January 14, 2021

I was aghast. "Your father has a unique form of mouth cancer,"; my mother proceeds to tell me on the phone right before thanksgiving. At that point, all I wanted was for 2020 to stop kicking me in the ass.

Finally, in 2021 and I feel optimistic about, well, everything. My father, even though a horrific surgery on the horizon, is feeling assured. The good doctors from the University of Maryland will take good care of him, and my wife and I will venture home for three weeks to help in his recovery.

We've added to our team at work, which will finally allow us to grow our creative, strategic thinking and build out new programs.

In the wake of the Black Lives Matter movement, it has allowed me to become more aware and break down the unconscious and conscious biases and push forward for a more inclusive and equitable surrounding.

Our country's political turmoil with everyone at great odds against each other tells me two things; there is no listening and no empathy. We must do better to listen. Listening to one another can lead to solutions, and genuinely caring about each other can allow us to agree on matters that unite us rather than divide us.

But looking back on 2020, did I do anything? I mostly mopped around defeated, drenched in the feeling of a lack of accomplishment. All of this being false. At work, the dedication and collaboration with others, we played a role in increasing new product revenues by 700%. AIGA Philly, we grew our board in a more inclusive way bringing more equity to its representation and laid the groundwork for more inclusive programming. Lastly, at home, working remotely, the idea of spending more time with my family became a reality, and I grew personally and emotionally.

Wrapping up, it was an unprecedented year, but what came of it was perhaps my best year and the most I've ever given back to my community, the opportunity to lead and create significant change at work, and healthy growth of myself.

I honestly can't wait to see what 2021 has in store.