Pivot Perspectives
Locals share new approaches to daily life
By Dawn Liles
The ups and downs and openings and closings of 2020 can feel at times like the classic children’s game, Red Light, Green Light. Yet, humans are resilient. Like those featured here, many locals have found productive, innovative ways to deal with changing times.
Destiny Jenkins
Last spring, Destiny and Stephen Jenkins found themselves working remotely while also caring for their toddler daughter, Morgan. Home improvement projects suddenly moved higher on the priority list.
“The goal was to make our house a home since we would be there all day together,” says Jenkins, a learning and development advisor at Brighthouse Financial. “We had wanted to do renovations to our house when we moved in a few years ago, but the pandemic just sped up our timeline.”
The couple had redecorated their master bedroom just before the pandemic began with help from interior designer Ashleigh Spencer of Interior by Ashleigh P. Then, in early March, they hired contractors to make their bonus room a “man cave” for Stephen and converted their office into an office/playroom.
The office now features bookcases and a built-in desk by A&M Carpentry to store the usual collection of toddler toys. “We’ve really enjoyed the better use of our space, and it felt good to help a small local business during this time.”
In addition to the renovations, the pandemic has inspired Jenkins to start a blog about postpartum depression called “Redefining My Destiny.”
“I decided to start a blog after the urging from my husband and other close friends to put my feelings and ideas out there to heal, learn, grow as well as build a community.”
Follow Destiny on Instagram and Pinterest: @redefiningmydestiny.