October is a Woman
Your Weekly Breakdown
October is a woman. That woman is me.
Hi everyone! I’m Chi-Chi Egbo, and it’s fantastic to meet you here in Emily’s world. When Em asked me to write for YWB, I instantly thought, “Who, me?” If you picked up that rhyme, we’ll be friends in no time. Laugh out loud. But seriously, it’s an honour to share words with you because if you’re anything like Emily, you’re a funny badass with superior taste, you don’t take yourself too seriously, and you’re passionate as fuck.
Before I throw my inner thoughts onto this page, I should let y’all know a bit about me. I’m a woman who chose to start her own business after taking time off of work to recover from burnout and prioritize her mental health. Professionally, I’m a career development coach and talent development strategist who founded Workthrough, a career engagement and HR consultancy at the intersection of employee experience and professional development. Lastly, I’m your quintessential Piscesan who is either laughing or crying, a Real Housewives aficionado, a sucker for cheesy Lifetime thriller movies, and a woman with a penchant for Paper Planes (the cocktail, duh).
Enough about me. Let’s talk about October and how she must be exhausted from doing it all. Seriously. Between the start of sweata weatha, soup season (if you know, you know), Thanksgiving, increase in pumpkin spice imports and spooky season, how is she not burnt out like the rest of us? Though September has been my favourite month since I was a wild child with barrettes in my hair (see photo below), there’s something about October that I deeply resonate with. If October came alive as a person, she would be me. I am October. To help you understand what I’m talking about, I put together a listicle to explain, and maybe you can relate.
Three Reasons Why October is Chi-Chi, and Chi-Chi is October
She is fickle
October doesn’t know who she wants to be. For context, I’m in Toronto, so the October I’m talking about is a Southern Ontario gal. So, why is she fickle? Well, she’s hot one week and cold the next. October weather is as consistent as Zara's sizing and frustratingly relatable. At the start of the month, I was on an entrepreneurial high, loving my work and feeling excited about the future. Then, at the drop of one setback, I found myself questioning if being a business owner is the right choice and if, instead, I should a) find a new role at some random company, b) start a podcast where I give witty recaps of Bravo shows or c) my husband and I run away to Costa Rica and figure it out when we get there. I’m trying to say that, just like October, this career strategist hasn’t fully figured out who or what she wants to be. But at least I can coach myself for free. Sidebar: my going back and forth has no bearing on my ability to be great at my job and help others grow their careers. I felt like that needed to be said.
She is spicy
October is a spicy woman. In October, pumpkin spice, cinnamon, allspice, cloves and cardamom thrive. You know when October enters a room, and she has something to say. I relate to this because I’ve always stood out. As a 5’10 Black woman who attended schools where most students were white and held roles in predominately white workplaces, you know when I enter a room. I also never hesitate to advocate for myself and use my voice to help others. Having this quality has led to racism and microaggressions directed my way. From being characterized as aggressive for speaking up or too ambitious for wanting a promotion, my spice level isn’t everyone’s taste. Honestly, the older I get, the less I care about whether who I am is palatable enough for spaces that were not designed for someone like me to thrive. Do you think October is bothered that millions of people don’t understand why pumpkin spice is even a thing? No! She says screw you and puts pumpkin spice in hummus (for real). Some people might take that as being unhinged. I take it as being bold. Bold is gold, and I’m busy building my own spice drawer.
She has fears
October is spooky season. Since she’s made Halloween a big deal, one could assume that October loves scary things. But I argue that she doesn’t. Spooky season is October’s way of showing us her fears. She’s being genuine and honest about what keeps her up at night. Like October, I have fears, except my fears aren’t ghosts and witches flying on a broom. I fear failing as an entrepreneur. I fear not taking risks. I fear not believing in myself. I fear not making our world a better place while also fearing not prioritizing my needs first. I fear not being good enough. I think October created Halloween to put all of her fears out in the open so she could conquer them, and I guess that’s why I am sharing mine with you. I like to believe that every Halloween that passes marks another year that October bravely tries to conquer her fears. That’s some poetic shit.
Leave it to me to turn a friggin month into some deep stuff. I told you I’m a Pisces. It’s what we’re good at. If you relate to this post, close your eyes and imagine we’re sitting next to each other on a cozy forest green couch in front of a fire, and I’m holding your hand. It’s my way of letting you know I’m right there with you. If you don’t relate to this post, how does it feel to know what you want, be well-received by everyone you meet and have no fears? Please, the rest of us would love to know. All snarkiness aside, I am okay with being uncertain about career stuff because it makes life more exciting. I like having fears because it gives me chances to prove myself wrong. Finally, the time away from work allowed me to learn how to like myself genuinely, and today, I’m happy to say that I love her more than anything. I might be born in March, but I’m an October woman in my soul. However, I will say that I no longer feel guilty for resting, and October could learn something about that.
Recommendations
Workload by Workthrough Newsletter
I write about career, culture and employee development in my newsletter, Workload. Full disclosure: I’ve hit the pause button because I am tired of always writing about work-related stuff. I have plans to switch it up, and writing for YWB has been a breath of fresh air. But if you want to read my newsletter, I recommend you begin with my post about risks, regret and rest. Also, subscribe if you want to know when the new newsletter launches.
The New Happy
You might be familiar with The New Happy’s Instagram. The creator behind it has a newsletter and daily podcast that’s under three minutes long, and I’m a fan of both.
Fall Skirts
I’ve been really into the skirt and boots combo lately. I’ve been hunting for a good mini, and this one from Cos has caught my eye. I love how it’s styled with the bomber jacket. This tan pencil skirt from Banana Republic is effortless chic with a touch of sexy with the addition of the centre slit.
To Set The Vibe
I love candles, and I will assume you do, too. Terradomi has eco-friendly candles, and I’m all for their Astrology-themed ones. The Pisces candle smells divine, so I can only imagine what the others smell like.
Spooky Season Movies for the Witchy Babe
The Craft (the original)
Hocus Pocus (the original)
That’s all from me. Thank you for welcoming me into your inbox today. If you want to stay friends, you can find me @chichi.b.e on Instagram or connect with me on LinkedIn.
Love and Light.
Chi-Chi