Behind the Glow

Three days.

That’s all it took for everything to change.

Three days of being in a new state…and I had already started my first job.

And I’ll be honest starting over wasn’t easy.

Leaving my students and coworkers I built connections with was one of the hardest parts. The relationships, the routine, the comfort of what I knew….it wasn’t something I could just walk away from without feeling it.

But deep down, I knew I needed more.

More growth.

More opportunity.

More experiences that would push me outside of what felt familiar.

And sometimes…. that means choosing discomfort.

A New Beginning.

Walking into my new job, I didn’t know what to expect.

It’s been almost three years since I’ve had to start over at a place and be the “newbie.” I felt nervous and excited all at once. I wanted to make a good impression and do a good job even if it was my first day. With my emotions running high I couldn’t eat my breakfast, and I purposely left my coffee and water in the car.

Now I know what you guys are probably thinking. “Why would you leave your stuff in the car. It’s just a first day of work.”

You have to think of it from my prospective especially since the mind subconsciously makes a perceived notion based off the first 7 seconds of meeting someone. I thought they would judge me coming in with everything and think “Who does she think she is. Trying to be all hydrated and stuff like she owns the place.”

I know so stupid. Anyways it wasn’t like that at all, just have an overactive mind I suppose.

From the moment I got there, everyone was so welcoming. So kind.

I started off my day by working one on one with the studio manager, who I instantly connected with on our first phone interview and my first in person visit. Based off those two interactions she must have felt confident in me and my personality because after the in person visits she offered me the job.

After some time of onboarding the owner of the business came in to personally welcome me to the team and introduced himself more formally. It was nice to get to know him and meet him. His wife and her friend also stopped by and they were welcoming as well.

Lastly, I met one of my coworkers who was sweet and funny and was giving me advice throughout the shift about work and the collages around here.

Getting to work with my manager the first shift meeting the owners and one of my coworkers immediately made the transition feel a little less overwhelming.

And for the first time in a while, I felt like I was exactly where I needed to be.

Not because it was easy.

But because it felt aligned.

Trying Something New: Compression Therapy.

One of the first things I got to experience at my job was compression therapy, and I didn’t expect to love it as much as I did.

After moving, unpacking, and being on my feet, my body was tired.

And the moment the compression started, I could literally feel the difference.

Compression therapy works to:

• Improve circulation
• Support muscle recovery
• Improve lymphatic drainage
• Reduce tension and fatigue

And honestly?
It felt like my legs could finally breathe again. Or as if I got a new pair of legs.

Getting this treatment done reminded me of how important it is to take care of your body especially during stressful transitions. You have to think about it this way, we only have one body which means we must care for it to prevent more serious issues from occurring.

Red Light Therapy & Skin Health.

I also got the privilege to try red light therapy on my face, and this is where my esthetics brain lit up.

Now red-light therapy isn’t new to me. In the esthetics realm we talk about how phototherapy or light therapy has so many beneficial effects on the skin. How I loved to explain it to my students is that all light or energy exists on this spectrum.

The spectrum is commonly referred to as the Electromagnetic spectrum which is just the name given to all forms of radiation that exists like X-rays, gamma rays, or even the sun.

So, if light or rays from the sun can penetrate the skin and cause damage then light from other sources or on this spectrum can be beneficial.

Red light is known for:

• Boosting collagen and elastin
• Improving skin texture
• Supporting anti-aging
• Promoting overall skin health

And what I love is that there are different types, each working ad different depths in the skin:

• Amber Light– Supports skin rejuvenation and glow
• Light Red- Helps with collagen production
• Dark Red- Targets deeper layers for repair
• Infrared- The deepest penetration, supporting healing beneath the surface of the skin.

It’s one of those treatments that goes beyond just what you see, it’s about what’s happening underneath.

The Bigger Picture.

This week has and will be more than just starting a new job.

It’s been about:

• Stepping into the unknown
• Letting go of what was comfortable
• And trusting that growth comes with change

Because the truth is…

Change will ALWAYS be uncomfortable.

I felt it when I said goodbye to my students.

I feel it now walking into something that is new.

And I’m even feeling it deciding whether or not to go to my first work event tonight.

But I also know this:

Growth doesn’t happen in comfort.

If You’re Thinking About Starting Over…..

DO it scared.

DO it unsure.

DO it even if you don’t have everything figured out.

Because sometimes the hardest decisions lead to the biggest transformations.

And even though I’m now only four days in…..

I can already tell this is going to be worth it.

Join The Conversation.

What’s one change you made that ended up being worth it?

Comment down below I’d love to hear!

Don’t forget to like and subscribe down below, because we’re all just out here trying to glow (and figure it out) together.

behindtheglowstudio@gmail.com