11/06/2024
LONG bittersweet post✨
4 years ago, I ventured out on my own and opened my very own Aesthetics studio. I knew how I wanted it to look and made it my own. It wasn’t big, but it was mine! It was cozy and beautiful, clean and calm, and a safe space for lots of heartfelt connections and a treasure trove of confidence between those walls that I will cherish forever. Within that dream and journey was another journey I had travelled for far longer. One that puzzled me and tried me. One that pushed me and challenged me. One that made me realize “I am enough. Because He is enough”. No matter how much I wanted to be the best Esthetician or PMU artist, No matter how much I wanted to have a family one day, Nothing was ever going to change my view on who I am in The Lord or my view OF Him. I knew that I was going to keep believing in Him bc I knew whatever He had for me was Good. I was not going to waste any more time wishing and worrying away precious time I had in the here-and-now. I decided I was going to do my very best, but also pivot my life as if the family I wanted was what WAS. I changed my schedule. I took less clients. I no longer worked weekends or later evenings. I stopped just squeezing people in even though the time was “available”. I focused my time and energy just on things I was great at and that I felt good about doing. That, in itself, came with some hard decisions. But, I started working my business for how I wanted my family to look. I never wanted my business to be more important. I never wanted my name to be bigger than the love I wanted to cultivate at home. I never needed to be “known” to be KNOWN. Now, are all those things nice and do they feel amazing when you accomplish them? YEP. I loved making people feel good. I loved being their safe space-being sought after for my services and comforting environment. But, I realized what I wanted and needed had shifted. If it wasn’t MY desire anymore, it was no longer fair or even genuine for my clients. And all I ever want to be is genuine. So, the changes were made and I threw up my hands and just began to run in the new direction I feel The Lord gave me freedom to choose. Then, it happened. We had baby number one and I left for a few months and soaked up all the newborn phase. As I felt ready and she got bigger and old enough, I entered back in the studio one day a week. It was good for me. I got to fill that social and creative side while also not taking from my family time. It worked beautifully. I had plans to come back and add in more days, and then the next thing happened-baby number two! 🤣 “Unexpected” would be an understatement. But, an INCREDIBLE “exceedingly abundantly more” type of surprise. After all that time, our dreams had not only come true, but DOUBLED.
Now that baby boy is almost here, I am even more convinced that I never want anything to take away from my chance with them while they are little, only
things that pour into and add to our experiences. And while money def can do that, making money takes time. And time is something I can never get back. Money will always be there. So, with all of that being said, today I’m announcing the closing of Willow Bark Studio. I know, some of you may feel this is a bit of an overly dramatic post for a little 4 year old studio. But, it was mine. It was something I TRULY loved and enjoyed. And now, I get to step into a whole new season of love and Joy. I know there is something He has for me so much greater on the other side of this “maternity leave” and I don’t even have to know what that looks like. Bc I know it is Good bc He is Good.
I have a growing list of touch ups, color boosts and new clients to be treated in the new year and I still absolutely plan on honoring all of those. I will just be in a different space and it may not be until spring. As of now, I still plan on hosting the trainings I have begun preparing for and will send updates on how and what that will look like. BUT, I also know that this opportunity is one I’ll never get back and I’ll do anything to make certain I don’t miss it. So, whatever happens on the other side of this maternity leave is where I’ll follow.
If you are in need of your touch up or will be interested in making a future appointment, please don’t hesitate to reach out and I will add you to the list. Just please note all that is stated above and I will be on No strict deadline to return by any certain date at this time. Everyone will be well informed and kept in the loop as I feel The Lord leads in this new season.
I can’t say “Thank you” enough to all of my current and past clients, my friends and colleagues in this industry that I’ve been able to willingly and joyfully entrust my treasured clients with to carry the torch, and The Lord for weaving it all together so beautifully.
Here’s to my first studio, to taking chances and fully trusting, and stepping into new seasons.
