.
A version that is long overdue. 

Be brave sweet friends. 

Sending you all massive love and hope.

You can do anything.
I believe in you.
You are greatly loved.

Sincerely, Veronica Towns

Ps. How are you holding up? Let me know, I'd love to hear from you! REALLY I would! Comment below.