Ten Years is Just the Beginning

August 2012 was a great month for me because it was the month I started writing for the newspaper. First, I met the editor, Tiffany Evers. We seemed to hit it off from the start. I chose “Finding Beauty” as my column name, but something made me want to go deeper and be more relatable to more than just makeup and skin care issues. What I loved about the East Coast Current and the NSB Observer was that there was no room for negativity. It was fun, entertaining, informative, community-oriented and a great reflection of the women I worked for. 

I was a little nervous when I met with Tiffany, because I didn’t know which Karin would show up. It had been a rough couple of months – I lost my mom, had a pulmonary embolism, was stripped of my estrogen and thrown straight into full-blown menopausal hell. Somehow I managed to keep it together and I got the position. 

I wanted my first story to impress. I wasn’t sure of the perfect topic, but I knew it would come to me. I sat at my computer sweating profusely or standing with my head in the freezer, occasionally crying, angry because my mom had left me alone, and I didn’t know what was normal and what made me certifiable. And then it hit me. I’ll write about menopause. It’s not pretty, but most women could relate. 

I chose “Finding Beauty” because it forced me to always find the beauty in things. This was important therapy for me; no matter what I was writing about, I had to find the beauty by the end of the story.

For my 10-year anniversary of being a journalist, I wanted to stop and review the past 10 years. Joining the East Coast Current staff was and is the best. I absolutely love to write. I work for three smart, hard-working women: Carol Court – co-owner and chief sales officer, Kelsey Walters – co-owner and chief financial officer, and Tiffany Evers – co-owner and editor in chief. I respect them and I am so proud to call them my friends. 

I want to wish Tiffany, Kelsey and Carol a happy anniversary with me. You were the beauty I found 10 years ago, and I am so glad I did!

Karin Jenkins is a Licensed Esthetician, Makeup Artist, and the author of the book, “Pageant Land and the Family Who Lived There.” She has been involved in all aspects of the beauty industry and in show business for over 30 years. Karin is the mother of two and the grandmother of four. She and her husband David co-own the local family business - Applause Salon in New Smyrna Beach. (386) 426-5454

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