In My Spare Time ...

I think I know what’s been going on with me lately. Well let’s backtrack … I was reading Christina Shaver’s blog and responded to her not being motivated (either) post. Not being motivated to do things that had once brought pleasure; instead, just kind of moping around the house.

I’m up at 6:00 every morning to get Nick off to school and then I check my emails from the night before. Then I’ll write some blog, then do nothing; do some exercise, then do nothing; maybe read or possibly take a nap (shhh don’t tell anyone—it’s a secret!!) and if I do get it together, I’ll go to Starbucks. Woohoo!! Exciting life, huh!?

I could be doing so much more with my leisure time, like meeting new people (trying that actually); running around town or the Cape and taking photographs; join a club—well actually tried that once and joined a writer's club when I first moved here but the group already had an established foursome and I was apparently the not-so-welcomed fifth-wheel. Or maybe I could actually … um, find a JOB-thing? Now THAT would be an idea!! Well in my defense, (oh, there’s always one) I’m a business writer by profession and the business world just aint so pretty right now, as you may have noticed. Maybe I’m just brooding about the act of “subtraction” in my 401(k)??

No, I think I’ve just realized why I’m unmotivated or lazy (whatever). I think I’m still adjusting to Meghan being at residential school and now that I have all this “time” and not under a “time-crunch” (as it were) of having to run around like a crazy person to quickly sneak in a life before Meghan came home from school—then all work and no play—that I just don’t know what to do with myself.

In the past I would have made a mental list of things to do and wanted to do—and did do. In fact, one day while my two kids were at school I decided to start a company. Really! I started making lotions. I love lotion and essential oils, so I thought I would combine the two and VOILA, a lotions company was formed—at least it was in my mind. I first had to actually learn how to MAKE lotion (think, think, think -- Winnie the Pooh) and then played around (like a chemist) and figured out what I liked and didn’t like. Then I named it, bottled it, labeled it and soon … "The Naked Girl" was established. At first I had a hand lotion, face moisturizer and a foot lotion. Then like a crazy person, I started blending different mixes of essential oils (aromatherapy) and added more and more products and BAM!—(Emril Lagasse) had an entire line of products with catchy little names like Lavender Lady Moisturizer and Pamper-Me-Peppermint Foot Lotion that was in production (in my kitchen), and in only one week’s time, too. Yup, just feed me some caffeine and I’m off like a race horse!!! Self diagnosis: A bad case of OCD or workaholism??

But, either way, I just kept on going until I had about 20 products. I guess it was an attempt to create a life because once 3:00 pm rolled around, or school vacation threatened (NO!!!!), I no longer had a life, at least without a helper. And the name? It was inspired by my daughter because she was naked until she was about 9 (Yup, a stripper!!), and I needed a break and an “escape” from the constant work of clothes enforcing; and since the lotions were also all-natural, it was most fitting.

I will say that when my mind is set on doing something, then there is no stopping me (good trait, bad trait?); I made the products, scripted and printed brochures, and was off selling to craft fairs galore. And when that wasn’t enough, I decided to share a shop in downtown Plymouth with a hair salon and sold my stuff there.

In the end, the company (if we want to call it that) didn’t do very well—and I wasn’t selling on-line. There was just too much competition and making natural lotion was very expensive. I did have clients (okay, customers) but I think I was simply trying to create a life and have an adventure especially with the challenges that my life presented at the time. It was a creative escape (outlet), and healthy. And I still have the metal sign hanging in my house—a reminder!

And let me not even begin to talk about the concierge business that I started 3 years ago…Ugh!!