Change

Change. Some say it is the only constant in life. Some people look at change as an opportunity. Others aren’t crazy about change. Some can’t deal with change.

Changes can be small. Other changes can be transformational. And that is where I find myself.

My mother passed a year and a half ago, and I took care of her for the last five months she was alive. It was a hard time. I became a live-in caregiver, along with my sister, until she passed. Then, when she passed, I found myself feeling like I had no purpose. I struggled for the better part of the year. Depression had crept in. I was in a dark place.

With the addition of a new medication, I started to find my way out. I needed a change though. I couldn’t just step back into my old life. One of the things I have wanted to do for a while is learn how to handmake soaps and candles. My close friend knew this, and she found a small lot of soapmaking supplies that she surprised me with. Roughly a month later, I saw a soap business for sale on the Facebook marketplace. The timing was right; I secured funding and bought that business. All of the equipment, a small inventory, all of the ingredients, molds, utensils, and a base soap recipe that had been tested and tried for years before I bought the business. I was able to start making soaps as soon as I unpacked the business and set up a soap workshop in my garage. With the support of my husband, I created a name, my son helped me with a logo, and I obtained my business certificate. Things started moving fast, and five weeks later, we had a website. We just had our first weekend of sales and are off to a great start.

This was the change. A change that I needed, and it has been transformational. I feel like myself for the first time in almost two years. I feel like I have a purpose. I am contributing to our household more than I had been able to. It has been something my husband and I enjoy doing together. Next up? Candles and wax melts.

(Here is our online store if you are interested.)

That brings me to the reason for this article. Queer Vocal Voices on Facebook is sponsoring a new challenge. The Facebook group Queer Vocal Voices can be found here:

We want to hear about a transformational change that occurred in your life. We want to hear about the before and after. This change could be anything in your life. A good change or a challenging change. A change that you have had to overcome or a change that helps you get to where you need to be in life.

You can publish your piece in any community. Share the link to your piece in the comments section of this article. The admins of the QVV will narrow entries down to the top three, and then we will have community voting for the top three. Third place will be awarded a two-dollar tip and be featured for a day in our group. Second place will be awarded a five-dollar tip and featured in our group for a day. First place will be awarded a seven-dollar tip and be featured in our group for a day.

The deadline for entries is midnight on September 30th. Voting will take place during the first week of October.

We can’t wait to read about your changes, and hopefully, the pieces written for this challenge will help us all to embrace change.

Thank you for reading my piece about change and a new challenge sponsored by Queer Vocal Voices on Facebook. Every read, like and comment is so appreciated.

If you would like to read more about my soap making adventure, you can check this out: