This past year, and in particular the last 3 months of 2021, made it clear to us that we have taken on more than what two sets of hands can make. Our plan to grow our production team a few years ago has had to be rerouted thanks to the pandemic, but we are still producing the amount of work we had intended for at least double the production team. Trying to balance my many other roles on top of a production schedule that is constantly backed up 6+ weeks, and also trying to manage our own household & social lives has just become too much. Way too much.

 

Small businesses have been hustling more than ever to survive since the pandemic hit, and this is just the latest blow that will negatively affect profit margins during the busiest time of the year for retailers.

 

1. Be patient with small businesses.
2. Order from them despite shipping fees
3. Pickup or shop in-person if you’re within 30-40 minutes of their location.

I do not know exactly how to start this blog, but I am going to just start where I am at and see where it takes us.

This is not a trend. This is the truth, the battle cry for the unheard. I am not here to convince you of this truth, I am here to talk about how we are going to do our part to make sure that our children’s generation doesn’t have to hear this truth contested.

A few years ago I started to try new things to help level out the stress. I started to meditate. I tried reading for the last hour before bed. I exercised. I started eating more of the healthy, whole foods that I had chosen to ignore up until that point in my life. I planned travel. I allowed myself to fail and not dwell on it (too much). 

 

But by far the thing that I started that I have consistently done in recent years to help with anxiety is drinking hot tea.