TAKING PERSONAL INVENTORY: FROM THE PANDEMIC TO PERSONAL LOSS

February 4, 2025 by iamsummerterry

Well, here we are! Back to an art form many would say is dead. In a time when the noise is overwhelming, writing has been my greatest escape. The last time we gathered here was during the pandemic in 2020. I have my own thoughts on that, but I digress and since then, a lot has happened!

We witnessed the murder of George Floyd, sparking global protests and mobilizing the Black Lives Matter Movement. The 2020 Trump vs. Biden Presidential Election caused immense political tension, culminating in the January 6th Capitol Attack. Following that tumultuous day, history was made as Kamala Harris became the first woman and the first person of Black and South Asian descent to hold the vice presidency, giving us the memorable phrase, “We did it, Joe!” A few months later, we celebrated Juneteenth as a national holiday for the first time, enjoying BBQ, watermelon, red velvet cake, and red beans in backyards and parks across the country doing the electric slide.

During this period, I began a new role at a creative services agency, working with big beauty brands as a Program Success Manager and Paid Media Specialist. In typical agency life fashion, I wore multiple hats. Half my day was spent leading cross-functional teams, utilizing PMO tools to drive program strategies, and ensuring seamless execution of integrated marketing campaigns. The other half was dedicated to developing and executing paid media strategies, aligning with client brand objectives across digital and traditional media channels. Managing these projects while developing paid media strategies was a challenging yet rewarding experience.

Being creative at work left little room for my own ideas at home. The silver lining was working remotely during a global health crisis and civil unrest, allowing me to pour myself into my work while nurturing my hair extension and custom wig business, Society LaFemme. I’m grateful to everyone who supported me by purchasing bundles, lashes, bonnets, and custom wigs. Fast forward to the end of 2022, the agency started layoffs, and I was part of the first wave. Despite positive feedback and numerous referral letters, I can’t help but wonder—was I doing too much online? The CEO praised my work but also commented on my hair business. This was a company that encouraged outside interests, yet here I was, questioning if that truly held up.

While job searching in the tough market of 2022 and 2023, I stayed busy with freelance digital marketing services and audio/visual production for virtual conferences. In April 2023, I landed a contract Marketing Manager role at L’Occitane. A month later, my life took a devastating turn. My mom went in for heart surgery, and that was the last time I saw her awake. 2023 was a blur of pain, despair, and loneliness, despite the support I had. Losing my mom unexpectedly shattered me. I cried constantly—day, night, in stores when I saw mothers and daughters together. It’s a pain I still carry, and I’m crying as I write this. Losing a parent is something you’re never prepared for. In God’s mysterious way, I had reconnected with my dad two years prior after decades of a vacant relationship. I had no idea how much I would need him. After my mom’s passing, I finished my contract with L’Occitane and took time off to grieve, heal and travel.

There’s so much more to catch up on, but I’ll stop here for now. I couldn’t just pop back up without explaining where I’ve been. That would feel disrespectful to all of you who’ve followed me from 2014 through 2020. Some of you may keep up with me on Instagram, but as we all know, Instagram never tells the full story. So here you go!

To a life styled right,

Summer Terry