Keiran & Cerys starting 3rd & 6th grade. Keiran excited and Cerys excited but trying to remain cool and aloof for the camera.
In June I read this passage in the book by Laura Day "How to Rule the World From Your Couch."
"Depression is rampant in our society and it is often because we have a lot to do and not enough time to do it. We never feel complete. There is always something missing, something off. When our needs, dreams and goals aren't met because you are exhausted and, therefore, not functioning effectively, you can either be downtrodden or, as I would like to argue, decide to live more effectively. You receive so much media "input" (to add to the influence of your history, parents, peer group, and community) about what you should want and who you should be, that it distracts you from getting what you really want, believe and value. When you turn back inside and know what you really value and want, you get it. you cannot move in a hundred directions with success, but you can move in one powerful, single, integrated direction and fill a hundred needs effectively. When you put all of these intuitive skills together, that is exactly what you will be doing. Your health will help your relationship will create pleasure will create wealth will create community will create......."
The first part of this was me in a nut shell. I filled every minute of my life with things to do. I took on more when my schedule was already brimming over. Deadlines came and went and there were times when I went to the bedroom and just escaped in a book because I couldn't handle the pressure.
I tried moving in every direction possible but never seemed successful in anything. That's how I felt looking out at the world. And Facebook reminded me of how many people were succeeding while I seemed to be frozen in my inability to do anything.
So I slammed on the brakes and took a step back. Then jumped back a few more steps until I could breath again.
I virtually stopped writing this blog, I stopped Little Shop, I stopped Etsy, I began to say no when people asked me to do something and I started to notice something.
My brain became silent.
There wasn't an ongoing noise of what I must do, need to do, what to next write or take photos of. It was still and quiet for the first time in months, possibly years.
I stepped into summer without weights on my shoulders. I spent time with my children, I read books and magazines, we swam, we rode our bicycles, we looked at real estate, we went to a hundred thrift stores, we played and we learned about how to live without Dave working from home. We became a unit rather than them trying to get my attention while I chained myself to the computer.
We had our down moments when the children wouldn't help me in the house. I had to go old-school and put everyone on a strict schedule. Once there was rhythm in the home, they helped me and did their chores. We all became more relaxed because of this.
The irony of my summer is now that I had so much free time and a quiet brain, I really didn't accomplish anything on my list. I didn't do steampunk crafts, didn't craft at all, I didn't host craft days like I had promised and I didn't clean out the garage.
Yet I look back on my summer and I feel so much happiness that I was able to work and spend time with the children. The hard work I started in February with the Listing Challenge paid off all the way until the middle of August when sales started to slow down. I listed in the morning before the children woke. I used the eBay app during the day when I could list things very quickly. I packaged in the late afternoon. It worked! I was able to juggle working and being a mom.
My August book sales were over $1800. My eBay sales were around $800. Yet, in all actuality I worked so little that earning any money was a huge positive.
ReSelling gave me this freedom to work hard in the school year and take it easy in the summer. During our vacation I was able to turn off my store and yet thrifted inventory while away.
I can't say it loud enough or often enough how much I love my job.
Oh sure, I'll watch American Pickers with a little jealousy that they are able to just sit back while people contact them with items to sell. Or drive all over the country thrifting. Or having 2 stores where people flock just because they want to be there. I want all that. But for now, I'm content with raising two children and working my dream job. Maybe later will come the other part of the dream where I have a store and a van that takes me to different states to thrift.
Where does this "taking a step back" leave me now that school has begun?
I'm not really sure. I'm going to try my best to keep Thrift Share Monday going strong. I'm going to work on writing an eBook on ReSelling. I'm going to try to do short posts during the week.
With all of this in mind, what would you most like to see here?
- Quick posts on items to look for to ReSell?
- Short posts with ReSelling tips?
- Funny videos about cats. just kidding.
Let me know. Share with me what you miss, what you long for and what you are craving.
