On May 30th, 2020 this blog turned 8 years old. It was also the day that protests and violence erupted across the nation and the world in response to George Floyd's horrifying murder. It didn't' feel right to celebrate at that time and honestly, I was completely ridden with anxiety and very overwhelmed at that moment in time so I couldn't wrap my head around writing.
Even though that was over a month ago, it feels like it was just yesterday. The days in Quarantine are going fast but I didn't want this year to end without me acknowledging my blog's anniversary.
Over the past seven months, I've changed a lot. Things have happened in my life that I never expected and the world isn't what I expected. Throughout it all, I've thought about what I want my life to be and where I want to end up and it all comes back to the blog.
When I started Royally Pink I was going into my junior year of college. I was Vice President of my sorority, moving in with new roommates, and ready for the year ahead. I was thinking more about internships and my career, I wanted to get more serious about my writing and prepare myself as best I could for the real world.
I never imagined that I would be here, 8 years later, with a dream job in social media, still living at home, single, and in the middle of a pandemic. I don't know what I thought my life was going to be when I was 19 years old but it probably wasn't what life is now.
In 8 years a lot has happened to me and for me... some good, some bad and all life-changing:
- I fell deeper in love with my college, my sorority, and my friends
- I fell in love with a boy and fought like hell for him
- I became Sorority Woman of the Year
- I got a byline in USA Today and other outlets before I even graduated
- I graduated from college and fell into a horrible depression
- I got my first job at a social media agency
- I left there for my first job in the beauty industry as a social media manager
- My dad died and my world was turned upside down
- I started getting published in more outlets like Popsugar, Elite Daily, Reader's Digest, and The Newsette
- I left my job in the beauty industry and after two weeks, got fired from my new job
- I was unemployed for six months and learned more about what I want out of life than ever before
- I had my first real relationship with a man I cared deeply about
- I became a freelance writer for Fab Fit Fun
- I found a new dream job at another beauty brand in social media
- My aunt died this year and left my family in shambles
- My boyfriend of a year and a half dumped me over a text message
- A global pandemic happened and changed everyone and everything forever
In between, I lost friends, gained friends, watched my friends get their heartbroken, and watched them get engaged. I saw my mom find love, cried with my friends over everything and anything, handed out advice about career, boys, and life. I read books, became true crime obsessed, and had multiple crises.
At the end of it all though, my blog was here. You were here. You watched me grow, learn, mess up, and fail. I don't know where I would be without this blog, without my outlet, without somewhere to put my energy into.
When I didn't know what to do, I always knew I could count on Royally Pink to guide me and keep me busy, to keep me sane.
As we enter the 8th year of this blog, I finally think I have my thoughts together. I've struggled over the years with wanting to make this something more... to be like the other influencers who get paid sponsorships and can make a living off the blog. I want this to be a real community, I want to treat this not only as a passion project but as a business... that's how much I love Royally Pink.
I've already made strides within the past few weeks and I'm really proud of myself. I think if I actually focus, I can do this. Quarantine has been good for that...I have more time to figure out what I want this place to be, where I want my life to be, and honestly, I think I have a good grip on that.
8 years ago, I never thought I'd be here but I love the journey. I'm so grateful that 8 years later, I'm still here and you're still here with me.
Thank you for all the love and support over the years. Thank you for reading, for following, and for sticking around through the hard times. I cannot express how happy you all make me.
To celebrate, below are some of my favorite blog posts to date, that has taken me through all aspects of life.
- Letter to my 17-Year-Old Self (might be my all-time favorite post)
- My Most Useless Purchases of All Time
- The Best Hangover Cures
- Why You Should Be Watching The Bold Type
- What My Sorority Means to Me
- My First Date at 25 Years Old
- Tuesday Inspiration: Grief
- Nostalgic Thoughts
- An Ode to Senior Year
- Royally Planned: How I Use Google Docs
- How to Hygge: Winter Night at Home
- How I Got Into Social Media
- Mercury in Retrograde Survival Kit
- How a Girl Boss Watches TV on The Go
Thank you for the past 8 years. Here's to 800 more!
xoxo
B
