Hey y’all, it’s ya girl!  I’m Vilissa Thompson, a woman who wears many hats & goes by many titles.  If you’re new here, I’m a:  macro social worker, writer, speaker, consultant, and Founder of Ramp Your Voice!  I’m also a visionary, creative, and currently establishing the second act of my career with new and exciting projects. 

Thank you for reading and subscribing!  This newsletter is for YOU - those who may be new to me and those who are “long time listener, first time reader. This newsletter gives you a bird’s eye view of who I am, what I’m getting into, and what I’m working on.

Staying Focused By Any Means Necessary 

This month was a doozy.  That’s all I got.

However, the one thing I’m glad for - staying focused.  On my goals, on my dreams, and knowing that everything is temporary at the end of the day.

This season has been good to me overall, so any snags are minor.  This is the first month of me returning to being fully independent, so I’m regaining my scheduling abilities & reimagining what a workweek looks like for me.  This is particularly important as we wind down Conference planning season, as the conference is a bit more than a month away! 

Getting a good scheduling rhythm is important for me to do this Spring.  There are a lot of projects I’m getting revved up to outline, brainstorm, & partner with folks on that’ll kick into high gear this summer.  Staying focused is crucial to feeling “ready” when Summer arrives.  

Being older, I don’t let many things knock me off my axis as I used to, and that growth is so important to point out.  I allow myself to be in the moment, feel how I feel, and regroup; a process that has become quicker & forgiving over time.  Being able to recalibrate - an ability I don’t take for granted at all.  

Furthermore, the things I have to look forward to are exciting, and it’s not just the work stuff either.  I’m slowly gearing up to do the dating scene again, and there’s a lot I’ll be doing differently this time around.  Though I love my work life, I want to give my personal life some TLC too.  Though I’m focusing more on romantic interactions, I would like to beef up my platonic connections as well.  In turning 40, I want my relationships - work, romantic, and platonic - to have equitable space in my life.  I realized - if that’s my intention, then I have to carve out time and gumption to see my focus come forward.

So, staying focused is imperative to being well-rounded in this stage of life.  I’m glad I have such deep grounding to be firm when things get shaky.  If I needed that reminder, then April definitely pushed me to be steadfast! 

Kamala Harris Book Tour Stop

This month, Kamala Harris brought her book tour to South Carolina this month, and it was a good ole time.  The moderator, Kardea Brown, is a fellow South Carolinian, and she did a great job with the conversation we witnessed.  

Madam VP looked refreshed and had great energy for us.  She talked about what her book meant to her, running for the coveted Presidential office, and what’s next for her.  

This was my first time going to a book tour stop, and I’d happily attend future ones that may come to my area.  Everyone was so excited to see her, which was heartwarming to see.

She had a lot of inspiring words for the times we are living in, and it was good to hear how hopeful and focused she is.  With so much happening politically every week, to see someone have hope was uplifting to my spirits.

Figuring Out New Ways to Use Current Tech

I love my tech, but I want to get every penny of use out of them that I can. 

I recently discovered how to create Shortcuts for Goodnotes on the iPad, and it has been a game-changer in making me actually use the 50-11 documents I have within the app.  

One of the many things I’m being diligent about - using the things I have.  I’m a natural collector of things (some may call it hoarding, but who are you to judge?  LOL), and being in the season of buying and trying digital products this year is important for me to develop both an analog [paper] planning system and a digital planning system.  

This Shortcuts feature places the Goodnotes documents I want to have readily available on my main screen on the iPad.  Also - I like how I can attach both documents and folders, which is a nice touch so that I can be choosy about what gets the selected slots available in the Shortcuts feature.  

If you have an iPad, this may work for you in finding a new way to use Shortcuts.  

Staying politically up-to-date feels more daunting than ever, and boy, do I understand that feeling deeply.  However, there are great independent sources that curate quality news articles that take the guess work out of, “what fresh hell is happening now in this country?”

One of the things that came on my radar is how the SAVE Act will impact disabled voters.  If you’re unfamiliar, voting as a disabled person can be met with unjust hoops we are forced to go through in order to cast our vote.

With the midterms being just months away, it’s important to arm ourselves with information now rather than later.  If you need to update your voting records, get documentation, etc., now is the time to take such action.  

The right to vote is something that shouldn’t be corrupted; do you part in ramping up your voice if you see that certain communities in your county or state are being unfairly targeted.  And importantly - know your rights!

Spring is trying to decide if she’s going to be inside (actually stay around) or outside (let Winter & Summer bully her), and I need her to make up her mind.  

Regardless - I’m glad to have my porch time.  I saw my first hummingbird of the season, and that gave me much joy.  

When the weather acts right - go touch grass.  You need it.