This week, I received two pieces of awesome news.
I was asked by a teacher to speak at IUPUI next semester on MS and Exercise, and I was asked to submit an audition video for a web series on rrms.
Stumble Pup is movin’ on upppp.
What does this mean? In the grand scheme of things, not a whole hell of a lot. But for me, this is the first step in what I hope is a long journey of education and advocacy opportunities on autoimmune diseases.
In my last post, I talked about how disability advocacy was the last thing on my mind until my diagnosis. Now that I’m here, though, I want to be the fiercest advocate I can be. I also talked a little bit about how I changed my career path to better suit my life now.
What I haven’t talked about is how down I’ve been about this change. It comes and goes, but the last seven years of my life have been dedicated to the beauty industry. I’m really, really freakin’ good at it. But it was not at all good for me.
I was stressed all. the. damn. time.
I’ve been stressed about this change, too. I have student loans for two degrees I’m not using, and is best if I don’t use. I’m back in traditional academia for the first time in 7 years, and I wasn’t exactly successful the first time.
I’m still hanging onto my job in product sales to other professionals, but eventually, even that needs to go. It’s my one last tie to the industry. I’ve been working there since soon after I was diagnosed, and it’s definitely my comfort zone. When I step in there, I’m an expert who really knows what they’re doing. People regularly come to me for my advice and help for color formulations and product recommendations. My job title is literally Beauty Guru.
These new opportunities are making the stress balloon deflate a little, though. It seems like all of my hard work is finally paying off, and the chances I’m taking going back to school, too. Being asked to speak during a class on disease and exercise is right up my alley.
What’s this mean? I think it means I’m going in the right direction, and these signs couldn’t have come at a better time.
Moving forward, I know leaving the beauty industry behind is best for me. I don’t see a space for it in my future. I hope it’s full of educating, advocating, and living my best life, with not a single haircut or root touch up – at least professionally.
