For anyone who is new here or hasn't read my previous blogs, 2020 was my first year as a full time entrepreneur. I had a total of four hot months to blissfully acquaint myself to this so-called life of working for yourself before the utter chaos of 2020 struck in early spring.
As weeks turned into months and the pandemic continued, I won't lie, I was f*cking terrified. Yea, I baked banana bread, Marie Kondo style organized every drawer and closet in my apartment, learned the Savage Tik Tok dance, sent my friends funny videos, and had zoom happy hours. I actually did all of the above twice. (Like 8x for the happy hours if I am being transparent here, but I digress...) I gained the quarantine fifteen which was extremely not ideal considering you're, like, supposed to be in your best shape the year of your wedding, right? I participated in all your run of the mill paper towel hoarding pandemic frenzies mostly all the while to distract myself from my real fear, what would happen to my business during a global pandemic?
Now I know what you're thinking, "She didn't binge watch Netflix?"
Of course I watched Tiger King, do you think I am a psychopath? I watched everything including Emily in Paris and guess what, I absolutely loved it...
I did anything and everything that would numb me from feeling the worry, the anxiety, and the fear of losing everything I have worked for in the past few years.
I was "waiting" for it to pass. For it to go back to normal, for everything to resume as it once was...
I think my biggest growth came the moment I realized this wasn't ending, passing, or returning to normal, any time soon, if at all. As a business owner and as a person, the second I started pouring energy into adapting rather than waiting, I experienced a turning point.
I learned more this year than I have learned in the past 10 years, easily. Granted, some of the lessons were not solicited and unwelcome, nonetheless I learned them. For example, I could have gone without learning the lesson of how to file a lawsuit against our wedding venue, for one. I think it's safe to say I would happily live a very fulfilled life not knowing how to sue anyone, but I am full on Elle Woods status equipped to represent myself and proud.
Then there was that time that I had to pack hundreds, maybe a thousand, orders with my fiancé because my employees needed to quarantine. That one was fun. I only cried twice that week. Another great moment was learning how to file for the PPP loan. Let's just say, I got a C- in accounting in college and my skills with such have since declined.
Nonetheless, I learned something valuable from even the unfavorable moments. I learned that (legal) knowledge is power, doing the small tasks keep you humble, and that I desperately needed a new accountant! I also learned to never say never. Before this pandemic I never could have imagined learning these lessons this way. I also could never imagine myself writing a blog on NYE and not being with my family and friends partying, yet here we are!
My favorite lessons were the ones I learned about the relationship I have with myself and with others. I learned how to prioritize myself, set boundaries that serve me, say no to things that don't & how to make my own homemade margaritas. All four of these things have me entering 2021 as the best version of myself. Something I also thought I would never say after an almost year long pandemic.
I didn't experience all this growth alone. I've done so with the guidance of our team health coach, Masha of The Sunday Self. To close out the year, we did a team exercise with Masha that forced us to reflect on 2020. She instructed each of us to scroll through our camera rolls, month by month, and document the highs and the lows we experienced throughout 2020.
I cried secretly on the zoom call when I scrolled past the photos of Gabrielle and I wedding & maid of honor dress shopping. I don't know why this evoked so much sadness for me, I have to guess it is because it's something that every "normal" bride gets to do, but now seems like such a luxury. I felt the same way when I passed a sweaty selfie of myself that I sent to my friend Bianca after a Tracy Anderson workout class. I guess what this really sent home for me was that we should really never take the little things for granted. Not a little shopping trip, not a little gym class, nothing. What is "normal" these days anyway? I don't think much. So if you have a good, fun, memorable, or positive experience... TRULY stop to relish in the moment. Although I miss the normalcy of those things, the girl who was doing them is different than the one writing to you today. She missed out on a lot of the little moments because she was always going, going, going.
She was also a shamer, a big huge shame monster. I spent a lot of time in the early parts of 2020 beating myself up for not doing enough to grow the business or to propel it. Obviously in hindsight, how could I? We were in survival mode and just worrying about staying afloat. I shamed myself so much for not doing enough, when in reality, I was really just working with what I had to stay in business and make ends meet.
In 2020, I learned to enjoy the little things, but more importantly, enjoy what I HAVE. I have a business that withstood an almost year long pandemic. I think that's something to be proud of.
Speaking of appreciating things I have, this scrolling exercise reminded me of something else that came out of 2020. We started this year with a team of two. We are leaving 2020 double the size. Hannah, who was a long time friend of Gabrielle's, joined our team full time. Sienna, a total stranger, completed our Island to East Side family. Now I know how a mom feels when they say they can't remember life before their babies. That's how I feel about Hannah and Sienna. We were great before they came into the picture, but life without them seems unimaginable now. We are blessed to have a place to work, while so many people have lost their livelihood this year. Not only do we have our work, we love it and enjoy every second of it.
Another thing I realized I have during this pandemic is a very loyal and supportive following and customer base. Thank you to every one of you who liked our photos, placed an order, and our favorite... sent us a DM with kind words or affirmations. I appreciate you more than you know and I am consistently impressed by your interest in us as people and our brand.
When I started officially working with Masha in May, my primary goal was to become the face of the brand. What I didn't realize, at least at first anyway, was that I had to work on pretty much everything else in my life before getting to my goal. I was making a lot of choices that were keeping me from being able to show up and connect with each of you in a more meaningful way. The girl in those earlier photos had no boundaries. She said yes to every plan, answered every call, always lended her resources, her help, her ear, and her love. All at the expense of herself and likely at the expense of achieving her personal goals.
My biggest take away from 2020 was that I need to choose myself more. Every day we make choices... what we eat, what we drink, what we watch on tv, who we follow on Instagram, what attitude we have, who we allow in our lives, who our inner circle consists of, how we live and how we remember things. I am choosing to take this year for what it was and to highlight both the good and the bad, but to remember it as a time of growth and evolution, a catalyst of sorts.
In 2021, I want to show the Island to East Side community more! More sides of me personally, our team, our struggles, our wins, and our journey getting there. I honestly don't know if the perfectionist in me would be saying that if it weren't for this completely imperfect year and everything imperfect that happened because of it.
Through all the shit that happened - difficult lessons, burnt banana breads, postponed weddings, and things I won't mention on my blog - I can honestly say I came out on the other end of this year WAY better than how I entered it. To me, that really doesn't sound so bad at all. In fact, it sounds like 2020 was a pretty important year for me.
Cheers to catapulting into a new year together. I want you along for the ride with me. I can't promise it will be perfect, but it sure as hell will be interesting.
Xo,
Christina
alex jackson
Hello everyone my names are ALEX JACKSON from the UK, I want to use this golden medium to appreciate Doctor Abdul a great spell caster for helping me retrieving back my relationship with my ex lover when he ended and turned back on me for quite a long time now (6 months ago). He performed a spell for me and within 48 hours after the spell had been cast I received a text from my ex saying that he is sorry for the pains and tears that he had caused me and that he will not do such a thing to me again in his life. I was surprised but later accepted him back again. Anyone that is in the same line of problem or different one that wants to contact a spell caster should happily contact Doctor Abdul now on this email address.doctorabdulspellcaster@gmail. com or message him through his Whatsapp +2348108728256
How To Rebuild Trust in Your Relationship with the help of Dr EDESE Hebarlsolution@gmail.com OR CALL HIM +2348153363047
How To Rebuild Trust in Your Relationship with the help of Dr EDESE
Thank you!
I have been trying to restore our marriage for 3 years now. 2 months ago, my husband said he’s been unhappy for the past 2 years…I have done everything recommended to rebuild his trust… The biggest problem I think we are having is that he wants to hang around with friends and family again like we use to but I think he feels ashamed for me and it can get uncomfortable. He told all his friends and family about my affair. I still don’t want to give up getting back my marriage i have to seek for help then I can across this great man who helped me resolve all my problems and worries, now me and my husband have settle our difference and will live happily now with his friends and family. All thanks to DR EDESE for all the prayers every day for the healing and restoration of our marriage. You can reach him too for help in regards to any problems you are facing in your relationship and life in general. Contact him vis his private email.
Hebarlsolution@gmail.com OR CALL HIM +2348153363047
Bella James
Hello! I’m very excited to share what worked for me to everyone. I’m completely cured from my HSV1&2 with the use of natural medicine. I have used Oregano oil, Coconut oil, Acyclovir, Valacyclovir, Famciclovir and some other products/supplements and it hasn’t helped ever since I was diagnosed. I got outbreaks frequently and was completely devastated and I went online for a possible cure and how to get rid of Herpes. On a fateful day after taking my bath, I took my phone and was going through some research, I bumped into a testimonial of a Herbs doctor { Dr Awase } who cures diverse diseases/viruses with Herbal medication. I was hopeful but also doubted the claim. But after a while I thought “what do I have to lose?” so I decided to reach out. He prepared a cure using roots and herbs which I steadily took for 14days as prescribed by him. I am quite glad I decided to reach out because I am totally cured from Herpes after a medical checkup was done by my Dr. So I’ve decided to make a quick testimony for anyone out there who is probably suffering from an illness they can’t handle to reach out to Dr Awase. He specializes in curing lots of illnesses such as HIV, ENDOMETRIOSIS, PCOS, OVARIAN CYST, INFERTILITY, HEPATITIS A,B,C and lots more. I’m here to let you all know that you can also be cured just like me and you don’t have to live with any sort of illness for the rest of your life. To reach out, Contact him via WhatsApp below or Email
WhatsApp +2349074997110
Email:- dr.awaseherbalhome @ gmail . comBella James
Hello! I’m very excited to share what worked for me to everyone. I’m completely cured from my HSV1&2 with the use of natural medicine. I have used Oregano oil, Coconut oil, Acyclovir, Valacyclovir, Famciclovir and some other products/supplements and it hasn’t helped ever since I was diagnosed. I got outbreaks frequently and was completely devastated and I went online for a possible cure and how to get rid of Herpes. On a fateful day after taking my bath, I took my phone and was going through some research, I bumped into a testimonial of a Herbs doctor { Dr Awase } who cures diverse diseases/viruses with Herbal medication. I was hopeful but also doubted the claim. But after a while I thought “what do I have to lose?” so I decided to reach out. He prepared a cure using roots and herbs which I steadily took for 14days as prescribed by him. I am quite glad I decided to reach out because I am totally cured from Herpes after a medical checkup was done by my Dr. So I’ve decided to make a quick testimony for anyone out there who is probably suffering from an illness they can’t handle to reach out to Dr Awase. He specializes in curing lots of illnesses such as HIV, ENDOMETRIOSIS, PCOS, OVARIAN CYST, INFERTILITY, HEPATITIS A,B,C and lots more. I’m here to let you all know that you can also be cured just like me and you don’t have to live with any sort of illness for the rest of your life. To reach out, Contact him via WhatsApp below or Email
WhatsApp +2349074997110
Email:- dr.awaseherbalhome @ gmail . comJack Wagner
Hello everyone I’m JACK WAGNER, I want to testify of the great and powerful spell caster named Dr. ABDUL who brought back my ex who left me and got engaged to another man, We were happy together then She suddenly he just changed, She used to call me every morning and night before going to bed but all that stopped when I call her she yell at me and told me she didn’t want to have anything to do with me anymore I was so sad and confused I didn’t know what to do then I went online to search on how to get back my ex then I found an article where someone was talking about how the great and powerful Dr. ABDUL helped him and he left his email address I took it and contacted him I told him my problem he only smiled and told me to relax everything will be OK I did everything he asked me to do and he assured me that after 24hrs she will be back, To my greatest surprise the next morning it was my girlfriend she came back kneeling and begging for me to accept her back now we are so happy together now. He can also help you, contact him on WhatsApp: +2348108728256