I've always related to Hermey the Elf

I've always related to Hermey the Elf. He was an elf who wanted to be a dentist.Everyone thought he was ridiculous.

Wrong dream. Wrong path. Wrong direction.

As a culture, we’re taught there’s a formula:Do A → then B → then C → and eventually you earn D.

I’ve never lived that way.

Did I do well in school? Yes.

Did I hate almost every minute of it? Absolutely.

Did my parents try to talk me out of hair school because I could “do more with my life”? Yes.

Did people think I was crazy to leave Newbury Street and open my own salon in Watertown? Yes.

Did people question my hourly pricing? Yes.

Did people insult me when I raised my prices because I don’t have a college degree? Also yes.

Did people question nearly every business change I’ve made? Always.

And yet, I learned early that if you don’t take care of yourself, no one else will.

I’ve lived on my own since I was 21 .I opened the first iteration of Sunny Bunny (then Alainn) at 29 with no savings and no financial help. I put it on two zero-percent interest credit cards because I refused to settle.

At 34, I bought my first townhouse. That decision led me to my forever home.

No safety net. Just belief and forward motion.

When my health shifted, I rebranded. People asked if I was okay. If I had cancer. Why I was “doing this to them.”

But here’s what I know now:

My gut is undefeated.

Every time I’ve made a decision to please others, I’ve paid for it emotionally. Every time I’ve trusted myself, it’s worked — even if it was uncomfortable at first.

If I followed the crowd, I never would have gone to hair school.

And next week, I’m going to talk about the way some people look at “just hairdressers.”

Because there’s nothing “just” about building something from nothing.

— Meghan 💛

My BOY!