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Kiersten Hickman

Food & Nutrition Journalist

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It’s okay to embrace change.

August 11, 2021

I’m not sure what it is, but something changed in me this summer. Maybe it was therapy (it was probably therapy), but I feel different. Confident. A little more like me. For a while I felt a little lost there—floating around, feeling like I never truly had a grasp on who I was and what I was meant to be doing. That’s pretty much what people say your 20’s are all about. But as I’m getting closer to rounding the corner into my 30’s, I feel like I’m settling into something a lot more comfortable. I think my first signifier of this was when I realized that my taste in clothing changed. It all started with a dress I no longer felt myself in.

hiking through the woods

I was on the train heading to Whole Foods, wearing this floral blue dress that I have worn countless times. It has puffy short sleeves, hugs at my waist at the top, with a full-body skirt at the bottom. It has been my go-to summer dress for a while—especially on the days when I need to be on camera for meetings. I looked at myself in the reflection of the window glass, and for some reason, I felt like a stranger to myself. Like what I was wearing no longer made sense for who I felt I was.

I reflected on this for a moment. What exactly did that mean? I’ve worn this dress so many times and for so long, it was my absolute favorite. And yet, now I didn’t feel like it was meant to be worn by me anymore. Like something shifted in my core.


I know it sounds crazy—it’s a dress. But I think it’s congruent with how I’ve been feeling about the rest of my life lately. I’ve been making a lot of changes in my day-to-day, and quite honestly, the pandemic is the reason for it. My friend circles are a lot smaller now…and I kind of like it. I like investing my time and my energy in the small groups of people in my life, versus trying to give so many people so much of me at once. I like that this also gives me the freedom to work on what I need to for myself—like having the time to focus on some creative projects or taking online courses that can further my career. And while I’m still not so happy about working from home, I am finding there are a lot of blessings in it. Like being able to travel more and spend time with my family.

I don’t exactly feel ready to just Marie Kondo my closet and throw out everything that doesn’t “bring me joy” as of yet, but I think I’m saying all of this because I’m finding that it’s okay if you change. I always defined myself as a specific type of person, thinking that this was who I was and how I needed to act. But maybe you are who you are in different seasons of life, and if you find yourself shifting into a new version of yourself, it’s okay to embrace it. To change the outfit, if you must.


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I’m Kiersten

I'm a food editor, writer, and photographer based in Brooklyn. I'm here to debunk diet culture and give you the truth about nutrition.
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It’s official: I’m starting my own business. 🎉Never in my wildest dreams did I think something like this could happen. But after numerous opportunities came my way I thought…what better time than now? So I took the leap, registered for an LLC, and will officially be working for myself.So today is my last day at @eatthisnotthat. But…as Deputy Editor. 😉Because I work with such an incredible, supportive team, not only were they excited about this big new life change, but they also want to continue working with me as one of my first clients! So don’t worry, you’ll still be seeing my by-line on ETNT.My business will focus on freelance writing and content strategy for publications and brands across the Internet. Not just nutrition and health brands (although we all know that’s my specialty), but any company in need of consulting regarding their content strategy and audience engagement online. If this sounds like something your company needs, do not hesitate to reach out. Let’s work together!This also means I will have more time to dedicate to my own website, as well as Forkful—my weekly Substack newsletter. For the latest updates, be sure to get on that email list!I’ll be taking a mini-sabbatical over the next few weeks (including a trip to Italy, swoon), and will officially start working for myself on Monday, June 20. I can’t wait!#freelancer #freelancelife #businessowner #foodwriter #contentstrategy #freelancewriter #onlinebusiness
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