COVID-19, personal experience

I know, we're all sick of hearing about it. I'm with ya. I think it's extremely important to note that EVERYONE is feeling off and nobody is living in their 'normal' anymore. Including myself. Some days I feel like I can dominate the world- other days all I want to do is lay in bed, binge watch Netflix, and eat my sorrows into an oblivion.

It was honestly such a wake up call for me when the salon closed. I remember the day we closed so vividly. I rode my bike to work that day. It was a beautiful day but something felt off for sure. In the prior couple days everyone at the salon was panicked. We had just got a new salon owner and we were all nervous about the changes that would come, not only with the new salon owner but also, of course, with how we would deal with COVID..
When I got to work I parked my bike outside and walked in. I see a couple stylists up front talking to Lisa (the new salon owner) and a couple other stylists cleaning out their lockers.

”What’s going on?”
”Kate Brown officially shut us down”.
”but my client just got here, do I need to tell her to go home?”
”yeah, it’s out of our control now.”

I called my called and apologized that she wouldn’t be able to get her hair done today. Thankfully, she was so understanding.
Little did I know, the salon was closed for literally 3 months. THREE MONTHS.
My life at home was not the most ideal time for covid to hit either. I had just ended my month to month lease to find a new place with a new roommate. I felt like a train had hit me.
My small business is closed. What am I going to do with no income?
Long story short, I persevered with the help of those around me.
Lisa, the new salon owner ended up being one of the most supportive and helpful salon owners I’ve ever met in my life. She didn’t require us to pay rent while the salon was closed. THANK GOD. Can you imagine, paying not only my house rent, but on top of that, TWO. She saved us stylists. Lisa also did a huge remodel of the salon while we were stuck at home. If you haven’t seen it yet, you’ll be shook, it looks beautiful.

I ended up moving in to a duplex with Ellie (she works at the salon doing reception & is a full time photographer), we became BEST FRIENDS over the stay home act. She has taught me so much about photography and how to photograph my clients in a whole new way I had never seen before. She has also been my rock throughout this weird new adjustment to the world. I don’t know what I would have done without her.

In the three months I wasn’t working, I visualized myself doing all the hair. I visualized how I could make every tiny little thing that I do, better.
Like I said, some days weren’t fun. Some days were spent in bed, sad. Wishing I had something to do other than watch TikToks (even though they are genuinely entertaining).

But.... we finally came out of it. I was finally going to go back to work! Let me tell you, I have never appreciated color corrections any more in my LIFE.
Moral of my little story here is... even when shit hits the fan and you’re faced with some really challenging stuff, there’s always positives in it somewhere. You really do have to just #trusttheprocess.