This Too Shall Pass

I decided to start with a “personal” blog post first to get back into the swing of things. It’s a little less pressure to talk about yourself and things that have gone on in my own life as opposed to talking about business. As you can imagine everyone has their way of doing business and people can share whether or not they think your doing yours right or wrong. With my life, no one can tell me I’ve done it right or wrong because truthfully, how do we really know?

Everyone has a story, whether it’s life changing or life adjusting. Some may have big events that happen and change how they view the world, some go through trauma and have to learn how to get through every day life again, and some go through a bunch of little things where they just have to learn how to adjust and find a good flow. No one’s story is less important than the other and every single story matters. I know plenty of people who have gone through the unimaginable, I look up to people who are stronger than I could ever imagine being but I also look up to myself in a way. I’m blessed that nothing traumatic or life changing has happened to me. My life has changed in many ways for sure but in great, big ways.

This past year was definitely more challenging than any others. This is my second year post graduation and I didn’t fully understand what that meant during year one. My business was still extremely fresh and new, I *thought* I knew what I was going to be doing until my business became full time and I was living at home with my parents. Over the last year I struggled with what my *other* job would be, which, if you own your own business or even if you have a job you love, finding something else to love as much is really difficult. I struggled with my finances a lot right around Christmas, perfect timing, right? My business banking account looked great, but my personal one? Yeah, looking at it just caused my heart to race. I was going through a big transition in the job world and not only was I not making enough money but I was also the most unhappy I had ever been. Looking back on that time now, I can assure myself I wasn’t being dramatic…it really was the lowest time in my life. I know people have gone through so much worse than a crappy job and small income and I’m blessed that I haven’t gone through worse first hand. I pushed through it and promised myself that when I felt like I was where I needed and want to be in life I would get the tattoo that was on my mind for 3 years.

I have your attention now, don’t I? Hannah has a tattoo? Never seen it. I promised myself but to ensure I wouldn’t be a chicken about it, I told my good friend and roomie (Tiffany) that I would too. So, just a couple of months later a past employer (I hate referring to her as that because she’s really just a great friend who has 3 children that I babysat for 6 years) reached out to me asking if I still need to find a new job because a teacher the kids had in school needed a sitter. I took the job of watching her children for 3 days a week and then of course still working at Annalise (the bridal salon I will never leave 🙂 ) I had a plan in place and of course Tiffany pointed out that that means I get the tattoo.  A month after I got the tattoo. It’s on my rib cage, so it can be seen very rarely. It’s for me, remember?

It says “this too shall pass”. I know this has become a somewhat popular phrase but it’s meant something to me since I was a little girl. Basically my whole life I’ve heard this from my dad. His parents said it to him from childhood and into his adult life as well. I grew up in a Christian home and so did both of my parents. No, “this too shall pass” is not part of a bible verse, it is said to be a paraphrase of 2 Corinthians 4:17-18 “For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen eternal.” Too me, this was more than just a saying I was told growing up. There was always more of an extension to it that had to do with whatever I had going on in life. Clearly it stuck. 

Getting the tattoo was just something that signified a step I had achieved in my life but there was so much more that came with it. I’ve grown exponentially in the last 6 months and worked harder that I think I ever have. I saw improvements in so many different areas of my life after spending so long thinking “xyz” would never happen. I was quieter on social media, busy doing things in the background and having a schedule that literally changed weekly. I was so tired all the time, grumpy and had zero motivation to post about really anything.

So, I’m not telling you that if you get a tattoo your life will change. I’m also not tell you that if you accomplish something in life, get a permanent mark on your body; this was just my way of signifying it. It’s a reminder of what was before. What I AM saying is, don’t stop. If change hasn’t happened in months or even a couple of years within your business, body, mind or life, that doesn’t mean it never will. It’s hard and things don’t come easy even if it looks that way from your perspective of others. Spend time with people who encourage you and build you up and eventually you’ll get closer to where you want to be.