I'm Going Abroad!

You may have wondered what’s next for me, why I’ve been slowing down my business, halting orders, dropping hints…

Well, I’m excited, scared, proud, and giddy to share (truly all the feelings) that I am heading back to Europe!

These next couple of months are a gift to myself for finally finishing school—my Bachelors and Masters done. You may remember but I had a one-way ticket in 2020 before the pandemic hit, and my travel plans were put on hold. Two years later, I’m so proud to be able to say I’ve worked to put my priorities in order to give this time to myself to grow, heal, love, learn, and be.

My first destination in London (visiting my dearest friend Ciara, my high school best friend), and from there I’ll be hopping back to Prague, Budapest, Portugal, and more. The options are endless, and where I once sought structure and planning—I’m now giddy to wing it and see where the wind takes me. I’ll be sure to keep you posted though—do not fret! :)

As of now, my plan is to get my blog back up and going so I can share with you some of my favorite moments, life thoughts, finding yourself again and overcoming mental blocks, and finding gratitude through every up and down. Writing has always been an outlet and I’m eager to explore this passion of mine once again. It feels nostalgic, returning to a teenage hobby I once adored.

I know this is a blog post on an update on what’s next, but alas, as always, I have to thank my dearest friends and family members for supporting my dreams and always letting me reach for the stars. There have been some heavy obstacles to getting to this point, turning down amazing opportunities, saving up for this trip, halting wedding paintings, saying goodbyes to loved ones, and slowing my business for this moment. The business that I’ve spent so much love, time, and energy into—but knowing these changes and outcomes will make it worthwhile. However, without the love and sacrifices my family and loved ones made, I would not be able to do this. Thank you for trusting me and loving me enough to let me go on my own and find myself again. At the end of the day, loving yourself is one of the most important things you can do and I aim to do that.

I felt as if I lost my creative drive and aspirations once I got to the end of the pandemic. Now, I’m hoping to find it again along with gifting myself this time to simply just: be. So I share in case you also feel in a rut—I challenge you to escape your comfort, even for a day of solitude, to dive into your creative roots again. It’s not until we are away from our comforts that we are truly challenged.

As past Shelby said in journal entry from 2020, “Never stop dreaming future Shelby. That is what keeps you alive.”

Chat soon and thank you, as always, for supporting and enjoying my journey of life. It’s truly an honor to be able to share it with you, however long you’ve been with me! I’m so excited to share with you more updates soon.

Wishing you a good day and a reminder to stay present in the moment.

You are worthy of good things.