Feeling Disappointed

Hello, Friends :),

I know that when I post here I will be treaded kindly and I really appreciate that.

I'm feeling disappointed because I decided to take a break from my home-based decorated cookie business. I love baking and I love creating and executing designs, and I love when people appreciate the work I do.

But for a lot of reasons I know that taking a break is the right thing to do.

Health-wise, it's been stressful, trying to juggle the cookies around my young daughter's schedule. A lot of the time I would need to work at night after she went to bed and that impacted my sleep. When I get stressed, I eat, and when I have cookie dough and cookies around, guess what I choose? Then I get mad at myself for getting a headache from the sugar, being overweight, and being unable to say no to temptation. It's also been hard to charge what I know my time and talent are worth, so I haven't been making a lot of money from this venture. I have not worked much since my daughter was born and I need to step up and contribute to the family finances, especially the tuition for her preschool.

I feel like a bit of a failure because of the time and energy and money I've invested in the business over the past year. I feel like I've started and ended SO MANY possible job/career paths and this is just another one that didn't work out. When will I find the thing that brings in enough $ AND is fulfilling?

I've been talking with my neighbor about doing some work for him to support his home-based business, so if that works out I will have some flexible work that will bring in some income. I'm also going to update my resume to see if there is any part time work I can do at my daughter's school while she's in class (she's in preschool so it's about 3 hours every morning).

I really think I'm not getting enough of the things that nourish a creative life, like outings to beautiful, interesting, and visually and intellectually stimulating places; time to be creative and just play; time to recharge my batteries and hear myself think. I've been trying to get exercise and get caught up on neglected home and desk items during the time I do have.

I've also really been missing my friends. I don't have a lot of friends. but those I do have I feel close to, but because of distance and schedules and time zones, I don't see or talk to them as often as I'd like.

I've also been dealing with life after antidepressants. I tapered off because of the side effects and my worries about long-term health consequences, in the hopes that I can manage without them. I'm trying to figure out how to balance everything: sleep, good nutrition, exercise, mindfulness, and other things that make me feel better.

I'm trying to think clearly about this, and not spiral into extreme and negative thinking.

Thank you for taking the time to read this. I hope everyone has a good weekend!

Nina

Nina,

I hope things work out well for you. I know how hard it is to give up what you love. I use to have a floral business, and guess what, I didn't charge enough for my flowers. Even the customers told me so. I guess I didn't charge for my time. I should of. Either way I lost the business due to 911 and fibromyalgia. I enjoyed it while it lasted though.

I worry when people go off medications. Were they helping you at all? I wish you success with this. I, myself, can't go off of them, I will always have to take some type of antidepressant. I am going off my sleeping pills though and am happy about that. I get sick of taking meds.

I hope things get better for you. Keep posting and know that we care.

Hugs, Karen...