If you met me a year ago, I was a different person. I had a thriving business and ran around every day, taking care of 50-60 people in three clinic days, helping them solve their issues and feel better.
Then coming home to raise a family, be a good spouse, cook meals that are up to my high standards, try and be a decent friend, and maybe find time for a walk outside in between.
So much can change in one year.
My personality is the same, I suppose, but my daily life and circumstances have shifted A LOT.
A short history of events-
Last December, my friend closed his personal practice and moved to Mexico. I was so envious of him. I was happy for him, but it really irked me that he was making this bold move. Who the Hell can just take off and move to Mexico?!
Two weeks later, my assistant found out she was SURPRISE! pregnant. Again, so happy for her, but I knew what it meant for me:
-Running an ad for her replacement
-Interviewing
-Rehiring
-Retraining
and starting all over with another person who knew nothing about acupuncture or Chinese medicine…
I HATE THIS PROCESS.
And I love her, my assistant, but I barfed in my mouth a little.
My tank was already low and I was struggling to keep showing up with enthusiasm.
I told my husband, “I don’t think I can do it again and I don’t think I want to.”
And he agreed. He supported my decision to close a financially successful and sustainable business. And I was so grateful for his support and so fortunate to be in this place.
I felt like I would be ashamed if I didn’t even try.
So many people would give anything to take a leap of faith on themselves but really don’t have the means or opportunity, so who am I to deny myself?
Telling this to myself helped me keep my courage up.
But once the decision was made, it was easy. There were parts I would miss, but mostly I was excited about moving forward. I love change, and I felt like my life had been so blessedly predictable for so long, I was just starving for something new.
Fast forward 12 months later, and here we are.
-the online fertility business I thought was my exit strategy went quietly to sleep
-I wrote simple posts on LinkedIn 5 days a week, just to try and figure out who I am and what I serve
-I started concentrating on coaching and virtual sessions
-And I started this newsletter after 6 months of softly researching how to do it, and by that I mean I subscribed to a few “how to write on Substack” groups and read posts from other basic folks, like myself.
At some point, I just had that “two tears in a bucket, f*ck it” feeling, and I wrote something and posted it.
Many of my friends and family think I’m a lunatic, or a spoiled brat, or an idiot. And I get it. Security is highly valued in a society that feels the ground beneath it shifting.
But I assure you, they didn’t think I was a genius when I dropped my Pre-Med option and went to acupuncture school instead.
But for me, it was exactly the right thing to do. I couldn’t explain that choice, either, I just KNEW it. I knew it in my heart as if the Creator himself sent it to me like a jury summons-
“Here ye, here ye, you are expected to attend the Academy of Oriental Medicine at Austin within the next three months. Or else.”
So yeah, I’m writing a newsletter that serves no purpose but to share my thoughts and stories and maybe inspire people to give more f*cks about living their lives on their own terms.
Pardon my colorful language, but I think it makes my point :)
I gave up security for a new kind of adventure, and it’s taken 9-months to even get to the starting point. And that’s okay, I have the rest of my life to keep figuring it out.
If you read to the end of this post, I’m so happy that you did and I hope you keep reading my stuff. Thank you.
And If you’re sitting on the fence of your life, I hope at some point it becomes uncomfortable enough that you take the leap yourself.
Whatever that is :)
With love,
Dr. Erin
PS- I’m announcing the paid subscription offer in the next few weeks! It will be the same kind of content you’ve been getting, but I plan on adding some more specific health and nutrition stuff, some juicier and more personal stories, and an “Ask Dr. Erin” opportunity. If you have a question, just ask me. I’ll answer what I can, or want to. LOL. More details to follow.
And for those who’ve sent me kind messages, I’m so grateful, and I’ll try and share the love as life keeps rolling by.
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