A Year I won’t Forget
2020.
Phew.
Enough said. I’m afraid to wake up tomorrow and have the calendar say December 32.
The year that wouldn’t end. The year that kept on swinging. If it wasn’t one thing, it was another.
This year was brutal. Between everything happening worldwide with Covid-19, the political climate in the U.S., and the difficult lessons and painful growth that come with any “normal” year – it’s been a lot.
It was a wild year but here’s my take on it all.
The Buildup to 2020
Settle in for a story, friends.
I graduated in May of 2019 with a degree in x-ray. My plan was to work for a few years, save up for a move out of state, and then apply for radiation therapy school. Oncology always interested me because of my mom’s battle with breast cancer.
My entire life, I had planned on going into the medical field. I wanted to help people. I wanted to feel like I was making a difference. I also wanted to make a living.
I spent a decade raising 4-H animals and saving all the profits for college.
I started working at my aunt’s coffee shop in 8th grade working mobile events. I always said it was a good college job and planned to quit after graduation. I still have that job. Granted, I’ve whittled my way down to only 1 day a week, but still.
I had just spent my 5 years of higher education working three jobs to graduate with no student debt.
Finishing up my two degrees was a huge accomplishment for me. I was so proud of everything I had put into that journey.
But, I didn’t want to start working in a hospital right after graduation. I know what you’re thinking. You have this fantastic degree you worked so hard for. Why the heck would you not want to make use of it?
A large part of me also thought that. But I couldn’t ignore the fact an equally large part of me had slammed the breaks on.
Don’t get me wrong. I loved working in the hospital during my clinical rotations.
I enjoyed meeting new people, never knowing what each day would hold (besides a few guaranteed chest x-rays), and learning something new every single day.
I can’t explain it. I just felt it in my gut. I didn’t want an x-ray job at that moment. So, I started a temporary job the day after my final clinical rotation ended. I knew I was searching for something – but wasn’t quite sure what it was.
As cliche as it sounds, I felt like I wanted … more.
I wanted the time freedom and autonomy to take a road trip or a mental health day when I wanted/needed to.
I wanted the ability to be present with my family and friends.
I wanted the financial freedom to take a vacation and treat myself and not feel like I was breaking the bank.
Then I met someone who challenged the way I thought about life. They inspired me not to care about what other people thought when it came to my life and how I was going to craft it. They encouraged me not to hide from my dreams and what I wanted.
The last person who should stand in the way of your dreams is yourself.
This person came into my life and shook up everything. I mean everything. They’re probably not completely aware of what they started. But, thank you. I don’t believe I would be doing this without them.
the year I became a Luxury Travel Copywriter
I discovered copywriting in January of 2020 and was immediately drawn to it. I had always loved writing but had long ago given up on writing for a living. But copywriting seemed learnable and doable. It seemed like something that could take all those dreams and goals and make them achievable.
I debated for weeks if it was something I should invest in. Investing in yourself is scary. It seemed silly to take a copywriting course when I had already spent 5 years earning my degrees. I debated if I could actually make something like that work. If I could actually write my way to freedom.
While deciding what the heck I was going to do with my life I heard these words:
“Be willing to take an imperfect step.”
They stopped me cold. I had to rewind the video and play that section again. And again. And again.
I don’t like taking imperfect steps. I don’t like feeling unprepared. I hate feeling inadequate.
I wrote those words down and let them ruminate. I kept coming back to them. I was afraid of failing. Afraid of what others would think.
I was on the fence for a couple of weeks. Some days I told myself it would be the day I took the plunge. Other days I told myself it was a ridiculous idea.
My temporary job had become more of a life-sucker than a life-giver. Covid amplified and created many more problems that left me feeling defeated and lost. I clearly felt my time there had come to a rather bitter end.
I knew deep down I would never truly feel “ready”. No time would be the perfect time for something like this. I finally took the risk of starting a copywriting course after a particularly awful day at work. Nothing motivates me like being miserable.
This was the most difficult year of my life.
I can say that without hesitation.
While trying to build a business based in the travel industry in the middle of a pandemic, life continued to happen.
Sometimes life is kind, other times it’s teaching us something.
Well, I had lessons to learn this year.
There was a lot going on that combined to make 2020 stand out so vividly as the most difficult year I’ve gone through so far. It was the perfect storm I wasn’t equipped to deal with in a healthy way.
I struggled with my mental and emotional health and was just hurting. I could blame Covid for not seeing friends or family, but I would have spent a fair amount of time away from the fast lane of life anyway.
I was trying to learn how to be a copywriter and start a business when all I wanted to do was hunker down and ignore the world. And sometimes that’s exactly what I did. There was no progress. There was no movement. My focus was on trying to hang on and make it through.
I know the tortoise wins the race, but we’re talking extreme tortoise slow progress here.
Growth can be hard. Learning lessons can be painful.
I did it though.
I started my copywriting business and I’m building. I’m a business owner – I never thought I would say that.
In copywriting, I found a medium where not only do I get to write, but I also get to help people while immersing myself in luxury travel.
Before you judge me for choosing “luxury travel” as my niche, it’s important to understand that doesn’t mean $20 bottles of water and snooty attitudes.
It’s about transforming experiences that enrich lives. It’s about showcasing culture, food, and sustainability. It’s about grounding yourself with nature and feeling awe and gratitude. It’s about heart.
I get to help people through my writing. I get to give them their time back and help them achieve their goals. I get to tell amazing stories and show their hearts and value.
“Be willing to take an imperfect step.”
I’m a perfectionist so this was a hard one to grasp. But you know why it’s true?
It’s true because a step is still a step, even if it’s a stumble. It’s true because even if you take 2 steps backward, eventually you follow that with 3 steps forward.
Baby steps are still steps. Small progress is still progress. Slow progress is still progress.
Sometimes, it’s those imperfect baby steps that lead to things I can only describe as magic.
The takeaway
2020 blew my expectations and resolutions to smithereens. Everything changed.
This year forced me to recognize and work on my imposter syndrome, perfectionism, self-doubt, and self-worth.
2020 saw me struggle in a very real, very raw way I never had before. I didn’t recognize myself.
It forced me to face my mental and emotional health.
It forced me to cancel vacations, road trips, and concerts.
2020 saw me miss out on time with friends and family.
It saw me at some pretty dark lows. I can admit there’ve been tears this year.
But 2020 also allowed me to slow down.
It gave me so much more time with my immediate family.
It gave me a community of luxury travel professionals and copywriters I never would have found or been inspired by.
It gave me more compassion, empathy, and gratitude.
It gave me the time to read 66 books and counting.
It gave me the time to bake, cook, garden, and explore places close to home I never had before.
It gave me growth and taught me lessons I would have avoided had I know what they entailed.
It gave me a renewed appreciation of home and of my inner circle of support.
It gave me more respect for our healthcare and essential workers.
2020 reminded me of what’s truly important.
I’m grateful for the fact I was able to keep working, I stayed healthy, and for so many other wins that took place this year.
I’m grateful for an amazing road trip with my sister and for the little things of “ordinary” life.
I’m so thankful for my support system, for new and old friends, and the fact that each day is a chance to start new.
I’ll carry it all with me into 2021. There’s a lot I’m still learning and working through, but it’s all part of the process. It’s part of growth.
It was difficult, but 2020 gave me the freedom to be my own boss. It gave me the ability to live out my desire to write and make a difference.
Ultimately, it showed me a magic and gave me a story I never would have found had this year gone to plan.
I’m thankful, but here’s to hoping for a brighter 2021!
My wish is this upcoming year is kinder to us all.
Cheers!
What’re your 2020 takeaways? Let me know in the comments!
Wondering what I do as a luxury travel copywriter? You can read more!
Hi! Kallie here! I’m a luxury travel copywriter who gets to write for some seriously awesome entrepreneurs who are making waves in the luxury travel industry. Want to learn more about how I combine my passions of service, writing, and luxury travel? Click here.
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