2016 Changed Everything

There's been a trend on social media lately about 2016, and it got me thinking. For most people, 2016 was just another year. For us, it was the year that changed absolutely everything.

My husband and I moved to Melbourne from Sydney in May. We adopted our beloved Daisy in July. And in October, we opened our first pop-up at South Melbourne Market. Three massive life changes in six months. Looking back now, I'm not sure how we did it all.

But here's the thing about 2016 – it was the year I was beautifully, blissfully naive about what I was getting myself into.

I had this dream of opening a homeware shop. I imagined myself surrounded by beautiful cups, colourful cushions, cosy curtains and bedsheets. In my mind, I'd sit in this cute little shop, sipping my coffee and reading my book between customers. It was going to be perfect.

I had absolutely no idea what opening a shop actually involved.

If the 2016 me knew what the 2026 me knows now, I probably wouldn't have done it. And honestly? I'm so glad I didn't know. Sometimes ignorance really is bliss, because it gives you the courage to try things you'd otherwise talk yourself out of.

The reality of running a business – designing products, creating them, managing day-to-day admin, dealing with suppliers, marketing, social media, finances – was nothing like what I'd imagined. It wasn't sitting peacefully with a coffee. It was chaos. It was overwhelming. It was working from our garage and bedroom until stock overflowed everywhere and everyone got cranky.

But 2016 taught me something important: you don't need to know everything to start. You just need to be willing to learn.

Fast forward to 2026, and we're about to have another life-changing year. Our business has turned 10. We're changing our business model. My husband is becoming an organisational psychologist. Everything is shifting again.

The difference is, this time I'm not naive. I know what's coming. I know it will be hard and messy and nothing like I imagine. And I'm doing it anyway.

That's the gift 2016 gave me – not a perfect plan, but the courage to begin.