What I Learned From Stepping Away For 3 Months

What I learned from stepping away for 3 months

I stepped away from work for 3 months to focus on healing.

Last year, I pushed my body too far.
Long hours making jewelry left me physically injured.

At the same time, I was carrying emotional weight I had never fully faced.
I kept myself busy.
Work became a way to not feel.

This was the first time in 10 years that I allowed myself to stop.

And it was not easy.

So much of my identity was tied to being a jewelry maker.
Without work, I did not know who I was.

Sitting still felt unfamiliar.
Even uncomfortable.

But slowly, I started to turn inward.

I spent my days journaling.
Meditating.
Going to therapy each week.

The more I stayed with myself,
the more I began to see things clearly.

During this time, I traveled to Taiwan and Hong Kong.
I visited family.
I met with suppliers.

At one point, I considered expanding into lab created diamonds.
It made sense from a business perspective.

But something in me resisted.

I realized I did not want to create from a place of status or trend.
It did not feel true to me.
And it did not feel right for what I want to offer.

That moment clarified something important.

I care deeply about being genuine.
About the people who wear my pieces.

I no longer want to build this business in survival mode.
Chasing what is popular.
Trying to keep up.

I want to build it from alignment.
From integrity.
From something that feels honest.

I returned to work last week.

On the first day, I sat at my desk for a long time.
Just looking at the screen.

Everything felt different.

I started slowly.

I began transitioning production to my long time assistant.
Creating systems so the business does not depend entirely on me.

I reconnected with suppliers.
Not to rush into something new.
But to explore what feels aligned.

And I am starting to show up online again.
More intentionally this time.

Not to be loud.
Not to chase attention.

But to build something steady.
Something sustainable.

What I know now is this,

I want to be more intentional with my time.
My energy.
My message.

I want to keep creating jewelry that carries meaning.
Pieces that support a more intentional way of living.

The world can feel harsh sometimes.
But we still get to choose how we move through it.

If there is one thing these three months taught me,
it is this,

Our lives are shaped by small decisions.
Made again and again.

And change does not happen all at once.

It begins with one honest choice. 

This is the energy I am bringing into my work now.