As I sit here graciously praying for a Bulldog victory it dawned on me that it had been awhile since I last updated my blog. It’s honestly hard to grasp that we are all getting ready to wrap up another year. Since it is my first post here since late September, I feel like there is a need for a bit of catching up. I almost can’t even really remember what I had going on in October. That month flew by so fast I can’t tell you whether I was coming or going. A very stagnant month for me as far as growth is concerned. I do think it’s important that we go through and grow through moments of self-doubt that rear their ugly head from time to time. I was just at a point where I was very uncertain with where things in my life were going, where I was going, and if the people in my life even truly meant anything to me. I didn’t create because I just didn’t have the passion. So I took a break and I’m glad I did because I come back to BlackGradLife refreshed.

At some point during Scorpio season, I started to feel like myself again. Oh yeah, my first blog post at 25 and shit. So I had a birthday at the beginning of November which pretty much kicked off a busy month. A bottle of Virginia Black, a trip to Atlanta, and four Thanksgiving plates later here we are. That sentence is a short and sweet way to define my favorite month of the year. November was definitely calm but heavy. I’m thankful because it is the only month this year that I can recall not ever having the thought, “Damn this month flew by”. And not to mention that the only moments from the past month that were cringeworthy deal with me passing out at 9 p.m. on my birthday and being Undergrad level drunk in a Waffle House. Very on brand if you ask me.

We’re also just about a week shy of my blog’s birthday. So really I’m just thankful that I was able to keep this shit up for a year. More years and writings and ideas and moments of self-doubt are sure to come but I am ready for it all. This is the moment where I say to everyone who is reading that is working towards something that it is already written and waiting for you to claim it.

There is still a lot to be done before I close out the year, but I really wanted to check in. Thank you for still rocking with me if you’re reading this. Happy Holidays if you celebrate and keep it locked with me for the remainder of the year and beyond every Saturday for all things music, the black experience, and life after college.

Yours Truly,

Joe.