Each year I like to sit down and write a blog post at the end of the year to reflect on my year in my business & in my personal life.
You can find the 2018 reflection here. In my 2019 reflection, I talked about having to accept that I was going to be a bad business owner. As much as I wanted 2019 to be a year of thriving, it needed to be a year of surviving instead. I looked forward to 2020 because the shift that I was making in my career was going to allow me more flexibility to make my business a priority again and to feel like a business owner again. I remember typing that blog post and feeling like I was finally breathing fresh air again.
… And then 2020 happened. HAHA.
As an educator, 2020 has been a wild ride. I don’t have to remind you of that because we are all existing in it. However, 2020 was the year that I did finally feel like a business owner again. I didn’t teach during the summer, so I launched my Etsy shop in July. In August, I thought it would be fun to make custom stickers. By the end of the month, I launched a handful of custom stickers. I had a personal TikTok that I made about them go semi-viral and be seen by 75,000+. I cried a lot of happy tears. I worked all day, but spent lunch, evenings & weekends getting out sticker orders as quickly as possible across the United States. It was the highlight of 2020 as far as my business is concerned.
So, what about my personal life?
In the beginning of the year, we moved Adam across the country for the military. I decided to stay in Kansas to teach since he would only be in that location for roughly a year & a half. I went to visit him while the students were gone for Spring Break. The week that I was there visiting was when Coronavirus was beginning to really unfold nationwide in the United States. I remember the NBA made their announcement and then I received an email that the university I teach at would be extending Spring Break for a week. A few days later, we learned that we were moving to online learning temporarily… and then permanently. When I transitioned to teaching online, I went to quarantine with my parents in Georgia for six weeks. I haven’t been able to spend that much time with them in years, so it was the silver lining of the situation.
At the end of July, Adam asked me to marry him.
That’s obviously the highlight of the year personally. You all sent us so much love via Instagram comments & DMs! We had 48-hours together as fiancés before it was back to long-distance again. In August, the semester began and that consumed the majority of my time.
In October, my very best friend married the love of her life.
One of the highlights of 2019 was getting to be there for her engagement, so I love that I get to share that this year, despite all else, she was still able to have the most beautiful wedding day. I was her Maid-of-Honor (...duh) and got to stand by her side as she married the love of her life. I struggled holding it together for my speech (which was probably way too long… oops), but was so happy to be able to celebrate their marriage with all of their loved ones.
So, what’s happening in 2021?
I have a few exciting announcements that I’m going to keep a secret for a little bit longer… hehehe. Don’t worry- I’ll make a blog post when I do announce them. One of the exciting things to look forward to is that in May of 2021, Adam and I will be getting married. I cannot wait to share a blog post recapping the special day & all of our amazing vendors.
Thank you!
Seriously… from the bottom of my heart… THANK YOU! Thank you for supporting my business whether it is with a like on social media or a purchase from my online store here or a purchase on my Etsy shop. Thank you for taking the time to read this blog post and for excitedly looking forward to what 2021 holds for me personally and for Bossy Brushstrokes. Until next time, stay bossy y’all.
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