To be honest I started 2018 badly. A sudden onset injury on 29th December 2017 (yes I remember the exact date) sent shooting pains down my left side making it extremely difficult to stand or walk. I tried to ignore it. Because denial. And it worsened quickly. I became housebound. My eldest had recently moved away with her fiance. My youngest was in Budapest on holiday with her partner. And suddenly, at the beginning of a brand spanking new year, I felt very VERY alone. I remember sitting in a hot bath, crying into the water and tweeting this:
“I feel the The Universe has a plan for me. There’s no way I’d be in so much pain & stopped practically in my tracks without learning SOMEthing. I guess I need to figure out what”.
Twitter as therapy has its moments. Often I use it to get stuff off my chest, so to speak. I did that classic low mood thing where I didn’t want to call or bother anyone. And, frankly, what would I say? All I could do was cry. Online sympathy duly arrived. But then I got a call. Randomly, my good friend Nat had seen my tweet and KNEW the usual Karen had left the buiding. This needed more than a click.
We talked (well, I blubbed). She imparted her customary wisdom . We decided that my body was telling me to stop STILL. I realised that, since becoming self employed I had never scheduled breaks. Teaching had allowed me to stop because there were holidays. Freelance meant that I had to set my own holidays. My body was rebelling. Who knew?
Over the next week I was able to fold up my Superwoman cape and reach out to friends and family who stepped up to help me. Groceries were bought by my eldest daughter (who I finally asked), I was ferried to and from the doctors (thank you Nneka). My youngest returned from her break and went into Florence Nightingale mode. My mum hitched a lift with my youngest brother to get him to swing by my home so that she could surprise me (and check up). They live eighty miles away! I finally relaxed. I didn’t look at my inbox. I watched trashy TV and I did some much needed Art. As I mentally exhaled my body started to heal. My daughters took me for a walk to the local cafe. The usual five minute walk took half an hour. But I did it! We also had a discussion that led to a life-changing decision. I decided that I would volunteer for a month. But more on that later.
Take a trip down memory lane with me and relive some (of many more) definitive moments from my year.
A five minute walk to a cafe with my daughters took 30 minutes and 4 pit stops. Also the day I decided to go to Zimbabwe volunteering. January 2018
Photoshoot for Callbridge communications with Sara Atteby and Roonooi pictures. January 2018
Black Panther premiere at The Ritzy cinema. I have never dressed up for a film. LOVED it. February 2018
Immortalised by Merissa Hylton. What an honour! Catching jokes at her inaugural Art exhibition ‘Cosmic Queens’ at Zenubian. March 2018
Kodak moment. Photographed by Ronan Mckenzie for International Womens Day celebrating diversity in the Arts. March 2018.
With my heart in my throat, I launched a GoFundMe campaign in March to raise money to travel to Zimbabwe with 13Rhythms. The campaign smashed it’s initial target in less than two days! Watch my plea below:
I taught my first sessions at The Knitting and Stitching Show in Kensington Olympia. This photo is of a lovely lady wearing her vegan bag I taught her to make. It’s from the second time I taught at the show in October but I’m proud of it. So enjoy. Ta. March 2018.
During my birthday month I decided to get up and perform my first piece at Spoken Word London. Watch ‘Legacy’ below:
Fifty six. Why yes I DO have rainbow unicorn hair! April 2018.
Teaching women how to create a sustainable fashion business in Zimbabwe for a month. An unforgettable experience. June 2018.
I wrote and published my first e-book - a guide to making conscious fashion choices to uplift mood and aid mental well being. Yay me! July 2018. Buy it here
Fun, friends, fashion and food in Forest Hill. A late summer photo shoot for Goldie magazine. Loved dressing up in gorgeous vintage clothing for the day! August 2018.
A two week break in Barbados meant I could spend some quality time with family and friends. Here is Aunt Ev who is a sprightly 100 years old! September 2018.
As one of the Crisis at Christmas Sewing service mobile team leaders I was taken for a visit to HQ to prepare for the season. Here I am with Sewing Service Uber boss Karen Foster. September 2018.
Having not participated in an art class since my teens I took part in a live yoga drawing session with Artist Kim Myers and bendy yoga icon Sanchia Legister. Highly recommend. More please! October 2018.
Met up with one of my favourites, Dolape, owner of Urbanstax at my second stint at The Knitting and Stitching Show, this time at Alexandra Palace. Who told me to go to Kensington then? Don’t ask. October 2018.
Papped at 1:54 African Art Fair by Osaretin Ugiabe for Duro Olowu Street Style picks for American Vogue. Ok then! October 2018.
Made the cover of Goldie Magazine Autumn issue - the glossy celebrating the over 40s. Cover photo by Mike Marchant. October 2018.
Joined 29 other creatives on a Loneliness lab sprint to end loneliness in London and Craftmoves was born. I explain our concept below:
I was invited by The Fika Session to be a panelist with some inspirational women to celebrate Black History Month. Pictured here with writer and facilitator Arfa Butt, DJ and fitness guru Melody Kane and Singer songwriter Kimberley Nichole. Photo by Eva Palazzetti. October 2018
In conversation with Tamu Thomas of LivethreeSixty chatting about slow living and everyday joy. October 2018.
That same week I was also a guest on Hey is that me… blog ‘A day in the Life’. Phew!
On the hottest Sunday in Autumn, in the spirit of ‘why the hell not’?, I took part in a videoshoot for Savanah Avery’s fashion brand Motherwomb. I just had to get a shot in front of this glorious backdrop before I left. Photo by Korrie P. October 2018.
TTCS had our 3rd birthday! Three years of crafty fun and chat around my kitchen table. Tackling loneliness and aiding mental well being one stitch at a time. We were even featured in by the Craft Council in their monthly newsletter! We’ve come a long way! November 2018.
I held my first Wear Your Happy LIVE evening event at Spaceat61, featuring Nutritionist Le’Nise Brothers, Stylist Dominique Beverton and Vegan food by Leo:FoodMind. Epic to organise but worth every nail-biting moment. This is my youngest rushing to support her mum as I started to blub with gratitude during my final thank you speech. November 2018.
I was invited to speak at Featured in 15 in Forest Hill. I spoke about my lessons from volunteering. Watch a snippet below. Captured by my eldest daughter.
Motherhood reconstructed founders Tamu and Leah held an evening in collaboration with Gal-Dem who took over a bookshop in Bloomsbury in honour of Michelle Obamas autobiography Becoming. We discussed the legacy of black motherhood. Such an inspirational evening! November 2018.
I was interviewed by journalist Nikki Spencer for local newpaper The Lewisham Ledger. It was difficult to shut me up to be honest. Made the cover too! What a fab end to the year! December 2018.
I ended 2018 volunteering for the sewing service at Crisis at Christmas. My 7th year with Crisis and my 5th with the sewing service. Together we took in and mended 701 items for our homeless guests! So if YOU sew and fancy joining us next time read more here.
There’s no doubt that it’s been a brilliant year and I am extremely fortunate and grateful. And this one is starting to look even better! Thank you to all who have supported me either by constant encouragement in whichever form or by allowing me to work with you in some small way.
So was The Universe teaching me something at the beginning of the year? I’d say! And I’m trying to heed it by scheduling regular breaks where I truly stop and breathe.
Happy New Year!
Have you ever received a sign that has forced you to stop and take notice? What changed? I’d love you to tell me more in the comments!
K x