Winning a $10,000 Grant for My Soap Business

My Story of Persisting When I Wanted to Quit

Author

Laura Hatt
February 03, 2020

Years ago, I was in an abusive relationship that stole my confidence, my ability to feel free, and put me into an ever-persistent mental jail that I still haven't escaped. I have nightmares and my memories are filled with terror day after day, night after night. As I reflect on my life now, I realize that what I needed most was something that would allow me to believe in myself and my abilities. Something that would allow me to focus on the things that matter and not my fear or trauma. 

It just so happens that I found that in the most ironic of places: in making soap. You see, my current husband, David, wanted to help me and got me a soap making kit one day. I tried it, and lo and behold, I was able to throw myself into it. That night I didn't have nightmares. I woke up having something to look forward to, wanting to make more soap. So, David got me another kit, and then another, and every day I had something to look forward to. As I made these soaps, I ran out of places to put them. Friends and family then began to ask for them and before long I was selling my hobby.

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