lessons from 2015

first of all, happy new year! i can’t believe it is 2016 and i am sincerely thankful for all of you who are still reading and following this blog.

2015 was a crazy ride. a lot happened in my personal and professional life that has continued to shape me. looking back, i feel grateful and humbled from the lessons i’ve learned in 2015 and look forward to bettering myself and those around me in 2016. here are some things i am reminding myself while i think back to this past year:

quitting doesn’t mean you’re a failure. i left my full-time job in october and while i still have moments where i ask myself “Whatthehellwhereyouthinking?!” it was the best decision for me moving forward and to live the life i want to lead. it was time for me to be proactive, stop trying to please others, and to not be quiet about what i wanted. i knew that the working environment i was in inhibited me from growing and being in a position that i was passionate about. i discovered that my writing and creative skills were assets i wanted to use daily but wasn’t, and that i had a real desire to be involved with promoting health and wellness. i took an advertising class that was very out of my comfort zone, started interviewing for new jobs and i have just been accepted to a Master’s program in Health Communication. get off your butt, don’t be afraid, and go after what you want.

stay true to yourself and be confident in your abilities. that is quite a corny statement but it’s been a relevant piece of truth for me in many areas of my life. it is great that there are so many new green beauty bloggers, shops and brands, yet there is no denying the pressure one feels as more and more voices add to the community. i’ve learned that the only way to detract from the stress of “trying to keep up” is to be true to myself and keep my authentic voice on this blog. i have been reminded many times this past year that stressing over “keeping up” gets me nowhere. when i have actually forgotten about what others think and plowed ahead confident in myself and my purpose for this blog, great things begin to happen. whether it is in the form of a collaboration, recognition of my blog, or a simple email from a reader who has just found my site. i believe that God has given me this opportunity for a reason in my life and i should take that blessing and continue with it.

find your tribe. it’s been an amazing experience to connect with likeminded people in the green beauty community and i’ve made so many friends! i am especially grateful to know so many inspiring and encouraging women who motivate me to be a better person daily. i have really seen how powerful it is when you “find your tribe”, how common interests and beliefs can bring together people from all different backgrounds. this past year brought so many memorable opportunities where i was able to interact with many brand makers and to meet up with old and new blogging friends. it still is one of the best feelings to meet a “digital friend” in-person and feel like you’ve known each other for years! the power of green beauty bloggers is strong and i can’t wait to meet up with new and old friends more this year! 🙂

be happy, do what you love, give thanks. lots of times this past year i just couldn’t focus on being happy. and i had so much to be thankful for. i realized the more times i just let go and smiled, the more i truly felt okay. despite many negative things that have happened and there always are some, i am happy to be engaged to the man i love, to have a supportive family and group of friends, and for a loving God despite all my imperfections. i have been blessed with good health, being accepted into grad school, some steady freelance writing jobs, and the opportunity to travel. i had the time of my life (and a much needed break) exploring Tokyo and Okinawa, learning Japanese, eating amazing food, sightseeing, and spending time with my college friend Rie. remembering all that i have and all that i’m able to do makes me hopeful and excited for the future.

thank you for sticking around this year and i look forward to what is in store for 2016! wishing you an exciting, healthy, and fun new year!

xo, kasey