The Rose River Story
Share
Oh, where do I even begin. Rose River began on a ladder from the trenches. 2024 was the most difficult year of my life. I was lost and lonely for a while, my self-worth was placed somewhere I was just a number, where my passions went and died. I gave it all I had for far too long, until I had nothing left. I was broken, tired and depleted – and it bled everywhere. Then, I found myself unemployed, eventually on the other side of darkness – the darkness of complete misery and unhealthy coping. Truth is, I am a nerd by trade, but my heart is not. I am really good at what I do…I am not afraid to say that anymore. The problem is that being really good at something that doesn’t make you happy is a very sneaky poison. The pride of accomplishments only last for so long before you’re in search, again, for a temporary pedestal. Maybe just being really good at “something” is enough for some, but it wasn’t enough for me….it destroyed me, I was deprived. I was always chasing validation. I always wondered why it took me so long to get things done, to write the report, to perform the analysis, to create the presentation – oh I have severe ADHD, oh I’m not challenged enough…yada, yada…YADA.
No silly, it didn’t bring you any real joy.
I digress.
I spent half my time unemployed building myself again and the other half spent staring at an empty field of opportunity. I was torn between the comfort of a regular paycheck and the unknown. I could easily get a job, yet I could hardly get myself to work on my resume - I had some deep hard faith that “time will tell.” In the meantime, I had all the opportunity to focus on myself - out of the trenches, now filling the holes and building a path with the dirt leftover. I had no idea what I wanted to do, but figured I’d sure know when I found it. I would find ideas here and there, things I could do or create. I’d dabble, but everything seemed expensive to start, whether money or time, and I didn’t want to spend it. Then, I learned about drop shipping and told my husband…I could design all these fun things and THAT IS ALL! Within minutes he rattled off more ideas than my half sheet of paper could fit. It was almost Christmas - holiday t-shirts seemed like a great idea. I went back to my office, built his “righteous” shirt in minutes and by the end of the week I built a website. I was thriving doing my nerd stuff and thriving more with the creatives – I was having the time of my life, whether I was about to make a dime or just spending money on a Canva subscription. I wouldn’t know then, but I was having fun (and suddenly getting things done faster than ever) – I was excited again, building my own pedestal.
I still don’t entirely know what’s in store for The Rose River Collection, I suppose it will move right along with my ADHD brain, a little here and a little there…whatever excites me in the moment I will share with you. I will build things, design things, I will feed my soul…and tell my story along with it.
Seems like a very complicated story…and it is, if either of us had the time, but it all boils down to one simple thing - do what makes you happy.
Enjoy the ride,
Jenna