Thoughts and Rambles - Then vs Now

Ahhh it's so wild how much life can change between website updates...

As I was working on this new site, I came across the Our Story page and it hit me just how much of it no longer reflects where I am today. When I last touched it, life was so much simpler. I had just brought home our new puppy, and become a new mom to my baby girl. Everything was new and full of possibility and uncertainty. I was learning to navigate both parenthood and small business life at the same time.

Now, I am a mom of three, I've said goodbye to my dad... and somehow, time just doesn't seem to ever slow down.

Life feels fuller now though... There are more layers, with more joy, more pain, more of everything. I got to feel feelings that I didn't know existed before. I recognize that it is a gift, but also really heavy sometimes :(

It takes me longer to design these days. A decade ago when I first started this business, I could sketch up an idea without overthinking it. All the fun, happy, hopeful ideas flowed so naturally to me. Now, my stickers feel different... more tender? More grounded? Maybe filled with a deeper honesty to capture those emotions that I've come to experience? It's hard to explain, it's like I used to draw munchkins as a reflection of my life and back then, life was simply... simpler. But now I am drawing a life that's shaped by all the complexity time has brought and it takes me more time to get it right >< But I also hope this means that my designs have grown and will reflect more of what life has to offer for you too.

I also came to understand trade-offs and things I just had to let go of. I worked less so I can spend more time with my family and children. At first it was really scary to see the business slowing down, but I knew that no amount of success or sales would buy me more time with people I love. So I gave myself permission to let go a little, and focus on life.

When my dad got diagnosed with brain cancer, I stepped back even more out of fear of running out of time. I kept telling myself it was okay to let things slide, to not stress about the negative numbers or dipping into savings, because being present was more important than anything else. And that was honestly probably what I needed most in that moment.

That was four years ago. It's hard to believe that I've spent almost half the time my shop has been open learning how to slow down.

But now, I am slowly finding my way back - hopefully to create a better balance where there's room for both life and work.

During that quiet season, I also thought a lot about how grateful I was to my community. I was lucky that I had a few years to build up the business before stepping back. Even when I wasn't posting often, or launching new things, so many of you stayed. You waited, you sent me cards, you asked if I was okay, you cheered me on from afar. And honestly, that loyal kindness and belief in me got me through so many of the hard days. So thank you to everyone who stuck with me. It means more to me than I can ever express.

You might notice that even though the website has been refreshed, the Our Story and Meet the Team pages haven't been updated. I don't quite have the heart yet... Those pages hold a moment in time that feels so precious to me - a snapshot of life back then, and I'm not sure that I'm ready to rewrite them just yet. Maybe one day I'll add an "update" instead, and keep the original as part of the story too...

Thank you so much, from the bottom of my heart, for being a part of my munchkin world. 

With love,

Marg