Shay ☀️ Rowbottom

I was recently offered equity in a company-

"guaranteed to be worth $20 Million"...

the craziest thing is these proposals aren't inherently evil, and honestly the opportunity he's presenting could be totally realistic - fair.

It's that a younger, more impressional version of me would have jumped at the chance. Eager to be built up by older men with more experience and resources. Longing to be valued, to be seen.

But now when I really sit and think about it it's like...

𝘦𝘩.

𝙒𝙝𝙮???

Why take on all this work. Unless it's truly fully aligned (which I didn't feel) then it's a hard NO from me at this point in my life.

What helped me get to this conclusion (besides the fact that I recognize this "needy" energy now in business and no longer let myself dive into it)...

is the end goal he proposed: $𝟮𝟬 𝗠𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗼𝗻.

Okay, sounds nice...

but so what?
AND THEN- what?

Do my art, have more free time...

live on the beach?

Oh yeah,

I have all these things. 🏝️

• I work one hour/day
• I live on an island
• I work on my art

I have so much space and free time... already.

Sure, I may not have $20 Million, but I already have what most people work their whole life for.

Freedom, and more importantly...

𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗲. ✌🏻

So idk who needs to hear this today, but just be cautious that of those flashy "a better life awaits you" offers coming from the outside. Is it 𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘭𝘺 something you need or desire?

Is it necessary?

Or can you pause, take a look around, and recognize that your life... ALREADY - as it is...

is enough. 💫

Do hard sh*t… and challenge yourself. 💪🏻

#keywest #coldplunge #floridafitness #thefloridakeys #kavaculture

Thank you Charleston, it's been real! 🏖️

Never been to this town. Actually, never before been to either of the Carolinas.

Why the sudden trip you may ask?

I went through a breakup recently which was sad&hard. Then last Thursday, I felt this urge to pack up my SUV, my cat, and hit the open road.

Funny- it's that exact same energy in 2024 that led me down to Key West in the first place. (which is where I live now).

& if you know The Keys...

you know anywhere from here is a very long drive.

I made some stops (and friends!) along the way. I had no hotels booked, no plans, just a north star to see the Carolinas and here I am.

This is very unlike me. I am typically very organized about travel and wanting to know what I'm doing.

Yes yes, I like to be in control!

Perhaps that is what this breakup is teaching me.

To let go.

Trust the flow of life and where it takes me.

I assumed I'd crash in Savannah (another town I want to explore) but ended up making it all the way to Charleston and thankfully, have an old client here who told me the hot spots.

Swimming at Isle of Palms was so magical. Nice waves. Not at all how I thought the beaches would be here (cold). Actually, temperature was just right.

Dinner at Hall's steakhouse downtown on King st. was the best service I have had in a very long time. And the grass-fed Bison did not disappoint.

I finished the night at The Boathouse to catch the sunset, before headed to bed for an early start again today.

Onward we charge. 💫

Something about living this way heals a broken heart. The more I surrender and trust the flow of life, the more I realize how little I have to stress about.

Not to mention-

hard times like these reconnect me to God, and I always come out with greater levels of faith than ever before.

Big time. 🙏🏻

More updates to come... keep on keeping on people.

You'll be ok. 🫶

I would much rather be bullied and called weird than live a life where I’m not truly myself.

It isn’t always easy, we all desire acceptance. But if you dare to be different, or in other words, just truly yourself!! Something amazing happens…

people follow suit and authenticity starts to pop up all around you.

I love my job, because I attract people who sense my freedom in authenticity and desire that for themselves. Sometimes, we just need a willing guide, and permission.

Never start a blog with the intention to be liked, or gain followers.

Start a blog to express the REAL YOU!

I may be different, I may be loud, I may be unique… or so I’ve been told.

But guess what, b*tch?

Fortune favors THE BOLD. 🫡

“JUST SAY NO” is actually horrible advice for those growing up in abusive environments.

Saying yes to weed saved my life.

What started as a decision at age 14 to experiment with a “safer” alternative to pills & alcohol, became a 15 year journey as a pothead.

I smoked weed morning, noon, and night.

I used it as a reward system, forcing myself to get my homework done before getting high.

I was constantly planning my life around it.

I never got on pharmaceuticals, never became an alcoholic, and used cannabis as a mood stabilizer, antidepressant, parent... and best friend.

In my late 20s it began to dawn on me how different my life (and psyche) could have been had I never smoked weed.

I felt I owed it to myself to see what life was without it.

I embarked on a one year challenge and, after many attempts, succeeded in living completely free from THC.

I decided to keep the streak going.

But many mental health problems ensued shortly after.

My disordered eating came back, a disease I first brushed up against around age 12–13, right before cannabis.

I never realized it may have saved me from decades of body obsession and food issues.

I also developed mild OCD these past 4 years. Manageable, but frustrating. Determined not to break my streak, I found relief through other substances like microdosing mushrooms or drinking kratom.

And worst of all?

My sleep was never the same without weed.

For four years, I struggled to fall asleep.

Finally this past February, one week after my 4 year anniversary without weed...

I cracked.

Who cares? I thought.

I did my experiment, and then some.

Living without weed opened new neural pathways. It taught me discipline and helped me grow up- making up for lost time since stunting my emotional maturity, starting at age 14.

I became a woman.
And I’m proud.

But after reintroducing cannabis & realizing: wait a minute...

My OCD is gone
My disordered eating is gone
My sleep... finally normal!

F*CK!

Don’t get me wrong, I am grateful I quit. I needed it.

But 4 years?

Damn I pushed it.

Conclusion 👇

I’m a better person with THC in my system.

And that’s totally cool.

Everyone has voices in their head.

I went through a breakup recently, and couldn't help but find humor in all the ridiculous little things that popped up in my mind.

Of course, the majority never get acted on.

(Majority).

But the more you repress your dark thoughts, feelings, and emotions... the more they come out with a vengeance.

This is what I've learned.

I can accept all parts of myself, light&dark, and simply observe (even find humor) in the ridiculousness of it all, without automatically folding to judging myself for having dark thoughts, or worse, actually acting on some of these things like I may have done when I was younger!

Enjoy my newest art,
𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙗𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙠𝙪𝙥 𝙨𝙠𝙞𝙩.

Putting it to pen on paper & then acting it out always helps me process.

It's been 1+ month single now and I'm feeling much better. Thank you for everyone who sent me messages and kind wishes while I was on my roadtrip, clearing my head, rediscovering myself, and of course...

editing this fantastic skit. 😁

#Shayshine

𝘐𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘯𝘢 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘺 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘦 𝘸/ 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘵, 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘮𝘺 $27 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦! https://lnkd.in/e5kdX-d9