My wellness wake up call came in late 2020, not unlike many I'm sure, after months of living through the start of a pandemic and over a decade into my career in the fashion industry.  I found myself at home, quarantined, working nonstop for my corporate job (that I'm so grateful I didn't lose, I don't want to come off as if my struggles were worse than others, they are just different and this is just my story).  Each day I'd wake up, make some tea, and head right to my desk, sometimes starting work as early as 6:30 am.  Then I'd work through lunch til around 8 or 9 pm.  This continued not just for two weeks, like we naively thought it would take for covid to blow over, but for months. 

 

Several pounds and panic attacks later, my body was screaming at me.  The yoga studio in town had just opened back up so I took that as a sign, and first step, to do something for myself and my health.  I started going on weekends, because obviously I didn't have time during the week because work was more important than my own f-ing health, and within a few weeks I was feeling better.  My body was getting movement, which somehow made my mind feel still.  I started taking morning classes during the week and then added in a few evening classes and pretty soon I was taking 3-4 classes a week.

 

After a few months of attending regular classes, my mindset started to shift and I was seeing work and life in a different light.  It suddenly clicked, something I loved so much and gave my all to was giving me nothing except anxiety in return.  How did it get to this place?  How was it that I was working the most and hardest I ever had in my career, but felt like nothing was getting done?  I was devoting all of my time to my job and it was making me physically and emotionally sick.  I realized that no one was going to put my wellbeing first, so I had to be the one.  I had to put my health ahead of my work for both my life and career to flourish.  I started setting boundaries for myself in work and implementing self care routines in my day to day, making a promise to myself to honor them.  And would you fucking know, the business didn't explode! I was actually doing better work because I was rested, calm and organized. 

 

As my mind started to heal I began looking back at the last decade of my career.  There were a lot of amazing, beautiful things that I had learned and talented, intelligent mentors that helped me along the way.  I realized how much I love creating product with manufacturing partners domestic and overseas.  I love meeting new people from different cultures and finding a way to collaborate with them.  I also love building teams and passing down the knowledge that I was so generously given from my mentor.  I hope that I have been and can be even half as influential to my mentees as my mentor was to me.  To this day I owe her my foundation. 

I also started uncovering the unhealthy side of my career.  From all nighters (at the time they were fun, but in hindsight probably not necessary or healthy) to unwarranted feelings of job insecurity (story for another time, but I had a boss verbally abuse me and threaten my role within the brand over my engagement to my husband of now 7 years) to an industry culture of urgency, scarcity and burnout.  That Fall of 2020, I had reached my breaking point and realized that I didn't have to put up with the bad stuff in order to have the good.  In fact, no one should.

 

 

That's where Terrae comes in.  It wasn't enough for me to start a brand just to create product.  There are tons of brands out there, millions of different products, I didn't want to make things just to make things.  This is deeper than that.  Yes, I want to give people a sustainable option to shop because I don't think there are enough sustainable brands yet.  But I also want to be a resource for everyone who has felt overwhelmed, anxious and stressed, in work or in general.  I want people to know that there is a different way of working, of living.  I want to share my story and spread the importance of self care.  I believe everyone should put their health above all else because until you do that, you cannot achieve balance.  I want to help those looking to change their lives and prioritize wellness to do so, because it's truly changed mine.

 

 

I want to build a company that puts its employees' dreams, lives, and health above profits.  I want to adopt a European method of working, think 4-day work weeks, month long holidays, you get the gist.  A place where people can learn and grow and then go off and build their own people focused brands (if they so choose). A place that respects its employees because that is when the best work happens and we can create growth together in a healthy way.  

We sell candles and meditation masks to offer an easy way for people to start on their own wellness journeys.  We've designed every piece with Mother Earth in Mind, using only the best, most natural materials possible.  We started this blog to share self care tips & tricks, give a sneak peek behind the scenes of Terrae and provide other resources to help you find your wellbeing and show how to incorporate accessories and tools for an enhanced practice.  We want to help everyone unlock their mindset shift and ultimately create a new work mentality. 

 

 

Terrae exists not just to sell products.  It exists to start the conversation around the importance of self care and wellness.  We're here to create a beneficial space for career development and personal growth.  We're here to tell everyone that their health is the most important thing, and we want to help you achieve nirvana.  So go run that bath or roll out that yoga mat.  Call your best friend or turn on your favorite old movie.  Do something right now that gives your mind a rest, something that you can do at peace.  You deserve it, you beautiful goddess.  Go do something all for yourself ❤️

 

Love and well being xx