By Way of Explanation to Those Who Loved My Shop:
I LOVED my shop, too. I love the relationships it brought into my life--among them, several amazing new friends, thousands of really great customers, a handful of powerful career-influencers, and {not the least of these} my boyfriend of over three years. I love the interesting opportunities it has opened up to me. I also love that the person I became through shopkeeping knew when it was the appointed time to let my shop life go, and could go ahead and do that without fear. And I love that my shop paved the way into my new adventure with Abby Kerr Ink, as a freelancer who connects other niche-y enterprises with the people who'll love them most.
Now, that said, maybe a better title for this post is 10 Things I'm Loving About My New Life As a Freelancer Working From Home:
No. 10 Utter flexibility in planning my day
No. 9 80-minute exercise breaks {and having the time to take them}
No. 8 Going back to grad school: that is, the self-made, Abby Kerr Ink School of Deeply Satisfying Intellectual and Creative Adventures. I'm studying effective ways to help other niche-y enterprises rock their one thing the way I love rocking mine, through copywriting, brand ideation, and DIY marketing and PR.
No. 7 Re-discovering Twitter as one tweeting for herself, rather than for her brick-and-mortar
No. 6 Discovering and falling in heavy like with new career inspiration mentors, including Danielle LaPorte, Naomi Dunford, and Sarah Bray.
No. 5 Feeling more anonymous as I move about town, yet more connected because I'm more connected to myself and what really matters to me most
No. 4 Visiting other stores, like Anthropologie and the Marketplace at Gervasi Vineyard {one of my retail consulting clients!} as a rapt shopper, not one critiquing, analyzing, or deconstructing
No. 3 Podcasts--a new brain food group for me. Contemplating the possibilities therein.
No. 2 Lovingly slaving over the content of my new website, soon to be debuted. This keeps me up at night, tapping out my ideas as text messages to an imaginary someone named Muse, which I then save as drafts 'til morning.
And the No. 1 thing I'm loving about my new life as a freelancer:
No. 1 No matter what the outcome, I get to say the thing I've always wanted to be able to say of myself: "I am a writer working from home."
About that last thing: I just decided not to wait any longer to do the thing I've always wanted to do. Thirty-two years of waiting was time enough.
To all the dreamers and aspiring _________s out there, what is it YOU have always wanted to be able to say of yourself?
When will you start?
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3 comments:
It's a fact that sometimes our dreams change. The store looked fabulous (though I was too far to get there in person) and I know was a labor of love. It's nice to see a new dream come true, and that you are both happy and excited for it. Best of luck to you in your new endeavor.
Best,
Stephanie
Abby, I am SO excited for you. I can tell so fully how much this is the life that you were meant to live - now. As much as I was one of the many sad to see the store close...I am now even more in love with the idea of you fulfilling your long held dreams. This is good. The world should be full of more people achieving their dreams.
Hi Abby: I have to agree change is good and freedom of expression and creativity is even better! I closed my brick and mortar in Feb. and am loving my new online, creative and artistic endeavors.....it's exhilarating! Bravo to you following your passion and dreams....
hugs
Beth
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