Do I Regret My Re-Brand?

Two years ago today, I re-branded my YouTube channel.

Two years ago today, I said goodbye to MommaHailey1.

Two years ago today, I said hello to Hailey & a Spoon.

Two years ago today, EVERYTHING CHANGED.

I have heard the question, "Do you regret the change?" a handful of times and I figured on the anniversary of Hailey & a Spoon, I would answer.

The answer is YES and it is NO. My anxiety puts me in limbo and sometimes I am not so sure. When my content was MommaHailey1, it was just that. Momma related and Hailey related. I would clean my house and film it for the internet. I would do DIYs and put those on YouTube. I would do tag videos, collab with other mamas and do what every other mom on YouTube was doing. But to be honest, I hated it. I was literally doing it for the views, which in turn, would make more money. I wasn't doing the work I loved.

When I was diagnosed with celiac disease in 2016, I was really interested in learning more and educating others about chronic illness and gluten free living. I loved trying to recipes, finding new gluten free brands and meeting new people. But boy, no one else did. I wasn't putting out the content my viewers "expected" to see on MommaHailey1. I decided in winter of 2016-2017, I wanted something bigger than mommy related videos. I wanted to find me. I wanted to do the work I loved doing. Even if that meant I lost everything in the process.

I worked hard during the spring of 2017, to build a business and brand that I was excited about. I had to find a new name, new logo, new motto, new everything. I had to redesign everything and figure out who I wanted to grow into. When finding a new name, I literally had a dream about it. I thought about other options but nothing was beating the original.

Hailey & a Spoon was born.

I launched my brand on September 17, 2017. It has been a long two years full of drama, tears, questions and more. I lost a lot of subscribers, monthly views and even some "friends" along the way, but over the last two years, I have found something even more fulfilling.

Myself. I found my passion. I built a website ALONE and from scratch. I continue to learn new things. I have met SO many amazing people and strive to meet more. I have stepped out of my comfort zone. I have started writing a book! CRAZY! I love talking to people about celiac and gluten free living! (This INFJ is still surprised!)

I may have my days where anxiety puts thoughts in my head, where I think I am not doing enough or what is "normal" to everyone else, but that is okay. I don't want to be doing what everyone else is doing. I want to be myself and do what I love. I will continue to educate others about celiac disease and other chronic illness, as well as living gluten free. No matter what the views are, on YouTube.

So overall, no, I don't regret my decision to do what I love.

I am still a newbie in the gluten free world. There are A LOT of other vloggers and bloggers who are doing what I am doing, but I strive to find a way to be different. It is really hard some days but I know that I am doing what I was meant to do. I am helping people. Even if it is a small number.

Thank you so much for all of the love over the last two years. I can not wait to see where the future takes us. If you know someone who is living with a chronic illness or is gluten free, please share my website or YouTube channel.