Courage, Crazy, and the Journey to Finding My True Self

Courage, Crazy, and the Journey to Finding My True Self

Life has a funny way of leading you places you never thought you'd go. If someone had told me years ago that I’d leave behind the security of Corporate America, take the leap into entrepreneurship, and find out who I really am along the way, I might have laughed. But looking back now, it all feels like the natural unfolding of my story.

I started in the world of finance, working as a banker for two large institutions. A career in banking was what I thought I should do—stable, structured, and respectable. After that, I transitioned into healthcare, working as a Registered Nurse for a major healthcare system. It was a world of care, but also control. Every day, I felt more distant from the person I knew I could be.

I wanted freedom—freedom from the corporate control, the rigid systems, and the feeling of living someone else’s life. Deep down, I knew that I needed something different. Something that would allow me to not only live a life true to myself but also find out who that person really was. So, I made the leap into the unknown.

I bought my own small business—Blue Moon Vintage Mercantile. Did I know anything about running a business? Not a clue. But what I did know was that I could figure it out. I had drive, passion, and a wild belief in my ability to learn. And let me tell you, I did learn—sometimes the hard way.

The first five years were humbling, to say the least. Financial hardships, heartaches, and moments where I wondered, "What was I thinking?" But through every challenge, I discovered new parts of myself—strengths I didn’t even know I had, talents that surprised me, and a resilience that kept me going.

If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that anything worth having requires hard work. But it’s not just about the work—it’s about self-discovery. Over time, I realized I was uncovering layers of myself that had been buried under the titles of "wife," "mother," "daughter," and "sister." As much as I love these roles, they didn’t define me. What defined me was the courage to step into the unknown, to trust myself, and to embrace the mess and beauty of entrepreneurship.

Don’t think you can’t do something. Whether it’s learning to be creative, starting a business, or just trying something new, believe in yourself. Don’t be afraid to get out of your comfort zone and try things you never imagined doing. The only thing holding you back is the voice in your head telling you it’s impossible. Spoiler alert: It’s not impossible.

Another beautiful part of this journey? The people I’ve met along the way. Some have become like family, people who inspire and lift me up daily. They’re the people I would have never met if I hadn’t been just crazy enough to take this leap. And honestly, some of my actual family members faded away in the process. It’s strange how that happens, but I’ve come to understand that when you grow, not everyone grows with you—and that’s okay.