SIMILAR MINKPINK DRESS

JEFFREY CAMPBELL ‘CHYNNA’ SHOES

New year, new beginnings, new you, new me blah blah. If you’re reading this, and you’re not really jiving with any one of these phrases, you are not alone.

I’ve mentioned this before: I’m not much of  a holiday spirit kind of gal. Guess December got mad at me for it, because not only did I struggle personally and professionally, I came down with the worst sinus infection/head cold ever! January 1st 2016 was also my 30th birthday. Well, I bid farewell to 2015 and hello to 30 buried under a pile of tissues, antibiotics and Vicks vapor rub. At a time when you’re supposed to feel like a strong, empowered woman that’s got everything under control and ready to take on a fresh new year (or at least that’s what they say you’re supposed to feel) I’ve been consumed with negative thoughts and never felt so alone, helpless, and lost.

It’s okay though. Not writing this for you to feel sorry for me, rather to share that it’s okay to have bad times, to retreat and face those negative feelings, work through them. Once the dust settles and the clouds clear, it feels good to come back out into the world and create a new beginning…like, I can finally breathe again. Literally, I can finally breathe through my nose and taste food again 😂. Also I am looking forward to eating clean and keeping the ten pounds I’ve lost off (thank you for that one thing, sickness). I’m looking forward to writing everyday, keeping a positive mindset at work and at home, but most of all, I’m looking forward to having a Jana’s Dirty-Thirty Do-Over. And you’re all invited. Photography Yesica Laver Flores of Simply Lively