I chopped my hair off, among other things: 2023 Update

We’re halfway through 2023 already and if you asked me what I did for the past 6 months, I wouldn’t know what to say. It simultaneously feels like I haven’t done anything and yet have been through everything! If you haven’t guessed it already, this post is a sort of sit down with me/ a chatty blog. If you’ve been around long enough you’ll remember that this is how the first blog for this year started. You can read my 2022 Recap here for more context or just read this one on its own. Either way you’re in for a ride! So grab your tea cup (and a notebook if you wanna chronicle your life along with me) and let’s get this conversation started.

Ah! 2023! Now that we’re officially done with the first half of 2023, I thought it was a good time for a life update. Why journal and keep the tea for yourself, when you can spill the tea for strangers to read on the internet? Am I right? or am I right? Anywho…

Let’s go through one major life-changing decision that you made in the last 6 months. In case you didn’t already know, 2023 started off with a serious case of identity crisis. Well that was the theme for the last couple of months. It had manifested as a very strong feeling of being trapped, stuck and stagnant. I felt heavy and icky in my own body and I hated it! Around the same time I also realized that a whole lot of my self-worth and confidence was tied with my hair. It was the longest I’ve ever had it and not to mention I finally figured how to maintain it in a way that worked. It had gotten to the point where I could not function if my hair wasn’t looking pretty. Everything that I was, felt like it was tied to my hair. And when the realization of feeling trapped hit, the urge to do something to just let some of the weight go hit harder. And that’s when I decided to chop it off. To be very honest, I didn’t think I had the emotional bandwidth for it. But then again my motto for 2023 is “you do not yield”; so obviously I had to do something about this exhausting feeling. ✨

Even though I desperately needed to do it. I honestly felt like I would have a terrible terrible breakdown if I went shorter than shoulder length. Not to mention just how much trouble I went through to get it where it was. But that evening in the salon, I have no idea what made me do it but I did it and boy what a crazy ride it’s been. Although I didn’t have breakdowns after the chop, it did help me break down people’s views on beauty and femininity. I feel more feminine and powerful than ever in my short hair but a lot of people seem to disagree. This new hair has helped me become so comfortable in my own skin that it no longer feels like a trap. I feel free in my own being. Obviously I still have to put in the work to heal and grow but this decision has definitely sped up the process. But that isn’t even the best part of this experience. The number of women and girls who have told me that they wanted to get short hair but couldn’t go through with it and seeing me has helped them live vicariously and gave them hope! That was the best part! Their experiences and their stories moved me. It gave me renewed hope to keep doing what I do. Make the choices that I make. Even when most people do not agree with me. What major decision did you make? What lessons did you learn?

After what felt like ages (yk I’m referring to the pandemic right?) we finally got back to traveling. Bhutan is pure magic. The place is so calm, so peaceful, so serene! Oh, the beauty of this mystical kingdom! From exploring ancient monasteries perched on cliffs to trekking through lush forests, every moment felt like a fairytale (an exhausting one lol). The serene landscapes stole my heart. The scenes reminded me so much of the movie Moana (minus the beaches of course). It was a soul-enriching journey that reminded me of the sheer wonder of the world. What place/person or incident that brought joy to you? 🌻

Now, let’s talk about my one true companion aka my bed. Yes, you read that right – my bed. It’s my trusty haven, my cocoon of comfort. I’ve spent a better part of the past few months glued to my bed staring at the ceiling in what can only be described as existential dread and/or an early quarter life crisis. There were days when I felt glued to my mattress/floor, endlessly scrolling through social media, and staring at the ceiling like it held the secrets of the universe. But hey, we all have our off days, right? Speaking of staring at the ceiling, let me tell you – I’ve become a pro at it. There’s something strangely meditative about lying on my back, gazing upwards, and letting my thoughts wander. It’s where I unravel my wildest dreams, ponder the meaning of life, and sometimes, get struck by random inspirations that leave me scrambling for a pen and paper. This process feels a 100x better when you simply lay there on the floor staring at the ceiling when folklore by Taylor Swift is playing softly in the background (ifykyk). Who has been your one true companion, these past couple of months? 🤗

I also created the 21-days of Tiny Habits Challenge. And so many of you participated and also shared such lovely feedback! Your motivation, participation and feedback has given me so many ideas on how to make @smileoverspilledmilk more fun and empowering! Don’t forget to follow the pages on social media for more updates (workshops, 1:1 programs, etc).

That’s it for this life update. It was a nice tea time activity to do with you. Hope you liked it too. Would you like to see more of these chatty activity blogs? Let me know in the comments.

Until next time, keep #growwiththeflow🌈

xVish

PS: I’ve been wondering if I should turn this into a series called “among other things” and keep spilling beans in chatty blogs with you. Would you like that? 🤔

#personaldevelopment #Lifestyle #lifeupdate #journal #selfdiscovery #selfhelp #evolution #slowliving #Idealhealth