Turns Out You Can Change Your Mind, Even About Instagram.
I’m back on Instagram—a surprise to no one but me. I’d sworn off it for good at the start of 2025, convinced that this chapter was closed. Then life shifted, I shifted, and here I am again. Friends have had their fun. I don’t mind. They know something important. I change when I need to. I don’t fear doubling back. Change is a good friend. Most people run from it (apart from Madonna). I’ve always welcomed it.
And yes, it’s AI’s fault. Technology is moving faster than any of us can imagine. It’s disrupting everything. I’m here for it. I’ve always adopted new things when they made sense. But my gut says this moment is different. Now, more than ever, it matters to put a face to my brand. Does that mean I have to pose in outfits? Certainly not, although I am doing that and enjoying it immensely. Really, it’s about showing up in the world and making new connections. Strengthening ties. Building on everything I’ve grafted for over two decades. Being human.
As I approach my 48th year on the planet, I’m rebelling too. There’s this quiet expectation that women disappear after a certain age. A younger creative friend recently asked me where all the older women had gone in our industry. So I’m putting myself out there. And I’m delighted to find I’m having fun.
It’s no secret I’ve been through the mill these last few years. I’ve shared a lot about my back injury, but not so much about the other things that have hit our family. Loss. Tragedy. The kind of stuff that arrives without warning. I suppose we’re at that age.
With difficult times come lessons. You realise your strengths and your weaknesses. And those hardships change you forever. One of my weaknesses has always been allowing the wrong people into my life. I guess that comes from an eagerness to please and the sadness I’ve always carried… that you can’t walk through a field without accidentally treading on a few daisies.
I went to Adobe’s Winter Party on Friday evening. It was one of the first big events in Manchester I’d attended since moving out of the city two years ago. And I realised something as I walked into that room. I wasn’t the same person who left.
Equally, a return to Instagram isn’t a big deal, but it represents how far I’ve come. I’ve found the courage and confidence to know myself better. To back myself. To stop apologising for taking up space. I’ve gained more self-respect than I’ve ever had. And I’ve surrounded myself with people who reflect that back. People who respect me as much as I respect and love them. Who celebrate my wins and make my world richer and brighter. Being around that kind of positive energy changes how you show up. It changes what you’re willing to share and what you’re no longer willing to tolerate.
So being back on the Gram isn’t really about social media at all. It’s about stepping into a version of myself I’ve worked hard to reach. I’ve seen and experienced enough to know what matters. I’m no longer afraid to be seen. I’m not worried about changing my mind when life forces me to pivot. And I refuse to give any more of my energy to the wrong people.
I’m showing up again because I want to. Joy has returned to my life, and I want to share it. If anything, this return feels like a mini celebration. I’ve drawn a line in the sand. And I’m facing an exciting new chapter. It’s a good feeling.
I don’t know where life is heading next. One can’t help being reflective as another year comes to a close. Whatever happens, I’ll keep in mind what one of my dear friends said to me recently, “You’ve crawled through sh*t, my love, and still come out smelling of roses. But daisies don’t smell of anything, so don’t you dare look back!”