End of year thoughts

My original plan was to share the “best things I’ve bought this year” but I’d be lying if I said I even remembered the things I’ve bought this year. In January I experienced a great traumatic unexpected loss. My life started over that day and it’s been blurry ever since. Still filled with small moments of joy here and there, but largely colored by this monster that now follows me everywhere I go. But there have been so many reminders that life is fragile and tomorrow isn’t guaranteed. So when you find yourself overwhelmed by the internet, remember the ground underneath your feet and it all is so delicate.

All of that is to say… I’m not going to share my “top purchases” because that doesn’t feel authentic right now. But I want to share my stream of consciousness for the sake of transparency.

I’m not sure where to begin with wrapping up this year. It’s been filled with joy and laughter, loss and sorrow, grief and immense happiness. Through some personal family challenges, organizational hurdles in my 9-5 and navigating changing friendships after losing a sibling, it all has come back to why I started sharing my life with strangers on the internet. I felt like there was a lack of authenticity within social media. There wasn’t a widespread representation of women my size, and I couldn’t relate to people whose lives were seemingly perfect. Once I started opening up to the world, the number of women (and men!) who have shared similar thoughts and challenges has been overwhelming and beautiful. So I guess all of that is to say - you’re never alone. Even when it seems like everybody has their stuff together except you, just know that we’re all in it together and nobody goes through life without road bumps. Hopefully that brings some peace to you. Maybe it doesn’t! In any case, I’m glad you’re here and appreciate this community. I couldn’t do it without each of you and am excited we get to shop together for a long long time.