2020 WAS A HEADACHE AND A HEARTACHE
It’s been four months since I published an article for Fictional, and to be honest, I regret nothing.
2020 was explosive with emotions. Sadness, fear, joy, pain, gratefulness, disgust, amusement, boredom, love, confusion, excitement, loss, and nostalgia were some of the many emotional symptoms the world was infected by due to COVID-19.
Odd isn’t it? That they named an outbreak that occurred in 2020 with a name reflecting the previous year. Conspiracy theories aside, no year after 2020 will exist without being influenced by this society-altering virus.
It’s even more awakening to realize that it took a life-threatening disease to give us something in common with one another because unfortunately being human wasn’t enough. I can’t help but be present to the fact that the virus, something so unhuman-like, made me more thoughtful, more generous, and ultimately more connected to humanity. Let 2020 be a reminder to us all that the greatest threat to mankind will not be human, and that the only thing that can truly hold our societies together is humanity.
It’s even more awakening to realize that it took a life-threatening disease to give us something in common with one another because unfortunately being human wasn’t enough.
I say all this to say, I took some months off because it was what my body and spirit needed. I implore you all to remember that being alive is a full-time job that society asks you to work part-time. So, if you ever need to walk away from anything because of financial distress, health concerns, or simply because you don’t feel like doing the work, that’s your decision to make and no one else’s job to influence. Additionally, surviving a global pandemic is as resume and LinkedIn worthy as starting a business, opening an online store, or debuting your first comedy special, and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.
I implore you all to remember that being alive is a full-time job that society asks you to work part-time. So, if you ever need to walk away from anything because of financial distress, health concerns, or simply because you don’t feel like doing the work, that’s your decision to make and no one else’s job to influence.
I’d like to take a moment as well to send prayers and love to everyone who lost a loved one this year. I promise you that if you continue to speak their name in this physical realm we call earth, they will continue to exist on the spiritual plane, which is something I learned from Pixar’s Coco.
FICTIONAL GOT A FACELIFT
When I launched Fictional in August of 2020, I did it with the intention to combine my passion for writing and animation. It’s important for me to continue to craft my voice outside of my stand-up comedy career. Additionally, I really want to be a thought leader in one particular space, and I feel like my talents are perfectly matched to do so in the animation industry. My initial goal with Fictional was to be “your go-to-spot to find out what and where to watch incredible animation content”. Luckily, with time comes wisdom and clarity. Moving forward Fictional is going to be way more than a series of blogs dedicated to “what to watch”. Ya’ girl got ideas.
I proclaim, thus forward, that Fictional will be an adult playroom dedicated to animation history, cartoon news, and imaginative think pieces that compare our 3-D live-action world to the fictional worlds we've grown to know and love.
I can't say I wasn't working on anything for the last four months. In fact, I spent the time working with my website designer Phe Morgan to create this new extension of yesfredia.com that will now serve as the official web address for Fictional. It was important for me to create a true home for Fictional, where my words, sense of humor, and love for animation can live outside of your email inbox.
Thank you so much Phe for your professionalism, for your incredible eye for design, for being a true joy to work with, and for bringing my vision to life. Please check Phe out, she’s a black woman who owns and operates her own black creative agency! Phe if you're reading this, this is how I see you.
Additionally, I was honored to work with my dear friend Arrington “Ace” West to create a really astonishing mosaic and logo for the Fictional brand. I’ve been a fan of Ace’s style of illustration for years and to be able to have his work on my site is truly full circle.
Please check Ace out, he's a deeply gifted illustrator, black man, and truly a gem of a person.
I’m really thrilled to be writing again and to have my creative energy restored. I look forward to what is to come and I thank you for taking the time to join me in my little corner of the internet.
