What’s New?

I mentioned in my last post that there were about to be some changes in my life, and well my friends, here they are…

I left Long Beach to move back to my misunderstood hometown of Fresno. Are you wondering “why?” That was the response I got from most people when I told them I was moving from gorgeous Southern California to (dun dun dun!) FRESNO! But the truth is, I was really excited to move back. I think it took some time away from the city I grew up in to really appreciate it; to appreciate the ease of life here and the warm summer nights, to appreciate the pride the community has in this city and the diverse group of people who call it home, and to appreciate the gritty charm of a city that’s still growing into itself, and the fact that there’s still so much for me to discover here. And after all, if I ever miss Long Beach—and I know I will because it too is a fabulous city—I know it’s only a road trip away.

Aside from just missing it, the main reason I moved back to Fresno is because I decided to ditch the fashion industry to pursue a teaching career, which means going back to school and therefore moving back in with Mom (thanks Mom). After earning a degree in fashion and working in the industry for four years, I realized that my heart just wasn’t in it anymore. Fashion is a ton of fun, and my job was especially fun and gave me the opportunity to work with some truly amazing people, but it bothered me that I wasn’t making a real difference in the world. It bothered me that the main purpose of my job was to make more money for a corporation that already has enough money. And it bothered me that I was working in an industry that’s not the most ethical (if we’re all being honest here). I also felt like I was working my life away. Between working 9 hour days, having an hour+ commute each way, and only having a few weeks off per year, it felt like I didn’t have any time to do the things that truly mattered to me. Then, at the beginning of the year, my sweet cat Jim got sick and had to be put to sleep. This was a turning point for me, because although she was just a cat (she wasn’t just a cat; they’re never “just a cat”) I felt like I didn’t have even a fraction of enough time with her and I realized I needed to make a change in my life.

I had thought about teaching off and on again for awhile but never seriously considered it because all of the teachers that I know have mostly negative things to say about teaching. However, the more I thought about it the more I realized it was something I needed to at least try. So that’s the next adventure. I know it’s going to be stressful. I know I’m going to feel like I have no idea what I’m doing. And I know that I may get eaten alive by the teenagers I plan to teach, but here’s hoping it will all be worth it in the end. Wish me luck!

So…seeing that there are some changes happening in my life, I plan to make some changes to the blog as well. I want to focus more on life here in beautiful Fresno by showcasing some of the local charm and local businesses, do some more traveling—even if it’s just little getaways—and promote ethical fashion companies rather than big brands. I hope you’ll enjoy and follow along!

I think this is my longest post yet so if you’ve made it to the end, congratulations!