resilience | Periwinkle Starr

Hey Y’all! I hope you are doing well in your corner of the world. Spring has been subtle in North Texas this year. There hasn’t been the usual sprint towards high temperatures like I’ve seen in the past, and I’m thankful for it.

Can you believe that Periwinkle Starr is 10 years old? I have been writing for a decade!!! I remember the day I started writing my first post, I was at work in downtown Dallas….unapologetically 🙂 And I had some free time. Looking back on the posts over the years, I see an evolution in my writing, which I attribute to travel, changes, and life in general. Ten years is a long time, and I am so thankful to all the readers all over the world who are tuned in. Being a lifestyle blog, which literally means I get to write about topics within my human experience, I feel like I’ve covered a lot over the last decade.

Have you ever wondered that in life, the only thing constant is you? People come and go. Relationships bloom and fizzle, high and low tides alternate, jobs come and go, we move and resettle, children are born and very soon leave home, but there we are, experiencing it all in real time. If you’ve lived long enough, you’ve probably seen an evolution not just of yourself but of the people in proximity to you, their choices, and the resulting life impact, as well as your own. It’s almost like we are time travelers …but in slow motion.

I don’t believe any human being, alive or dead, has all the answers to living, and living is a lifelong process of learning, but in the few years I’ve been around, I’ve learned a few things along the way.

Find avenues to do what you really love.
Your self-preservation is a full-time job.
Be as wise as a serpent but gentle as a dove.
Don’t let life, people, or circumstances make your heart cold.
Never ever ever give up.

As part of the 10th anniversary of Periwinkle Starr Blog, I would like to ask you a favor: if you’ve ever come across the blog, read a post, or enjoyed a certain topic on here, I would like you to comment on here. If you’ve been an avid reader through the years but haven’t followed or subscribed, please do. Let’s make it to another decade of reading. From the bottom of my heart, thank you! THANK YOU!

Periwinkle Starr

Hello Y’all. I hope you are doing well in your corner of the world. The Fourth of July holiday is a day away, and it’s going to be a nice, long weekend with cool temperatures and fun. But if you’re in the States, you have been hearing of massive layoffs and cuts going on recently across the board. It’s hard on people, and it’s even harder on families. But what are they going to do about it? Summer is already here, there are things to do, vacations to take, and plans to be executed. If you’ve lived long enough and worked for any length of time, you should have experienced at least one layoff. We’ve all been there, and the first reaction is panic.

Questions like ‘What will I do? How will I live? How will the bills be paid? Vacations are already planned?’ runs through your mind, and some immediately start putting out applications in panic mode, which isn’t the worst thing to do, but I’d love to share some tips on a better approach to dealing with this than what I’ve experienced and witnessed in the past.

Helpful Tips from Yours Truly.

Try to decompress and get over the initial panic – know that layoffs happen.

Realise that companies will always put themselves first, no matter your loyalty or dedication. In this day and age, most companies aren’t like they used to be. Many view their employees as numbers and not people with families and responsibilities. So be shrewd, take your breaks, have boundaries; if you work for a ‘taking company’, return the same energy.

Do a quick snapshot of your current financial status, including bills, savings, debt, investments, etc. If you have been responsible in the past, financial institutions are more likely to work with you on certain commitments and reduce some of the initial stress.

Let your immediate family know. This is a tricky one because sometimes, the affected individual doesn’t want to panic the other members of the family. But this doesn’t always help. Communicating effectively helps with better decision making, especially incorporating cutbacks and conserving existing finances.

It’s OK to have rollercoaster emotions and down days. Take time to feel your feelings, but don’t stay there.

Reprioritize. Being laid off is not always a bad thing. Sometimes it brings families together or gives birth to a new business idea that may provide better stability.

Be optimistic. Life is full of ups and downs, and sometimes the down times are where we really get to reflect; and we don’t have the noise around us to distract us. Some of the best decisions I’ve ever made were made during down times, when I was able to chart the course of my next steps as I emerged from the rut I was in. Once things returned to normal, it was smooth sailing. I already had a plan and a charted course and was not distracted by the passing frivolities that tend to distract us along the way.

Find a way to enjoy your Summer break. It doesn’t have to be all doom and gloom. You are alive, you’re healthy, and have people who love and care about you; that’s more than enough to give you the boost to get up and make it in life. There are so many fun things to do that are great if you’re on a budget. Finding fun and cost-effective ways to get through the tough times makes you stronger, not just mentally but all around in life.

Folks, I have been spur-of-the-moment baking these past weeks and haven’t had time to share some of the pictures. I made a very simple GF Carrot Cake.