New Beginnings: A Memorable Free-Spirited Journey
By Ebony C.
From memorable summer trips to new states as a child, to serving in the United States Army as a Signal Support Systems Specialist, to the ever present desire to explore this beautiful world that we have been gifted, I embody the term “free-spirit” in every way. Moving to a new state or country, meeting new people, and experiencing new cultures has become a passion of mine. The fear and trepidation often associated with change and newness has always excited me. Therefore, being born and raised on the East Coast and journeying through the best and the worst times of my life there, I honestly became bored with my comfort zone. So I decided that it was time for drastic change in my life. My first step towards change was a very well planned, but quickly implemented, transition to the West Coast. So, in January 2020 I sold everything that I owned to minimize my load traveling and drove 2,000 miles away from everything that I was accustomed to, and made my home in Nevada.
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Of course unbeknownst to me, shortly after I arrived in Nevada with all of its breathtaking mountain views and coveted nightlife, COVID-19 swept through the state, country, and world in a matter of months, and I was forced to quarantine.
Having worked as a contractor providing software analyst support to the healthcare industry, freelance writing, and digital marketing services to small businesses, working from home was already my “norm.” However, no longer having the option to attend networking events, in-person meetings, or most importantly not being able to enjoy the legendary Las Vegas Nightlife took a little adjustment. Additionally, because of the pandemic, many businesses that I provided services for could no longer afford to maintain my services. Although I wanted to keep my clientele, I could only discount my fees by so much or I too would find myself in a financial bind. However, instead of losing my loyal clients and having to put a stop to the progress that we had made in their businesses, I was forced to think outside of the box.
I managed to create two secondary incomes during COVID-19, which enabled me to discount my services in order to accommodate the financial struggle that my clients and so many other small business owners faced. After making it out of an abusive marriage, and rising above homelessness to become a business owner and later a homeowner, I refused to succumb to the demise that the media constantly told us was inevitable due to the pandemic. Most importantly, I refused to allow my clients to fall victim to financial hardship, if it was in my power to assist them in continuous progression. So, regardless of the nerve-wrecking news reports and stressful air that surrounded us all, my new life in Nevada became the biggest blessing of my life, in the midst of the pandemic.
What made me even more ecstatic and grateful for my decision to relocate to Nevada was the unexpected love and acceptance that I received from fellow artists, poets, and business owners. As the pandemic continued to alter lives throughout the spring and summer, I was busy making moves digitally. Soon, I had connected with some of the most pure-spirited and helpful people I could ever meet. I endearingly call them my “west coast tribe.” This group of people have mentioned my name in settings that would provide more exposure to my brand, services, and artistic love of poetry and writing. Thus, opening doors for me which I would not have been able to walk through on my own, with the circumstances surrounding COVID-19.
With my business being grounded, thankfully, I could focus on my mental stability and constant evolution.
I don’t think anyone alive now has experienced an international pandemic with the magnitude of COVID-19. Therefore, it’s definitely not to be taken lightly. It was hard to truly foresee how much our lives would change until we became forced to live it. Honestly for me, the very first time that I went out to a grocery store and realized that there was no water or toilet paper available within 20 miles of where I lived, it hit me. “THIS IS REAL!” However, instead of having a mini-mental breakdown, as some did, I became more grounded. I took on a new hobby in the form of photography, I enrolled in online courses to enhance my business acumen and creativity, and I gave back. I realized that the world around me will only be as positive as my mental state, so I focused on nurturing my mind.
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Nevada has so many breathtaking views and nationally recognized landmarks. So armed with my new Sony camera and passion for nature photography, I made it a weekly routine to travel to a new place in Nevada and capture its beauty, all while social distancing of course. My new found love for photography also evoked a sense of peace which I did not expect, or think that I needed. The peace that I found in the seclusion of the mountains enhanced my meditation routine and manifestation abilities. Thanks to the pandemic, I found so much within that I neglected previously by being so consumed by the world around me. With the world around me basically closed due to COVID-19, I fell in love with the new life that ultimately was forced upon us all. My appreciation for every moment with my loved ones reached new heights, my empathy began to run deeper, and my desire to give back to a nation full of people who were hurting, worried, and struggling was enhanced.
As I pondered methods to expand my reach somehow, in the middle of an international pandemic, I went to the comforting place of my first love: writing. I began to write about my life’s experiences and how I overcame them mentally before the physical outcome even came into fruition. From those memories and lessons, a new book was born.
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In March 2020, I released Motivation for Millennials a self-published book that simply provided encouragement, affirmations, and real life stories from my personal life which display how the proper mindset and speaking to your future with positivity and confidence can change your life, no matter what happens to be going on in the world around you. Writing this book allowed me to reconnect with a sense of inspiration, which I felt the world needed amidst COVID-19 more than anything. Then, in September 2020, I challenged myself to pay-it-forward with the The Ynobe Brand Book Blessing. The Ynobe Brand Book Blessing was a nationwide book scavenger hunt for copies of Motivation for Millennials. Copies of my book were placed in various areas where socially distanced residents would still frequent despite the pandemic, such as restaurants, bus stops, etc. Each copy of my book displayed a “$” or random number inside, which led to me giving a direct monetary donation to the lucky person to locate that copy of my book. This giveaway helped me feel such joy in the midst of the pandemic. Although, I was unable to complete my giveaway due to spikes of COVID-19 cases in several states across the country which led to increased restrictions, the short time in which I was able to touch those far out of my reach, fed my spirit.
My only regret is that I didn’t have more to give, and more time to give, in order to be a blessing to more families. However, my new beginning amidst COVID-19 simply reminded me how much more important the journey is, rather than the destination. Regardless of how our world may change, or be altered in order for us to live healthily amidst COVID-19, the Nevadan energy has allowed me to find peace, grow artistically, and help others less fortunate than myself. For that, I am grateful for the day that I decided to make Nevada my new home. Also, I am a more evolved human being because of the challenges that I faced while living through COVID-19.
Photo/Ebony C.
Ebony C. was raised in Virginia and found her passion for writing after her first poem was published in the 1989 edition of the Young Authors Anthology of Poetry. As she embarked on her journey to womanhood following her high school graduation, she enlisted in the United States Army as a Signal Support Systems Specialist and was honorably discharged in 2003. She went on to obtain a degree in Computer Networking from ECPI College of Technology in Virginia Beach, Virginia. In 2012, Ebony C. fell on very hard times, and ended up jobless due to company downsizing. During that time she reflected on her happiness and following God’s direction. In doing so, she was led to complete her first book, The Preface. The Preface was composed, edited, and self published in less than a month, in a race for time due to Ebony’s mother rapidly losing her battle with ovarian cancer. Now, an author and professional freelancer, Ebony started Ynobe Publishing, LLC to help other writers become successful and assist businesses in gaining exposure through digital marketing. All of her books, blog, business services, and social media handles can be found at: www.theynobebrand.com (@theynobebrand on all social media platforms).