April is my favourite month of the year (along with December (Christmas) and August (sunshine and warmth)). It’s my birthday month, and I really love my birthday. This time it was extra special because I turned 40, and it was truly wonderful.
Looking back at my last milestone birthday, it's amazing to see how much has happened. I remember turning 30 and brimming with excitement over the company I was working so hard to launch: Nubian Skin. At the time, I was finalising hosiery colours and had recently placed the initial lingerie order with my first manufacturer. I was still working full time in finance, and I had been dating my boyfriend (now husband) for all of two and a half months.
I spent a lot of my 20s and 30s focused on achieving, as if I had a set window of time to make things happen. The past couple of years in particular, I have been so inspired by women who have made complete life pivots or embraced new passions in their 40s, 50s and beyond. So I'm very much looking forward to the next 10 years and all the adventures and passions I'll get to fulfil.
It wouldn't be a birthday without treats, so in honour of my mid-month birthday, please take 15% off with the code BDAY15.
On a personal note, this month was both amazing and very challenging. In the midst of celebrating life, my family was also mourning a great loss. While celebrating the greatest joy of a close family member we were also coming to terms with the serious illness of another. And while working on fulfilling long-term goals I also saw a very real example that some dreams aren’t fulfilled despite every effort made. On top of all that, is the incredibly challenging e-commerce and fashion retail environment - it is very rough out here right now.
Everything in life balances one way or another. It’s impossible to be happy without experiencing sadness. The reality is life can be truly raw sometimes, which is why it’s so important to me to celebrate all the good, because the bad comes whether we like it or not. I'm determined to savour every good moment to the fullest, so it fills my soul up for when the drought inevitably comes.
So April, thank you for the good. It has been a blessing. Bring on May and what it has to offer!