#Hindsight2020: New Year, Emboldened Me

First, I want to say Thank You! Thank you for taking the time out of your day to support me. If you're reading this, you're a real one! As you read along, you will gather that it took a lot to start this journey. So your attention, whether you read the entire post or not, is much appreciated. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

For years, I always wanted to start a blog but never quite mustered up the courage out of fear of the unknown, specifically others' thoughts and perceptions. Out of fear, I convinced myself that I did not have pertinent topics to discuss. But those negative thoughts are now a voice of the past. In 2021, I will overcome this fear and share my journey with you in hopes that it inspires or helps at least one person.

So.. Who Am I?

“ I decided to maintain two middle names and espouse my husband's last name.”

I am Jessica Lauren McGroom Carr. Why the long name, you ask? I was born Jessica Lauren McGroom and married into Carr. I decided to keep my last name to hold on to an aspect of my deceased father, and Jessica McGroom Carr did not "speak" to me. So, I decided to maintain two middle names and espouse my husband's last name.

I am 31 and a native of Chicago, Illinois, but Mayretta (Marietta), Georgia, is home. I am a service member, so I move around frequently. Fortunately, I have lived primarily in San Antonio (4) and Killeen (3), Texas, for the past seven years.

My husband Roy and I have been married for about a year and a half, and we have a 19-month-old by the name of Roy IV (a.k.a IV). Yes, IV is a meaningful part of the reason for the season. We will save the details of this dynamic for another time.

I'd like to think I'm a dope a** person! I'm somewhere between ratchet and righteous; the Lord knows my heart, so judge ye not. LOL. I'm adventurous, love crafting, do hair, attempt makeup, enjoy reading and watching movies (not simultaneously), commit to servicing my community (#WorkingRedz), professional student, mastered shopping, and leaving items in my cart, and I'm an entrepreneur. I think I've captured everything; if not, I'm sure we will get to it along our journey.

“ I've never been one to let fear overcome me, so maybe a part of it is pride. The other part may be faith and trust in my spirit, telling me that this is a part of my purpose.”

What Inspired Me?

The primary purpose of this blog is for therapy, inspiration, and growth. I recently spoke with an in-law about my educational status and explained how I was on a break from obtaining my Ph.D., predominantly due to work. I also expressed that I was concerned about the dissertation segment of my Ph.D. program. Listen, 100+ pages is a lot, you hear me? He asserted that I could do it and advised that I start writing regularly to help improve my writing and get in the habit of writing. He specifically mentioned starting a blog. This advice resonated with me, and it seemed like not too long after that statement, God began to speak to me, continuously nurturing the seed sewn by my in-law. As I mentioned before, I thought about starting a blog years ago. However, pride aside, fear deterred me.

Now, you may be wondering what's different? Why the courage now? To be honest, I don't really know. I've always been a faithful and prideful person (#TeamLeo) and can't believe I've allowed fear to suppress me this long. I've never been one to let fear overcome me, so maybe a part of it is pride. The other part may be faith and trust in my spirit, telling me that this is a part of my purpose. The encouragement and support from my village were an additional lift in confidence and bravery. So I wrote it down, told my accountability partner that I would work daily toward this goal, set a date but ended up on staff duty (24-hour desk shift), and decided to act now. And Here We Are!

What Can You Expect From This Journey?

“ you can expect me to keep it #Real, "Straight, No Chaser."

You may relate, be inspired, touched, amused, or not impacted at all. Regardless, just know that this journey is for me with the hopes that it touches just one. As the subtitle alludes to, you can expect me to keep it #Real, "Straight, No Chaser." I will discuss a wide range of topics to include but not limited to: issues that I experience being a service member, marriage/relationships, topics surrounding my Ph.D. program (mass incarceration, school to prison pipeline, prison privatization, etc.), my past, my hobbies (hair, makeup, crafting, shopping, reading, etc.), my business journey, and maybe (with permission) testimonies from my family members. Wherever the spirit leads me, we will go.

I'm both excited and anxious about this journey. Either way, we're on our way now. Buckle up and enjoy the ride. I'm sure you will (at minimum) be entertained.

Please drop a comment and tell me what you think about my first article, offer a topic for my next post, or just say Hi!