Despite my struggles to find my footing in this start of a new normal, I hold tremendous gratitude in my heart and being for the many, many silver linings I found in the Cat 5 Hurricane that was the pandemic.
- My parents and adult kids have remained safe and long-term healthy to date.
- I stayed safe, mostly sane, and relatively healthy aside from a few stress-induced pounds and lack of exercise.
- Employment...so incredibly grateful that I was immediately able to shift to remote work.
- Zoom...though like most...I am sick of fuckin zoom! LOL However, I am eternally grateful for this platform's massive contribution to society during the gravest of times.
- Being able to see family and my dearest friends on the regular kept me grounded and productive.
- My core friendships deepened exponentially. Without the distraction of long commutes, wait staff and food, a secondary aspect of entertainment whether it was a class, a movie, shopping, an exhibit, a jazz performance...we had time and focus to be vulnerable and our intimacy with one another grew so much further than we thought possible. I will forever be grateful to those who held space for me in their lives during this time. You know who you are. ~FIERCE HUGS~
- The the kink and leather community shifted to virtual platforms to support and expand their communities and continue to educate and connect us. I'll specifically call out the following: ONYX Pearls NY-NE, The Leather Solidarity Collective & UPRISE! 2021 Conference, SCK Events, Leather Redux's Meditation Series, Roger's Tantrik Series, the D/s Book Club, MAsT Metro New York...Thank you all for building spaces that helped so many grow in their journeys during this time.
- The many, many, MANY new connections I've made in the scene. OMG...there are so many amazing fucking people in our community who willingly give their time, service, and energy to making things happen. You all have inspired me in big and small ways!!! THANK YOU!!!
- The time I was blessed to share with BlackMusic. He was the last hug I got before COVID shut the city down, and I'd always ask permission since he claimed he didn't do affection. I can still feel that bear hug today. It helped me on some of my darkest days. Soon into the pandemic we switch S&M.NYC to virtual, and almost twice a month we had zoom meet ups that last 3-4 hours. He'd torment me with some amazing dish he'd made and talk/debate about various aspects of the Lifestyle. His laughter still echos in my mind and his hummms whenever I'd give him an idea he had to chew on. His fierce belief in some of my ideas and in my ability to make them happen still rocks me. They were his last words to me. I am grateful for every hour, minute, moment, text we shared.
- While the format looked completely different from the three to four in-person events a week I attended pre-pandemic, my Lifestyle Journey of Growth and Understanding took on new elements and deepened. Through the long conversations with those closest to me, to the books read, and the new ideas, presentations, speakers/presenters, and techniques I was exposed to, I continued to evolve and move forward even if it wasn't in the directions I'd anticipated.
The last 19 months have been rough...ugly even, but the many silver linings kept me grounded and even moving forward. I am so grateful to have been blessed in so many ways.
~DominaKat
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