kkm

 “You’re so brave!” and “How inspiring!” are what I hear most of the time once I tell someone I’ve left my career as a dentist to follow my creative passions.  However, I also hear things like “I wish I could do that,” or “That must be nice.”   So I feel the need to share a little secret – My husband and I are not independently wealthy, not even close.  While that would be amazing if we were, we’re just at a point where we are willing to take a cut in our household income to give me time to find my next career.  And I understand that not having children makes our current situation easier financially than if we did. (Nothing but respect for all of you parents!)  Now, do I like the finer things in life?  Absolutely!  But, do I know how to cut back when needed?  Absolutely!  Whenever we’ve needed to tighten the belt in the past (Chad changing jobs, doing one of our several renovations, etc.) we say that we’re on “lockdown”.  Since it will likely take a little more time for me to start something new, we’re now calling ourselves “Moody 2.0”.

So what does our 2.0 look like?  Some examples: Well, I’ve long been proud of my ability to mix high-end and low-end clothing – like a DVF top with an H&M skirt – and make it look stylish.  Now I just have to be a little more creative and mix more “lows” into the “highs” that I already own. And in preparation for this year’s cut back, I was also able to do our bathroom renovations last year on a major budget without compromising style.   I also feel that I could now become a serious contestant on The Price Is Right.  While I used to not pay much attention while grocery shopping, I now know how much almost everything costs at Publix, Kroger, and Whole Foods.  FYI – Whole Foods is surprisingly the best value on most things since being bought by Amazon (especially if you’re a Prime member).  You’re welcome for the tip!  Of course, there are the little things as well, like not eating out as often, and doing my own mani/pedis… It’s really all about cutting back and recognizing needs versus wants.  But most importantly, it’s about keeping things in perspective – these are 1^st world problems.

With all of that, I still get bouts of anxiety from feeling like I’m not pulling my weight.   It’s hard not to get into your own head and second-guess yourself at times.  I’m trying to remember to give myself grace for a little while.  I think that’s a good lesson for all of us who tend to put too much pressure on ourselves anyway.  And, I have to remind myself that my last career didn’t happen overnight, so my next one won’t either.   As Kära 2.0, I will continue to put in the time and hard work towards my goal…