My Beginning
Hello again,
I am glad you are back. You already know about where it is I dream to go, so I thought it was also nice to tell you where I have been. Let’s start from My Beginning.
At 16, I left school to follow my passion for becoming a hairstylist. I think I have always had a streak of creativity but never understood the outlet it was craving. I loved learning new things about hair, the technology and science behind it, and was always so surprised at how a different color or length could change a person so much.
This journey was not without bumps along the road. I was so young in that industry, and it was not a kind place to be in the early 2000s. Once I completed my apprenticeship, I began my first business—mobile hairdressing—but it wasn’t quite right. I enjoyed the passion and creativity, but I lacked the motivation and drive that you would expect to come with something you loved. It became monotonous. It became long days and late nights. It became something I hadn’t envisioned, and for that reason, I realised my time as a hairstylist was achieved, and the next life passion was on the horizon.
Deciding that working Monday through Friday sounded like a dream, I found my way to childcare. Supporting, encouraging, and entertaining small minds was something I thoroughly enjoyed. Was it the creative side, the kindness, the innocence of children, and the promise of a happy future that fed this dream for five years? I think so. It was fun, it was easy, it was wholesome. But life doesn’t work like that. Life must have challenges so you can grow. If you are not actively seeking your own learning, you will remain in the same place, and stagnation was not how I was supposed to be.
Which led me to the Defence Force. My career history has been quite a shake-up. From one industry to the next, no linear path was ever laid for me. But a lesson and a new understanding of the world were always gained. Did I enjoy my time in the Defence Force? At first, but like the times before, I realised I was destined for more. After 6.5 years, I was done with that adventure and onto a new one—one I didn’t realise would last for four months.
If you asked me (and some people did) ‘are you going to be one of those people that packs their life into their car and travels around Australia?” I would, and have, said a very quick ‘No.” How wrong I was to jump to such a quick conclusion. My four months were not spent entirely on the road; however, there was quite a decent amount of time that was spent with just my Jeep and my swag and I loved every moment of it. Leaning into a hobby and taking time for myself reignited that spark of creativity I had suppressed and ignored for so many years.
I love creating content. I love social media. I love the opportunities and versatility that is available. Over the years, I have had small adventures in the online space but never took myself seriously, even during a time when I was making money through my online business. The fear and thought in the back of my mind always remained—that it was never the place for me, it was never the place I would find success. But what is success? I think there is a literal answer to that question, but I also believe it is a feeling. You feel successful long after you have actually become successful.
We have now circled from My Intention to My Beginning, back to My Intention, and I will move into My Now. Now, I choose to move forward—to just follow the dang passion. It brings me joy, it brings me hope, it clears my mind. I have opened myself to a world of learning I didn’t understand existed—a space specifically crafted for people like me and people like you too. There is such a power, and a peace, in letting your inner desires out and knowing that it is always worth it to just give something a try.
You do not have to be great to start, but you must start to be great. —Zig Ziglar
~ Tammie x
