Earlier this summer we featured the "Kick-Start Your Life" series on TODAY with Marlo Thomas. It was aimed at helping women get un-stuck and move on with the next phase of their lives. Brooke Conley wrote a blog post for us discussing her victory over depression and how she realized it was OK to use baby steps to start a new business. Here, she writes about what she has learned the past few months.
The morning after my TODAY show appearance, I awoke to dirty dishes, piles of laundry and various creatures (children and pets) vying for my distracted attention. Had anything changed? Actually, it had. Numbered among my overdue payment notices, were messages from people who had seen the segment and actually took the time to email me messages of support. Also, many women wrote to let me know how much they related to my situation. It really meant something to know that I wasn’t alone.
We are now following Jean’s advice and slowly starting to build that financial cushion. Gradually we are checking things off the priority list, like life insurance. These steps have given me perspective. When you are overwhelmed by your financial problems, that worry can take over your life. It can become how you define yourself. But your bank account is not who you are.
The first Sprouts in the House newsletter will be going out at the beginning of the month (go to sproutsinthehouse.com to sign up!) For now, I am going to focus on doing smaller projects for work and writing the newsletter. The newsletter has helped me find my voice and define what is important to me, which is a gift really.
Our finances may represent a goal, a problem, or a challenge. But we are not yet at the point where our credit score is written on our tombstones. So to all those who wrote to me, keep plugging away. Know you are not alone. But take the time to talk to people, listen to your children, remember what their voices sound like, how their hands feel in yours. That’s your life. And it’s always there for you, just like your bills!