June officially kicked off the 2020–2021 League year for The Junior League of Austin (JLA) members and committees.

After a monumental 2019–2020 League year during which we opened the doors to our new Community Impact Center, supplied weekly meals to over 950 kids in Del Valle ISD through Food In Tummies (FIT), and raised $645,525 to support more than 30 community projects in Austin—the upcoming year has big shoes to fill! With so many uncertainties in the world right now, it can be hard to stay optimistic while looking forward to the months ahead. To help combat these negative feelings, here are five resolutions to kick those quarantine blues and stay positive as we look ahead to the start of an unprecedented year for The Junior League of Austin.

1. Pencil in future plans. Save the date for the first-ever virtual A Christmas Affair (ACA). The Virtual Marketplace will be held November 18–22! Don’t worry, we aren’t letting social distancing hinder our giving spirit. The Junior League of Austin will use a virtual platform to allow the JLA to expand our reach and support small businesses from around the country while creating interactive experiences for its attendees. Interested in becoming a merchant? Sign up here, and be sure to stay up-to-date on the latest ACA announcements.
2. Retail therapy. A Christmas Affair 2020 Felicidad decorations and merchandise are now on sale! There’s no buyer’s remorse with these guilt-free grabs, which help support The Junior League of Austin’s many programs and community projects. Select from fiesta-filled ornaments, garlands, tees and more—like this adorable Felicidad patterned bandana, which also happens to make the perfect COVID-19-inspired face covering! I’m no therapist, but I can’t argue that retail therapy doesn’t have mood-boosting effects—especially when giving back to the community at the same time.
3. Stay (virtually) connected. The Junior League of Austin will be meeting virtually for the foreseeable future, and we encourage you to do the same! It’s easy to go days (even weeks, guilty!) without the community connection that helps encourage and inspire us on a daily basis. Intentionally scheduling socially distanced “screen-to-screen” interactions like a virtual cocktail night, a live-stream workout class, or a pre-work coffee date are just a few easy ways to stay connected with other women in our community and continue to encourage and challenge one another.
4. Eat dessert first. Anyone else attempting to spice up their baking skills during quarantine? There’s nothing a sweet treat from the JLA Austin Entertains cookbook can’t fix, and this easy Frozen Lemon Soufflé does just the trick. Purchase a cookbook and help support our community programs and projects.
5. Be adaptable. Although we will miss seeing your faces shine from the lighting of the ACA tree, and giving you a welcoming hug at the next community partner event, what matters most is we are adapting and moving forward with resilience. Shifting your mindset and being quick to adapt to these ever-changing circumstances will only allow us to grow and reach new limits we never even thought were possible for The Junior League of Austin.

I can’t wait to see what the new League year has in store for our League members and local community organizations as we are challenged to adapt, grow and persevere. 

How are you staying positive during this unprecedented time? Share your perspective with us!

About the Writer: Krystin Gresham has lived in Austin for six years and is a third-year member of The Junior League of Austin. She’s enjoyed serving children in Del Valle ISD through FIT, volunteering with our community partner ZACH Theatre, and building friendships during her time in the League. Krystin works in the tech industry and loves traveling with her husband, playing golf, learning to cook, and cheering on the Fightin’ Texas Aggie football team!