This week I celebrated 6 years of blogging and speaking!!
I really look back at the six years I have been doing this work and although there have been times of doubt and fear and exhaustion, the passion for this work has never subsided. However, it has been hard to keep up with the tasks that used to come so easily for me. Like blogging, like posting on social media, like doing consistent speaking engagements. It’s been hard because my priorities have significantly shifted over the years. Once I lost my mom, I lost a part of myself. I still don’t think that part of me has come back and I’m not sure it ever will. But with losing her, I lost part of my joy and purpose. I lost my biggest cheerleader and although I have so much support in my life, nothing compares to the way my mom rooted for me.
Then I became a mom myself and my priorities really shifted, as I wanted to focus pouring all of my energy into motherhood. In the beginning, I was trying to work full time while also being a full time stay at home mom. I then became a single mom and went through divorce and my whole world flipped upside down. Thankfully, I have learned so much balance in this process and set some hard boundaries to only work certain days of the week to protect my own mental health.
And even with only working a few days a week, a part of me still lacks that extreme motivation and drive that I had in the beginning of starting this work. Times like these, I remind myself that I have to practice what I preach and be patient and calm with myself. My therapist reminds me constantly of all of the major life changes I’ve had in just a few short years. It’s okay if things still don’t feel fully right and normal for me. It’s okay that my priorities have shifted. It’s okay that I’m not posting as much as I “should”. And I probably should do more of this or that since I’m running my own business, but I’m also learning to be okay to just enjoy the moments outside of my business. Because that’s truly what life is all about.
All that to say, I am not going anywhere, I still love this work and I’m so grateful to know that 6 years later my story and my voice are still relevant and still helping others. That means more to me than I can express in this blog post. I’m just learning more and more that it’s okay to take a step back, even if that step back is longer than you expected it to be. I still have faith that as I continue to take care of myself and root for myself, that the spark will be fully back. Until then, I rest and prioritize my mental health. Until then, some of my work days become rest days. Because that’s what is most important anyway, taking care of yourself and being kind and patient with yourself in your healing.
I have seen so much growth in myself the past 6 years and although it has been harder than I imagined, I’m so proud of myself for being in the mindset I am now. I am proud of myself for preservering despite the life challenges thrown my way. I am proud of myself that I still find my inner strength to help you find yours.
So thank you all for being patient with me and for sticking around all of these years. Thank you for hiring me to come to your schools and organizations. Thank you for simply believing in my message and having the desire to share my words with your students or staff. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for riding this wave of healing with me.
And that’s one of the most beautiful parts of this work – even when I feel down or low or have to take a step back, I use my voice to talk about it with you all and that helps you all to find your voice and talk about your pain and struggles.
The power of vulnerability matters. Your voice matters. Your story and your struggle matter. No matter how much work I do, that message will always be one of my most important ones.
Cheers to another 6 years of beautiful vulnerability, patience with myself and embracing every moment as it comes.
Xo,
Be Beautifully Simply You