Living in Steil Turns Three

I am moved beyond words to be celebrating this little space on the Internet turning three today. When I began this blog on Valentine’s Day three years ago, I had no clue what I was doing. I was looking for a creative outlet to break the routine of my hectic 9-to-5, and felt like Valentine’s Day was as good a day as any to begin my foray into blogging. I remember feverishly checking my stats once the post went live—hoping to just get one view that night.

In the weeks and months that followed, I started reading more and more blogs every morning. Before long, I received the first comment on my blog. I was so happy to know that somebody had read what I had to say.

It would be impossible to fathom when I started blogging how many interesting people I would meet and paths I would go down. From fashion and beauty bloggers who have shared their favorite beauty tricks and must-have wardrobe staples to fellow cancer survivors who have told me their stories, I am amazed by the varied talents and inspiring women I have encountered.

If you would have told me when I began that I would fall in love with creating social media content and connecting with relative strangers on the Internet, I would have thought you were nuts. As a person who values privacy, I shied away from all forms of social media for the longest time. But after my thyroid cancer diagnosis, I thought about how I could share my story and help others. It seemed like the right time to do something publicly that would help me find my voice as a survivor.

The last year has been one of infinite changes for me. From transitioning from working from home as a blogger and returning to a 9-to-5 in a new marketing role, and now suffering another health setback, it has been a year of personal and professional growth.

Some of the personal highlights for me in the last year have been accepting a job that allows me to utilize the skills I have acquired through blogging, reaching more than 3,000 followers on Instagram, receiving invitations for New York Fashion Week shows, and attending lots of wellness events hosted by amazing women—who have become mentors, friends, and inspirations.

Throughout this whole experience, I am always reminded that it would not be possible without all the people who stop at my site, read my posts, leave a comment, and follow me on social media. As always, I am immensely grateful for your continued support and heartfelt comments.

As I embark on another year of blogging, I am excited to branch out and cover more topics. I have always been interested in career development and the ways people choose their career paths, and I am looking forward to profiling successful women in a variety of fields on the blog. And since I am on a path towards eating better and cooking more, I will be sharing healthy recipes, exercise classes, and overall wellness tips.

Thank you for encouraging me on this journey. There have been plenty of times where I have questioned myself, second-guessed a post, or felt uninspired, but knowing I have such fabulous readers keeps me going strong.

I’d love to know if you have any topics that you would like me to cover. I am open to suggestions, and I want this to keep being a site that has engaging content that you look forward to reading!

XO,