Hi again!

It’s been a while. Thanksgiving sans 30 guests, the growing pandemic, family scattered across the country, long winter days…it has been tough and not much of a swoon-inspiring time. Each day in November I do a FB post about something I am thankful for…it might be my morning coffee or having healthy friends and family…nothing is too big or too small. This little exercise took up the writing slot in my brain, but now I am back…until I am not. I am beginning to learn that one has the right to feel their feels and do as they do. As they say…it is what it is.

I was recently asked to be a guest on a podcast about creativity. Pre-March Kat would have been stressed, insecure, and thinking why on earth would they want to talk to ME. Post-March Kat is like, ok um, sure, why not? We will chat, I like to chat. We will explore what creativity is, which can only be fun. I really didn’t think much about it until I was asked for a bio and headshot. Now, that is a problem. I have neither.

Who am I? Am I Pre-Pandemic Kat…who had a flourishing business; who whipped together insta dinners; who had professionally painted blue toenails and smooth brown hair? Or am I Pandemic Kat…who cooks lavish dinners and pies, and then some more pies; who produces community Covid-safe experiences and virtual holiday gatherings during her “work day”; who has experienced less hair care and pampering in the last 9 months…than her dog. If I only plan on being Pandemic Kat for another 4-6 months (one can hope) am I really her? After much thought, the truth is, I am Pandemic Kat…I am forever changed.

Swoon, on to the hard part, the headshot.

After taking more selfies than any truly self-obsessed teenage girl (sans the fish lips), I notice my newly acquired wrinkles, gray hair, and puffy eyes. So here we go again, do I use an old headshot or do I embrace the current me? I used to work for a hospital where a huge, I mean hugely huge donor insisted we use a headshot that was at least 35 years old. She was well into her ninth decade, we were living in the late 90s, and her photo was from way back when her groovy Lilly Pulitzer dress…was the height of fashion. I didn’t get it, why not use a more recent photo? Now I totally get it. We are one person in our minds, and another that the world sees. I have aged this past year, which makes sense, I have been sadder than ever before, so it only makes sense that those hardships would show. I have also been pretty impressed with the resilience our family has shown during these nutty times…and with that, I will choose to focus on the growth…wrinkles and all. I will embrace my new headshot…at least for the podcast needs.

I hope you are well. I hope you are able to find bits of goodness in this incredibly odd time…that is all we can do. If you want to experience the podcast feel free to tune in, I think it is this Sunday, not totally sure. Now that the bio and headshot is done I am back to not overthinking it…which is a nice perk of being Pandemic Kat. https://www.iamcreativephilly.net/podcast