For a long time I wore my introverted, pay no attention to the woman behind the curtain persona a little too proudly. While I am not a limelight seeker and more comfortable in a support role, there were many times in my life that I did not try something or put myself out there when I really wanted to because I was too scared.
Ellen, A Fashionating Life, Age 49 3/4
4 years, 986 posts, 6k followers, and ton of hard work was gone in an instant as hackers broke into my original account and stole it.
(Yes, I tried EVERYTHING to get it back, from sending a video to IG to trying hire a hacker. That last bit could make an interesting post if you are interested, please let me know.)
This is not about that. This is about me doing what I need to do to shut that door, no matter how unfair, and move on.
My original IG page was waaaaaaaaay more than just 4 years, 986 posts, and 6k followers. As original followers may remember, I talked about starting a fashion blog for women in their 40s plus for years before I had the courage to go for it. Even then I made a friend do it with me. The extrovert to my introvert, who can now be found at @tailoredcloset_centralatx on the ‘Gram as well as here and here.
For a long time I wore my introverted, pay no attention to the woman behind the curtain persona a little too proudly. While I am not a limelight seeker and more comfortable in a support role, there were many times in my life that I did not try something or put myself out there when I really wanted to because I was too scared. I convinced myself that I was not the person who does those things when I really wanted to be. Your comfort zone isn’t always healthy.
AFL was the one thing that I faced what I needed to face, leaned on my tribe, and took a very large/scary chance because I knew I would regret it (yet again) if I didn’t. Part of it was because of my mid-life status. I am not getting any younger and the thought of looking back with regret gets closer each year.
So, I did it. And I was good at it. And it was working. The mission of AFL was resonating with women who understood what it feels like to wonder if they were doing/wearing the “right” thing for their age, body, if they were a mom, it they were the only woman in the C-Suite at work, etc.
It was on its way to being a $$ success but it already was a hugely personal one. I felt the fear and did it anyway and I was proud of my page and my introverted self for what I built. Then someone stole it. And I am sad. I am also getting better each day, but it still hurts.
If I did it once, I can do it again, right? But most importantly, I am starting again. I will be 50 in a few days, so it seems fitting. I just didn’t know this new chapter would include an entire new IG page.
So, welcome back. Or just welcome if you are new. It means the world you are here.
