Oct 23, 2026

Rachel V

As 2026 wraps up, I keep thinking about how much this year asked of me. It knocked me down more than once, but every time I got back up, I came back stronger, with a new lesson, more clarity, and a lot more of myself.

So before we step into 2027, here's what this year taught me. Grab a coffee and let's talk.

Lesson one: Your intuition never lies

The biggest lesson of my year is simple to stop ignoring your intuition. That quiet feeling in your gut isn't random. It's there to keep you on track.

I've learned that energy is real. It shows up as a warning when something isn't right, even when everything looks fine on the surface. Every time I brushed that feeling off, I paid for it later. Every time I listened, it protected me.

Your intuition isn't overthinking. It's information. Trust it.

Lesson two: Watch the pattern, not the story

Here's the other side of the coin: what we tell ourselves isn't always the truth. Sometimes we make excuses for people, or talk ourselves into believing things will change.

This year I learned to go off consistency instead. How does someone show up, again and again? What keeps happening, no matter what anyone says? Patterns don't lie. Stories sometimes do.

My comeback era

I'm officially in my comeback era. A lot knocked me off my feet this year, but looking back, those same moments put me on the right path. I'm exactly where I'm supposed to be.

I've even learned to love the cleanup after every disappointment and heartbreak. Clearing out what hurt made room for what's real. Every hard lesson turned into knowledge I get to carry forward.

I'm beyond grateful for the genuine, supportive people in my life right now. You know who you are, and your energy means everything to me.

A new chapter (and yes, it's scary)

I've been doing hair for 26 years and have owned my salon for 20 of them. I love what I do, and I'm not going anywhere.

But it's time to build another stream of income alongside it, so I'm stepping into the fashion space. Fashion, interior design, and beauty have always been my first loves, and now I'm finally giving them a real place in my business.

I'll be honest: pivoting after this long is scary. But I'd rather be scared and growing than comfortable and stuck.