Where I’ve Been: Life Update

If you’ve been following me for a while, you probably noticed that I’ve been a little bit MIA over the last couple months. Before my hiatus officially ends, I wanted to give you all a quick explanation and update about what’s been going on. First of all, thank you for being so patient with me and allowing me the space and time I needed. I feel so lucky to have been able to take this break.

Nothing really major happened to force this break – it was more like a combination of a bunch of little things. As you all know, Andrew and I got married on April 14 of this year. Planning the wedding kept me super busy and it was all so exciting and fun. Choosing flowers, dreaming up a color scheme, and organizing all the little details didn’t stress me out at all. It’s something I’ve always dreamed of doing and I truly enjoyed every second of that. Even though everything in my life was going exactly the way I’d always hoped it would, I wasn’t feeling totally myself. Truthfully, I was experiencing some health issues – both physical and mental. Full transparency, I was at my heaviest weight I’ve ever been on my wedding day – not something that was easy to accept. I spent a lot of time focusing on my health and trying to get to the bottom of my unexplained weight gain and less than stellar mental health. There was a lot of anxiety, depression, and loneliness involved. This isn’t to say that I was sad every single day – I wasn’t! There were certain days that I felt 100% and certain days that I couldn’t bring myself to get out of bed. I am feeling so much better these days but I still struggle a little bit and that’s okay. I’ve learned to be more open about my struggles and not bottle everything up. Every day, I work hard to get myself to where I want to be.

The reason I’m sharing this is because I want you all to know that if you are struggling to be yourself every day, it’s okay and you’re not alone. I’ve realized that it’s not always circumstances that can affect your mental health (in fact, it rarely is!), it has a lot more to do with what’s going on inside. I know it’s not realistic for everyone to take a hiatus from work – I get that – but make sure you’re doing whatever you can to care for yourself. Whether it’s taking 30 minutes to meditate before bed or allowing yourself to read an extra chapter of your favorite book without guilt, do something that makes you feel good, even if it’s just for that moment. Put all your worries aside and do at least one thing a day that is just for you. Dedicating these little moments to yourself is key. Get the help you need and don’t be ashamed that you’re not okay right now. It’s not permanent and you will feel better, if you make yourself and your happiness a priority.

One of the biggest things that’s happened is that Andrew and I bought a house! I cannot believe I’m actually saying that – it’s been nearly 3 months since we moved in and I still can’t believe it’s real. Andrew and I feel so blessed to have the opportunity to own a home, especially in our dream city of San Diego at our age. We wouldn’t have been able to do this without the help and support of our families (and our amazing realtor, Dave). Our home is definitely a work in progress – it’s a fixer upper, which is a dream come true. I’ve always had a passion for architecture and interior design so it’s been one project after another since move-in day. It can be overwhelming at times, that’s for sure, but it’s all so exciting. The biggest thing we’ve done so far is completely overhaul the entire kitchen and common area. I have been documenting all of the renovations so stay tuned! There is a ton of interior design content coming your way.