Back Where We Started

So it’s December and my last entry was in February. Let’s just get that out of the way.

I remember just like it was yesterday: I’d spent a couple of months learning how to create and launch a website. I was nervous, but feeling accomplished, and super excited to share my secondhand world outside of IG. Then March came along, and you know what happens next. And when it came between managing a brand site and managing my general wellbeing - well - something had to give and it wasn’t going to be the latter.

Those first few months were like a treacherous journey to find my way back to my inner voice that’d somehow gotten lost in the endless headlines, nonstop crazy, nonstop voices telling me how to feel in the middle of a global pandemic; compounded on a social justice movement momentum that most of us haven’t seen in our lifetimes. How could I possibly expect myself to keep up with my 9-5, build a personal brand, be a partner, daughter, sister, friend, dog mom, podcast co-host, etc. etc.? There wasn’t and still isn’t a straightforward answer to that question, but I was forced to dig deep and uncover what it truly meant to find joy in the midst of the storm.

I avoided anything styling or thrift related, well, because I thought, what’s the point? Nobody cares about outfits in the middle of a global crisis. But therein lied the problem - I was too focused on everybody and nobody instead of what my body was telling me. I was depriving myself of my creative therapy, my self expression, a source of joy and contentment that was desperately needed. As gruesome of an exercise as this realization seemed to be in the moment, in retrospect it felt like a much needed internal reset, and strong reminder of my “why” for ThrifTheorem.

Now, I have to say that I fully acknowledge the privilege that comes with being able to have the space to “find joy” this year. It’s been a challenging few months for so many reasons for so many people and that fact is not lost on me - and given the nature of my 9-5 life, will never be. In fact, I’m still very much exploring how these ‘lives’ of mine can co-exist, but that’s another entry for another day. The point is I’m grateful for the opportunity to reaffirm just how much building this community really means to me.

As we near the 1 year mark of ThrifTheorem becoming more than just an IG handle, I am thankful for the journey that’s taken me all the way around and back again. My hope going into this new year is that ThrifTheorem can be a source of inspiration not only for unique finds or styling ideas, but a constant reminder for us to hold on to our inner voices, and stay the course to find our “why”.

Happy New Year, ThrifTheorem fam! I couldn’t imagine being anywhere else but here alongside you all and can’t wait to keep building with you.

Much Love,

Lauren