Wow, what a stellar year.
I can summarise 2023 in one word: firsts.
The first year of running Dewy Content. First time doing PR partnerships for Skin School. First heartbreak. First time travelling solo. First time touring Europe. First time moving back into full-time work with a dream company. And many unexpected changes along the way.
Like its predecessor, this year progressed at breakneck speed yet again (honestly, it still doesn’t feel like the last day of the year). Despite this, 2023 was the most life-changing, challenging and fantastic year of my life. I’ll often still have moments where I think, “Did I really do that?”.
Yes. Yes, I did. And oh boy, it was a wild ride each time.
It started with a redundancy and launching Dewy Content
I started by officially leaving my previous part-time role and jet-setting to the Sunshine Coast. Initially, I was there to see a friend, but his work took him on an impromptu trip to their head office in Spain.
So, I was alone. That wasn’t a bad thing per se, as I decided to use the unexpected free schedule to work on launching Dewy Content – my copywriting business niched to health, beauty and lifestyle industries. I did everything myself from building the website to creating all the content marketing collateral.
Building the website was quite literally mentally, physically and emotionally exhausting.
In hindsight, I should have invested the cash to outsource its development while focusing on what I do best: the writing and the content. Not to mention the actual operations side of the business, because what’s the point of launching a professional service if it won’t make any money?
Alas, the seachange of the Sunshine Coast helped. I stayed in Alexandra Heads, with a beautiful beach as my view. After many late nights filled with snacks, wine, tears, screams of frustration and finally deep relief, Dewy Content was officially born.
I’m incredibly proud of how it all looks and feels. But I am never building a website on my own again. The primary learning I took from this whole experience? Leave it to the bloody experts.
This year marks the first full year of running Dewy Content. I worked with amazing clients and some not-so-amazing. Running your own full-time business is not for the faint-hearted.
There were some projects I loved. Some I loathed. Clients that unexpectedly turned out to be easy and efficient to work with. Clients that I considered a “dream” to work with but ended up being the most horrendous projects of my life. Indeed, running your own business is a rollercoaster of ups and downs.
Nonetheless, I’m looking forward to seeing what happens and growing it alongside all my other work (more on that later).
Then I experienced romantic heartbreak
I don’t know where to begin with this. It feels weird to even talk about it. Although I strongly value my private life, it’d be disrespectful to me not to write about this chapter because, admittedly, it still has a profound effect. So here goes.
I was romantically connected with a man – the first with whom I saw a future and to whom I opened my heart, soul, and energy – who suddenly decided I wasn’t worth his time and effort anymore.
Sounds dramatic, I know. But there’s no other way I could put it. That feeling of being discarded hurt like hell, especially after everything I had done for him.
I spent many late nights emotionally supporting him and giving him advice. I gave him so much of my time, energy, and effort – all of which I’m usually cautious of and reserve for the close people in my life only. I even flew over to him several times to spend time with him and ensure he was okay.
Granted, he was going through a lot personally (coming out, divorce, therapy, a brand-new life and more), so maybe adding me to the mix was simply too much for him to handle – yet I’m disappointed that this was how it all ended. He slowly reduced the communication until he was no longer speaking to me. No explanation whatsoever. I was left wondering.
I experienced all the emotions one normally would in a situation like this. Anger. Frustration. Confusion. Sadness. All The Feelings. Then, after a long heart-to-heart with one of my best friends, I concluded this to be my first official romantic heartbreak and that it was time to move on.
Eventually, he did pop up on my Snapchat. We occasionally talk here and there, but it’s never something I actively instigate. I hope he’s healthy and happy. That’s all I want for anyone.
Then I experienced the best three months of my life in Europe
Europe was the highlight of my year: a three-month holiday as a tourist. Special shoutout to my best friend Catherine for doing a destination wedding, as I sometimes wondered if the whole trip would have happened had it not been for her.
Greece. Germany. Sweden. Ireland. Scotland. London, Liverpool, Manchester. Nice. Amsterdam. Back to London for a day. Singapore and, finally, back home.
There’s a lot to say about this trip, so much so that it’ll have its own journal entry soon once I look through the millions of photos I took during this trip. But I’ll give the highlights.
It was the best time of my life. Being alone for that long was incredibly challenging and life-changing all at once.
It showed me just how strong and resilient I am. It showed me what life is like on the other side. It also showed me the kind of European men (read: adonises) I’d been missing out on, all of whom I’m still friends with.
I lived out my “perfect” tourist dream of exploring the most beautiful museums, architecture, natural sights and once-in-a-lifetime experiences.
In Germany, I finally got to meet relatives and nieces I had never met before, as well as reconnecting with cousins, aunties and uncles I had seen in over a decade.
I ticked a lot of my travel bucket list: meditating inside the Stone Henge, photographing the Cliffs of Moher (while withstanding pouring rain and sheer cold), exploring the Scottish Highlands, eating fresh seafood in Santorini while overlooking the Aegean Sea, seeing the real Dolly The Sheep and so much more.
I spent my 29th birthday in the best way too. It was in Edinburgh (which to me was the most magical city I’ve ever seen) on Calton Hill. I treated myself to a fancy four-course dinner while watching the sunset gently illuminate all of Edinburgh with a sun-kissed glow, all while reflecting on how great my life is. There was even fun salsa dancing as I sat on the Nelson Monument.
And last but not least, I got to be a part of my best friend’s wedding in Crete. This year marks ten years of our wonderful friendship.
In other words, it was my version of perfection. I’ll never forget this trip for the rest of my life, and I’m so proud of myself for doing it all alone.
Then along came a dream job at a dream company
As much as I wanted to stay in Europe forever, my bank account disagreed. Back to Melbourne, I went. By this point, I was ready and adamant to leave this place I had called home my entire life.
That was until a dream job at one of my dream companies popped up in my job search.
One of Australia’s biggest beauty and wellness companies was looking for a content writer to join the team – a rare opportunity as they’re notoriously known never to hire externally. Mind you, this emerged amid my seeking opportunities overseas and starting the moving process. But then I saw this Melbourne-based role and thought, “Why not?”.
Honestly, I didn’t think they’d even seriously consider me. I applied anyway. Then I proceeded to the next stage, then the next. The next thing I knew, I got a job offer to start in November.
There was a lot of umming and ahhing before I gave them an answer to the offer. I had already wired my mind, body and soul towards an international move. Was I really ready to let go of that vision and stay here longer in Melbourne, a place I was so set on leaving?
After plenty of reflecting, sleepless nights and 2 AM voice notes to my close friends about yet another perspective I hadn’t considered, plus various thoughts and opinions, I said yes.
My logic was this: if I say no, that’s it. The role goes to someone else. But an international move will always be there – that piece of land will exist tomorrow, next week and several years from now. At that point, I may skip New Zealand altogether and move straight to Europe.
So I said yes, and I’m glad I did. It’s been about a month and a half since I started. I’m enjoying it, but it’s still too early to tell. I’m seeing where this unexpected new chapter will take me.
What’s next for 2024?
Seeing what happens with this new role.
I’m moving out to the east because the head office of the company is in Mornington, which is the other side of where I live.
I’m continuing to grow Dewy Content and Skin School but reducing my workload to help accommodate this new job. I’m only one man, after all. I’ve been enjoying the reduced workload, as it means I get to be extremely picky with whom I work with. I’ve already got a few clients in the new year that I’m incredibly excited to be working with. I also plan to revamp Skin School with a new look and feel, while exploring video content creation.
I want to keep exploring the rest of the world – I’m thinking either Canada, South Korea, Japan, Portugal or Barcelona. I want to see Spain. Perhaps even a mixture of all of those.
An existential crisis may be in the works, considering I am turning the big 3-0 next year.
All in all, going with the flow with gusto, grit and gumption.
Goodbye, 2023 – you were terrific. To 2024 – you have some huge shoes to fill.
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