LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
Taken by Brad
To The Archive—
I’ve come to realize the majority of my creative ventures’ birth lie in the bounds of Richmond, Virginia. This, almost as if there may be a metaphorical witch’s brew deep below the crust and mantle of the earth, toil and troubling spells of business ideas and artistic pursuits. Sometimes, the smog screening up to Northern Virginia with an ooze and a whisper, “what you doing?” like an old lover you can’t get rid of. Except, with RVA, we kind of like this guy—he’s pretty cool.
I’ve come to realize the fine line between gratitude and shame; how occlusive he, that city post-grad, remains to be. How often the old feelings come back when I shed layers away and step further into the future. Selfishly, I write this as I worry that my past accomplishments will escape to nothing but dust. Today’s words mean nothing, today’s actions everything—which is difficult for someone like myself having a love for words…communication…and writing.
“You can ruin your whole life hanging out with people who have no goals or ambitions,”
You may find, like myself, there are so many beautiful goals and plans born after taking exit 74C for the first time. You come to mourn it for years to come—elements of solemn gratitude as you watch your dearest companions move into their dreams:
Taken by Ralph
DNP Candidates
Taken by Kendall F.
Taken by the loved ones of Anna
New Families
Samantha, Jonathan, and Baby Violet (blurred). Taken by Emily Moore
California Film Directors (with their own IMDB page!!)
Taken by Brooke Audano for Zipped Up Films
East Coast Sports Radio Producers (On our newsroom team!)
Taken by a colleague of Ioannis Kouiroukidis
“Be passionate and be involved in what you believe in and do it as thoroughly and honestly and fearlessly as you can,”
(Deep Breath)
As we enter a new season, I, among many friends and colleagues, am riddled with anxious attempts to reclaim an old lover’s flame-like glare of hope while dodging the spells of that wicked-witch-of-the-west, old-fling-that-for-some-reason-never-leaves-you-alone, entity living underneath that city. For the rest of my life, I will always admire my escape with its traveling, relational, and professional escapades, especially as these 20-somethings evolve. I hardly regret much, other than leaving, despite all the shame of growing up that wanes with time.
“I am homesick for a place I am not sure even exists. One where my heart is full. My body loved. And my soul understood. ”
It shocks me to say that I can finally let go of RVA, having found a new space wherein this creative flame can also burn.
I write with a deep, melancholic joy for all that once was, and all the more to come.
From the Mind and Body Retreats & The Girl’s Room DC’s Instagram Stories
To The Girl’s Room DC, Nudense, Mind and Body Retreats, Gianna, Gigi, Jackie, Evfrosinia and Kamilla—
Thank you for creating such a warm, wholesome, and fun space for us women to come together. I simply cannot wait to see all the more that you do, and am so thankful we have shared this time together to:
Encourage and Empathize
Relate and Relay
Comment and Collaborate
In such gorgeous spaces!
For anyone like myself seeking to gain true wisdom in what sparks your fire, who will ignite it with you, and maybe also escaping your own toils and troubles of moving forward—this is a (Mind and Body) Retreat, that room behind that hidden door.
With love,
Hailey
