Mom Fuel is what keeps us going. You have anxiety…right? That is probably why you are here. I want to tell you a few things to start you on a new way of thinking: Your anxiety is happening TO you, not BECAUSE of you. It’s not your fault, momma! With that being said, you are responsible for what you do with your anxiety.
You’ve taken great steps forward by identifying your anxiety and I am so proud of you. Let’s think about what the next step is…I don’t want you to be stuck in your anxiety. This is why I encourage Mom Fuel. We aren’t stuck! We can move forward! You have the ability to move forward with your anxiety and live your best life.
When I love a friend, I love hard. Somehow I have gotten to know some of the most incredible people all over the world. For this first Mom Fuel Interview I got to work with one of my biggest Mom Fuel supporters and idea sparkers. She is an amazing woman for many reasons, but the reason I chose to highlight today is this: she never stopped.
This is Jade. She is a wife to Scott, mother of London (11) and Alec (5), sister to my husband’s best friend Joe, owner of clothing and coffee companies, full time anxious momma, and so much more. Let’s get to know her a little bit as she shares about her anxiety and how she pushes through to live her best life.
Jades Interview:
Amy: How old are you now and how many businesses have you started in your lifetime?
Jade: I’m 31 and I’ve started five businesses. Wait, is it five? Yeah…let me count. Three clothing companies, but they were all kind of one company just branched out. And then the two coffee companies. So, yeah, like five.
Amy: What made you want to start your own business?
Jade: Freedom. Independence. In the beginning I started out with small shops. One time I bought a bib for $17.00 and it was just a normal bib! I thought: I can make this and charge a lot less and still make money. I was staying home at that time because I had just quit my job. So I started the clothing companies for fun and it went crazy big in like two months. I was shipping to Japan and it continued getting bigger and bigger and I never stopped.
Amy: Did you have kids at home while starting these businesses?
Jade: I did. Alec was, I think, two at the time. And London was older. We had my mom living with us and my husband Scott was away a lot working for the railroad. London was in school. It was hard sometimes but we made it work.
Amy: You have some extreme anxiety symptoms as well as some PTSD, right? What do you think may have caused some of your current anxiety?
Jade: Physical, emotional and mental abuse have caused some of it. I was in an old relationship when I was 14. When I got into it, it wasn’t bad. It was very controlling and very manipulative, but I was so young and he was a football player and popular and all this stuff. It didn’t get really bad until I was 18, so about 4 years into it. I was pregnant. And that’s when it started to get really physical. Every kind of abuse. Every single thing I said or did was wrong and everything was my fault to him. So, if food was too hot or too cold, plates were broken and food was thrown. Like, anything you can imagine happening…it happened. I was with him for 9 years total. One day it just clicked and I had to get out. The physical abuse turned to my then-one year old and that day I was out. Now I am constantly worrying that I am not being good enough. Mostly in my current marriage. Like…something that Scott gets so annoyed about: when I make dinner, before he even tastes it I am already hounding him. “Is it ok? Are you happy? Do you need something else?” I’m constantly asking him things like this. I need reassurance that I am doing something right. I need his approval all the time.
Amy: With all the anxiety and chaos happening in your life right now, what are you top 5 tips/tricks to keep your anxiety down and never stop moving forward?
Jade:
- Stay Busy
- Stay Focused on Things I Can Control
- Spend Time With Kids
- Spend Time With Husband
- Make Time For Self Care
Amy: What are you passionate about helping people with?
Jade: Living their whole lives! Everything and anything! With my upcoming business, Tasa Espresso + Smoothie Bar, I want to make a place for people to escape and have a relaxing place to just be. I have a health coach coming. She will be there for hire and to answer any questions anyone may have about their own health. She can base her answers on an assessment she will do in a private area in the coffee shop. She will give them recommendations on eating and nutrition.
I think the goal of my new upcoming clothing company is to get people to go out into the world and experience life. Like, go camping in the wilderness. Go on an adventure.
Amy: What’s your favorite ’90s jam?
Jade: Salt-N-Peppa- Shoop
Amy: Who’s your favorite Disney Princess?
Jade: Uhm I don’t really have a favorite…I don’t care for Disney but maybe Merida or Elsa.
Amy: What is one thing you refuse to share?
Jade: My husband!
Amy: If you could kill off any character from a television show, who would it be?
Jade: I can’t imagine killing anyone from Friends or Gilmore Girls.
Amy: Ok then who would you slap?
Jade: Rachel in the episode where Ross marries Emily. Or Rory and Lorelei in almost ever episode of Gilmore Girls.
What Does This Mean For You?
First of all, never stop. Use some of Jade’s anxiety easing tips and remember these things:
You are not alone in whatever you are going through. There are wonderful communities of people just like you right here and out there in the world. Find hope and reassurance in the fact that you are not alone and learn from other people.
Life will not calm down so don’t plan on that. Try to be more realistic when setting your goals and expectations right now and always remember to MAKE time for the important things.
You can do this even if it seems impossible. You are strong enough. You are smart enough. You can do this and we can help when you need.
Find resources for whatever you need to overcome. Want to start a business? Want to get out of an abusive relationship? Want to glue your heart back together piece by piece? Want to love yourself a little more? Want to help others? Find resources and make it happen.
Have some fun even when life it crazy and your anxiety is high. You deserve a chance to make the best of whatever season you are in. Laugh a little, enjoy some color and sparkle, and never stop.
Follow Jade’s espresso + smoothie bar HERE.
Check out Jade’s new clothing shop HERE.
The amazing photos in this post are by TwoMermaids Photography.
