Image Source: Getty / Amy Sussman
Janelle Monáe enters the New Year with a positive outlook, and her inspiring birthday message on Instagram set me ready to do the same. After the ups and downs of an unpredictably chaotic year 2020, emotional and mental well-being has become more important than ever for many on an individual level, including me. For Janelle, part of the healing process is moving forward with the knowledge that you deserve better, a feeling that is worth hearing after everything we've been through this year together.
"May we all experience this life free from trauma and move on in love and gratitude."
"With the ups and downs of this year, I don't take any of this for granted. We beat the game," wrote Janelle in a post on her Instagram stories and thanked the fans for their birthday wishes on December 1st. "I sincerely wish deep healing and constant inner peace for all of us. May your voice be the voice you hear most, especially the noise. May we all experience this life free from trauma and keep moving in love and gratitude. You deserve dance with all of you on my mind. "
In addition to the deep breathing, meditation, and calming exercises I've incorporated into my daily life over the past 11 months, I may need to frame Janelle's words and hang them on a wall where I can see them whenever I need a reminder relax. It's easy to move forward without taking the time to pause and think, but this year is worth looking back to see how we've all grown – physically, mentally, and emotionally. It's important to remember what we've been through in the recent past, but it's just as important to be kind to ourselves no matter what, and take each new day step by step. Read her full post here.
Image source: Instagram user janellemonae
