Written by Tanya Terry, with featured photo by Delrico J. Loyd
Tears of both sadness and joy, as well as people hugging that didn’t know each other could be seen on the afternoon of December 30, at the Flint sign in downtown Flint. Participants released balloons into a clear sky, as a way of saying they were leaving 2023 behind them.
Flint Resident En’Dea Haygood said although her 2023 was filled with ups and downs and trials and tribulations, it was good.
Haygood told the Courier she has lost her dad and her grandmother, whom she let go of balloons in honor of.
She also let go of ballons to signify she was going to better herself.
“I want to let go of imposter syndrome,” said Haygood. “I want to start believing in myself more and believing I can do certain things…I want to start setting more boundaries for myself and other people. “
Haygood wants to manage money better, as well.
Dr. Shan Jackson, holistic wellness educator, organized what she refers to as The Healing Circle. Dr. Kenyetta Dotson of WOW Outreach and other leaders and organizations also got involved in supporting the event intended to uplift and encourage.
“This event was about healing,” said Jackson. “It was about letting go of pieces of yourself that you no longer want to claim ownership to. Also, it was about a new beginning.”
At the event, green balloons represented prosperity and new starts. The white stood for healing. The orange was for peace. Releasing the different colored balloons was intended to cause a release of freedom, according to Jackson.
Jackson explained she hoped participants understood they were not alone.
“Then also, it’s about, no matter what you’re going through, never expecting defeat,” she added.
Jackson also told the Courier when she posted about The Healing Circle on Facebook, people from other cities contacted her about joining on the same day, at the same time. So, people from Dallas, Texas; Atlanta, Georgia; Buffalo, New York and West Palm Beach, Florida were releasing balloons to symbolize letting go of the past hurts.
Jackson revealed she had lost her younger sister, who was only 34. Jackson shared she had held her sister’s hand through the delivery of two children and through death by a fatal asthma attack.
Jackson told the Courier that adults need a “village” for support. She pointed out Orville Richard Burrell CD, better known by his stage name “Shaggy,” Jamaican-American reggae singer, rapper and songwriter, was part of her “village.” Jackson met Burrell last November when he came to Flint.
Flint Resident Gardell Haralson also said his 2023 was “pretty good.”
“But it did have a lot of ups and downs, twists and turns,” Haralson added. “I think it kind of grounded me and brought me back to focus on the things I really need to focus on.”
To Haralson, those things include family, the importance of life itself and just trying to have peace and enjoy special moments, rather than letting situations bring him down.
Haralson told the Courier he was planning to let go of a green balloon to represent a new beginning, as well as a new mindset. But he got there late and was unable to get a green balloon.
“But I let the white one go, and I called out some family members’ names,” said Haralson.
Haralson explained he has lost aunts, uncles and cousins.
Despite his heartbreak, Haralson is maintaining a positive outlook about the new year. He felt when he released the balloon, he released negative energy and that the message he heard preached by Pastor Jeff Hawkins was also positive.
“In 2024, I’m looking to have a great year, a prosperous year and overall successful year.”
Haralson, like others in the Flint community and beyond, hopes the momentum being built up in 2024 will continue to grow for years to come.
