As a beauty and massage therapist for over 25 years, I love the career path I chose. Over the years, I have worked in smaller beauty salons, large, well-known London spa’s and directly for well-known skincare companies. The variety in this job is amazing. I have had so many wonderful experiences. All of which taught me different treatments and techniques. I have also met some wonderful people along the way.
During my time, I have also gained many other qualifications such as aromatherapy, Indian head massage, gel nail polish, eyelash extensions and more….you can train forever in this industry!
After a few years of working as a beauty therapist, I also qualified as a teacher and have been teaching all these treatments to budding therapy students for over 17 years!
Occupational hazard and a new start
However, having practiced these treatments for so many years, my hands are starting to suffer and ache much more when carrying them out. Occupational hazards meant I mat not be able to continue down this road. Late last year I started to think about what else I could do, still using all the skills and experience. Being 47 at the time, I wondered if it were too late for a change. Did I really want to start fresh, at this stage in my life?
I was worried that I might be too old to start again. There would be a whole host of ‘younger models’ doing the same thing, who am I to compete against that!!
At this stage, I told myself off for thinking this way! And I realized that with age comes experience, wisdom, and the ability to realise that I have the potential to do whatever I set my mind to! I have also since realised that with age comes patience. I have had to learn A LOT of patience over the past few months!
My newfound passion
For some years, I have toyed with the idea of starting a blog. I love reading other blogs and articles to inhale information on a variety of topics on the internet. Plus, I have always enjoyed writing. I tossed around the idea for a while and pondered what specifically I would write about. At that point I thought it was just about writing, I had no idea that you could make money from it, or how difficult it would be!!
Just before Christmas last year, I took the plunge. Somehow, I set up a website – all on my own! Now, this might not seem a big deal, but I am an absolute tech-phobe! I can switch on a computer and create a basic document, and that’s it! But, with LOTS of YouTube watching, and several meltdowns – I was shouting at the computer at some points and sitting crying in front of it, at others – I managed to set my site.
For a few months after, I dabbled in it, writing some articles, learning more about the actual site, as I was still doing a few clients and teaching a couple of days a week.
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The silver lining of COVID
Then COVID hit us – a terrible time for us all – and we got locked down. Being a hands-on profession, my beauty work got shut down completely. And like many, I found myself at home, with lots of time on my hands. So, I got stuck in, and worked on it!
And I have realised that;
I do have the ability to do anything.
I am not too old to start something new
With hard work and perseverance, I can learn new skills – and believe me, I have done things on a computer that I never dreamed in a million years I could do!
There are many, many people out there willing to help out – in my blogging journey so far, I have met some amazing people, from all around the world, who have been very generous with their time and advice.
A job from passion
I have also learned that while blogging is something people can dabble in, for me it has become a full-time job. During the lockdown, I have sat at my computer, almost all day, and written informative articles. I have learnt how to implement more amazing tools on my website and make adjustments and installations to my website. I have written an e-book, learnt, and starting to make money from blogging. And while it is hard work – and constant work – I am loving every minute of it!
I have a massively long way to go, but I know that I have come too far to give up. I will keep learning, I will keep writing, and I will keep helping people with my skills and knowledge.
It’s a huge cliché, but the term ‘if I can do it, anyone can do it’ comes to mind. And I mean this in several respects. Not only taking a change of direction in your late 40’s, but finding a new passion, and learning new (& technical) skills!
And while, as we emerge from lockdown, and the world, hopefully, gets back to a bit of normality, I am grateful for the time it gave me to create my new business.
