There was a time I feared the words ‘start over.’ I thought they meant I failed. That I had to erase everything and go back to zero. I don’t feel that way anymore.
A Brief Rewind: What 'Starting Over' Used to Mean
Back in school, when the teacher said, "start over", that meant your paper has mistakes.
At work, when the boss said, "start over", that mean your output was not good enough.
So, it's no wonder when some of us are triggered when we hear "start over." It is kinda traumatizing if you've endured several 'start overs' in your life.
Starting over meant shame, pressure, and toxic hustle. You're embarrassed for not doing a good job or failing. You feel the pressure to be better, to rise higher. And then you hustle, hustle, hustle to catch up.
What 'Starting Over' Now Means
Blogging
Back in May, I went to this blog to look up something. And then I thought I'd check the stats. To my surprise, Glow Girls were still showing up even after a decade of silence!
And that got me thinking. What if I blog again? Do I want to start all over again? Will my girls still read this older but wiser me? But what if I don't want to write about only beauty anymore and would want to explore other themes and topics?
So many what ifs...
But you know what? I closed my eyes and made the leap.
I started blogging regularly again in June and in September, I got this wonderful surprise:
This is my highest views in a day, probably ever! Back when I was blogging when I was single, I didn't really care about stats. I just wanted to share my experiences.
I look at the stats now because I need to know where you're discovering me from. I want to know where my Glow Girls are. I want to know how many of you out there still listen to my voice. And with that knowledge, and everything else the stats give me, to produce content that you will find not just interesting, but relatable, and most of all, helpful in your daily lives.
I didn't start over blogging. I'm starting wiser.
Business
Last year, two brands under my retail business took a hit. There were some changes made by the government that we cannot afford to adhere to and I decided to shut one down and rebrand the other. Our sales took a drastic blow. 2025 was so hard for me financially.
I decided to overhaul the entire business and focus on in-house merchandise. That's why I've been creating daily, aside from finding crafting to be therapeutic.
I feel like I'm starting at square one. But when I think about it, it's not so bad after all. I've learned a lot and I can avoid those mistakes this second time around. I've learned what works and what doesn't.
Healing After Burnout
Because of all the stress and pressure to earn last year, I had burnout after burnout. I would heal for a while and then go back to my old rhythm. I felt like I didn't have a choice.
Looking back now, I did have a choice. The choice to say no. The choice to say enough. The choice to ask for help. The choice to let go. The choice to rest.
The Shift: The Moment It All Changed
But something shifted.
I realized I was carrying experience, not failure.
The things that forced me to start over have actually made me wiser and yeah, as cliche as it sounds, stronger.
That Google Perspective update hit my blog hard. I lost thousands of views because of it. But I'm getting my readers back. They're finding me again.
That closed chapter of my business? Good, because I can reclaim my house that has turned into a warehouse from keeping inventory. And I re-discovered my love for creating.
That burnout? Allowed me to travel frequently and spend time with my family.
So, not failure. But experiences. Experiences that have shaped my now. Experiences that taught me new strategies. Experiences that have forced me to make changes for the better.
Starting again is a declaration of wisdom, not weakness.
I've built things. Lost things. Gained clarity. That makes this beginning richer, not poorer.
Now: What ‘Wiser’ Looks Like
I say no faster.
If I don't like it, I say it. If I can't do it, I don't bend heaven and earth to find a way to do it. I just say that I don't have the capacity to do that now.
I don’t people-please.
Oh, I stopped giving gifts to people who don't value and appreciate my presence in their lives. It's better for my finances and mental health. Receiving gifts is one of my main love languages and do you know how hard it is for a person like me to plan an elaborate gift for someone I thought who values me, and then end up without even a thank you?
I stopped giving gifts to please them.
I stopped bending over backwards to run an errand for people who don't even remember to say hi to me until their next favor.
I trust my gut more.
I've learned to listen to my inner voice, my higher self. If I hear a sudden no or go, I obey. If I feel like a new business idea gives me butterflies, the good kind, I go for it. Fortune favors the bold, right?
But more importantly, I trust that God is always guiding my steps especially with big decisions in my life. I always go down on my knees and ask for wisdom before deciding.
I give myself permission to pause, to change my mind.
Wiser doesn’t mean perfect. It just means I’m finally listening to myself first.
Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you're buying something and at the till, you suddenly change your mind, whether it's because you wanted another color or you saw a flaw in the item, but don't say anything because you don't want to be seen as a bother?
Well, no more of that.
I'm allowed to change my mind. And no, it's not a bother. It's not a nuisance.
My Current ‘Begin Again’ Moment
I'm finding a new rhythm. I was out for over a week because I've been slammed with adulting tasks - lots of papers to fill out, certificates to renew, forms to file, etc. etc.
I am in the process of rearranging my life to accommodate all my passions. It's a fine balance I need to learn in order to safeguard my health - physical, mental, emotional. I need the work. I can never just 🎶 "sit still, look pretty." 🎶 But I also know that I'm very sensitive and have to rewrite the rules to suit me.
And so I ask for your patience, my dear Glow Girls. I may not be able to blog daily for a little while as I navigate this new life, but I will come back. I will keep coming back because you do. You're always there for me.
Today, I finally submitted the last paperwork that has got me stressing for two weeks. I felt the adrenaline crash while I was sitting at my desk this afternoon, trying to do something. I couldn't. I was paralyzed by the sheer weight that has been lifted off my shoulders. I know it sounds strange, but I guess it's the ADHD or my personality.
I decided to take a break from everything. But while in the shower, I thought about this draft that I've been working on, on and off. Maybe I can finish it tonight and publish it.
I have new orders to work on, projects to finish such as my Glow Girl Wealth Tracker, my Coquette collection, blogging(!), and more. But tonight, I'm choosing rest. I need to let go of all the stress, lower my cortisol so that I can begin again tomorrow.
Final Thoughts
I’m not starting over. I’m starting wiser. And that changes everything.
What about you, Glow Girl? Where do you need to begin again, not with shame—but with reverence for how far you’ve come?
Remember. You're not broken. You're being remade - stronger, softer, wiser.
Say it with me:
"I’m not starting over. I’m starting wiser."
---
'Til my next post,
Stay soft. Stay strong. Stay Glowing.
LET'S GLOW.
With elegance and quiet fire,
Lady E
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