Monday Musings: How it's like making a sudden pivot into a new path in my mid-30s

“How do you know what you’re supposed to do with your life? Do you follow your passion, or what’s practical?” asked a senior high school student from my alma mater. I was part of a panel talking about my experience graduating from a prestigious university (UP Manila!) and the kids wanted to know how to figure out what to do after high school.

I’ve been thinking about this lately as I work on my jewelry line, Nobela. Never in my life did I think I was going to design and sell products under my own jewelry label. This is new for me, something that I only started to do during the depths of the pandemic. In December 2020, I had a few custom unused pieces that I decided to sell. I didn’t think a lot of people would order, but they did! It’s one of the most delightfully shocking things that has ever happened to me. Now I work on fully bespoke pieces for an exclusive clientele alongside my work here at Project Vanity and In Her Element Skincare.

I honestly thought that I would be working with beauty products for the rest of my life. Well, for me, jewelry technically counts as a beauty product, but you know what I mean! This was a sudden pivot for me and I love it. I love being part of people’s stories in a way that’s more permanent, compared to beauty products that will be consumed after a few months. With jewelry, I know my work will be used for decades and even passed down to loved ones.

I’m grateful for this pivot because it came at a time when things were tough for beauty businesses everywhere. Let’s be real - the pandemic did a number on the beauty industry and my little company was not spared. My jewelry business has definitely helped me survive.

So back to the question: should we follow our passion or what’s practical? Ideally both things exist. In my case, I am both passionate about jewelry and it is also fulfilling financially. But that’s an exception, not the rule. If it’s not possible for one thing to be both something you’re passionate about and something that’s also practical for you, then pursue several other things that you are passionate about and other things that are practical. It doesn’t have to be one thing or the other; life is rarely that clear cut.

Then, over time, things will shake out in a way that makes sense to you. You will walk tiny little paths that end up to bigger choices. I think this is uncomfortable for people who want to know exactly where they’re going, but it’s really impossible to control everything. So just keep on trying new things and going as far as you can go with them. I guess that’s my advice.