Post by @xxl_studios

6 years ago, i made a scrunchie out of my mom’s old shirt as a gift for my cousin. that extra extra large scrunchie turned into something bigger than i ever expected 🌱⁠ ⁠ i spent years building it, growing, scaling 📈⁠ figuring things out as i went, making a LOT of mistakes⁠ ⁠ and for a while i thought i was building my dream life.⁠ ⁠ but slowly, that dream started to look different than what i once thought⁠ ⁠ i had less time, more pressure, more responsibility⁠ and the more the business grew, the further i felt from the part i loved most,⁠ creating.⁠ ⁠ instead of creating, i was managing, solving problems, constantly trying to keep up.⁠.. and never was "caught up" ⁠ ⁠ i don’t regret any of it⁠ but i did start to realize this version of success didn’t feel like me anymore⁠ ⁠ so i made a really hard decision⁠ to pause...⁠ step back and let go of what i thought i "had" to keep building⁠ ⁠ by doing that, i found something i didn’t even realize i was missing⁠ my time back and space to breathe, the ability to "clock out"⁠ ⁠ i started creating again, picking up the parts of myself that got lost along the way.⁠ ⁠ and i was at a new crossroads⁠ one where i get to build a different kind of life⁠ one that feels more aligned with who i am now, who i want to become⁠ ⁠ this rebrand is me leaning into that⁠ into art, into murals, into storytelling⁠ into creating a happier and sustainable life⁠ ⁠ if you’ve been here through the XXL Scrunchie era… thank you, truly! i am incredibly grateful for these past 6 years that have led me here ⁠ ⁠ if you’re new to xxl, you’re joining at the start of me starting over at 32… or really, finding my way back to the artist i’ve always wanted to be 🖤⁠ ⁠ 1 day until i launch the rebrand 🚀⁠ ⁠ inspo for this post from @clarainfante ✨