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the art of slow living

Divorce & Depression to Happy & Thriving : My Story
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Hey <<First Name>>,

I hope after my last newsletter you're feeling more empowered to say a big, fat, confidant NO to the things in your life that don't serve you.

Technically, this is November's newsletter. Motherhood left me a day late and a dollar short, but here I am! I was going to share some of my favorite little ways to elevate the everyday, but I decided to put that off for the next one. 

Instead, today I want to share something very personal with you: my story. 

A lot of you are new here, and I wanted to share the whole story of how I got from A to B, where A is a horrible, sucky life that left me alone & broke and could have killed me, and B is my dream life with a husband I am obsessed with (seriously, I think he's SO hot and sweet and...ugh, I'm gross) and a career I love that provides a six figure income for my family & my baby girl's future.

Let's be clear: that is NOT a humble brag. But I want you to appreciate the stark contrast of A and B.

Let me elaborate in case it isn't clear how unbelievably crappy my life was.

At 28 years old I found myself divorced and in a rehab facility. I'd spent the prior DECADE wasting my life in bars, doing drugs, in unhealthy relationships, and waiting tables. I dropped out of high school and got a GED. I never finished college. 

When people ask me "What did you do before Local Milk?" the answer is "Nothing." 

I was diagnosed bipolar I in my early 20's, and while it made the depression, crazy behavior, and self-medicating make sense, it didn't make them stop.

At one point, I was put on such toxic levels of lithium my hair started falling out. No light was in sight.  

Flash forward to that rehab center.

I didn't want to be there, but in spite of myself I was lucky enough to find my higher power there. I made some BIG decisions in that low place, decisions that changed my life. 

I decided to believe things that serve me & actually work and to not tear my hair out over whether I could "prove them".

I believe: 
  • everything happens for a reason 
  • that the universe is in essence a good & loving place 
  • that I'm no better or worse than anyone else 
  • that cool is stupid
  • my higher power can be trusted 

About a year into living  this new life, I decided (while sitting on my therapists couch, haha) that I wanted to be a blogger. Professionally.

I've always been an internet nerd, and I'd had blogs before, but I'd noticed that some of the women I followed seemed to be blogging as their job and not just a hobby. I wanted that. I was like "Yes, that! Sign me up!" 

So that very day I dropped out of school (AGAIN), and started my blog, Local Milk.

I never once looked back. Or down for that matter. I taught myself everything: photography, editing, social media. You name it. If I needed it, I learned it.

Of course, if I'd had access to courses I could have literally shaved YEARS off of my learning curve, which is why I'm so passionate about teaching everything I've learned to anyone else who wants to make their dream business a reality. 

I focused, and still do to this day, on two things:
  1. Creating GREAT content and always striving to be even BETTER. That means delicious recipes that work, beautiful photographs, great travel guides, mind blowing retreats & events, on point styling, and striving for excellence in ALL that I do.
  2. Genuine relationships with my peers, colleagues, clients, customers, and audience. 
I showed up, put myself out there, and just like that, it grew. And grew. And grew. Of course, at this point I have systems and strategies for making sure the people who want to see what I'm creating do see it using social media and search engines. But that was SECOND. First, always, is content & relationships. 

It was when I was confidant, thriving, successful, and not looking at all that my husband fell into my life.

I don't think we were meant to meet a day sooner than we did. We met when I was ready for him.

He owned a coffee shop in town, and I met him when I was grabbing a cortado. I accidentally hit myself in the face with my shopping bag during our first conversation. He asked for my number and sent me a totally (seriously, it was so bad) inappropriate text message within the hour.

Yep. I was in love. What can I say, I'm that kinda girl. Within 5 months we were married. And within 2 months of that, I was pregnant with our baby girl, Eulalie. 

And that brings me to now.

We travel the world together as a family, because I'm able to work from the road. Or my bathtub. You know, whichever. So, if you're sitting there dreaming of a different life, I'm proof that it's possible.

If I can do this, ANYONE can do this.

If you're telling yourself limiting, defeating things like having a dream life is for other people but not you, or that other people have some advantage that you don't have, or that you have too many obstacles in your way—try stepping out in faith in yourself and the universe instead! As one of my fave biz gurus, Marie Forleo, says : Everything is figureoutable. 

Remember: there is always room at the top, and NO ONE starts there.

Every journey starts with the first step. Enjoy the process, don't begrudge it. 

Whether your goal is to make a six figure income or to just drink more water, it's achievable and doable and you got this. Allow yourself to dream BIG. That's when the magic happens.

So, tell me, what are your biggest, wildest dreams? Are you living them? Are you on your way? If not, what's holding you back? I want to know! 

XO,
Beth
Sincerely,