HAPPY ANNIVERSARY

This month marks one year since my first solo market at The Garage, the market that gave me the bug – and I’ve been doing them consistently ever since.

What I didn’t realise is that taking my work (and myself) out into the world would trigger a cascade effect that would improve my life beyond anything I could’ve imagined.

I won’t go into it too much here, but I was a bit of hermit before last summer. Corporate life had kind of sucked me dry, along with years of masking and not really knowing who I am. I quit my job to go freelance, started therapy and explored my identity. But that meant I ended up closing myself off from the world; there were days at a time when I wouldn’t leave my flat.

Going out to markets brought me back to the world. I found most people are nice, and so am I 😂 The world I’d temporarily closed out was nowhere near as scary as I thought.

How my life has changed:

• I've met so many new people, some have become friends and others are well on the way to becoming friends – the most precious thing in the world is our relationships.
• I do "networking" now; both regular and infrequent meet-ups with other small business owners, creatives and artists. It's like having colleagues but better (and we only ever "work" in a café or pub together!).
• I walk every evening, and practise yoga and lift weights multiple times a week. My body is stronger, fitter and more energised (I need to be in good condition to trek to markets with my heavy bags in tow!).
• My business is growing: consistent monthly sales, new customers (and even some regulars now!! Eeeeeee!), commissions, new followers on social media, and I'm starting to see what it'll look like when I can do this full time (I'm a freelance translator in the daytime).
• I'm actually enjoying posting on social media and writing blogs (and a regular newsletter now too), reflecting on my work, life and business and connecting with people.
• My inner world is so much richer; I began writing poetry just after starting to do markets, I got back to connecting more deeply with music and singing and dancing almost daily – genuinely out of joy! I'm exploring my love of philosophy again, which is deeply linked with my artistic practice.
• I've even begun to crush on people again!

So, an enormous THANK YOU to every single customer, trader and kind person I've met over the last year, and all my new subscribers, followers and supporters. You've helped bring me back to life, make the last 12 months the best ever, and you're making my dream job possible!