Adjustments Coming to My Business Instagram

A TBS of Spice, mostly my business Instagram, is ready for some adjustments. I’ve dreamed of having my own business for LITERALLY as long as I can remember, and I’ve been SO PROUD of the start I’ve had. Yet, all along the puzzle piece has not settled into place. It’s been close, so close, but just not quite right. 

I’ve had too many directions that I’ve been trying to go, and I’ve struggled to find the unifying theme. I want to create beautiful things and share them. I want to speak to things that inspire me and burn through me with meaning. I want to share quiet moments and real moments and beautiful moments. I want to share recipes that actually make my body and heart happy. I want to SLOW DOWN, and I want take people along on the journey as I learn how to do that. I want to blog. I want to create content on Instagram. Someday I want to debut a YouTube channel. I want to do it all! Or do I? 

I’ve spent many years trying to smooth out my purpose. I’ve spilled many tears feeling like I was getting no where. And then one night, on my way home from work last month, the puzzle piece slid into place.

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I know these four things:

1) I want to glorify God with whatever I do, but I don’t want to be pushy. I want to be real.

2) I want to be an entrepreneur. I genuinely love creating things, sharing them, and selling them. The whole process just makes me giddy.

3) I want to be a content creator. It isn’t for everyone. That’s okay. But, all my interests keep coming back to this. I want to share.

4) I want to live slowly. I’m tired of living in the tyranny of the urgent, a state of exhaustion, a murky life of going through the motions. Frankly, I don’t know how to live slowly. But, my journey through the Bible the last few years has convinced me it’s not just OKAY to rest, it’s God’s command. And I’m not talking about ONE day a week. I think we’ve all missed the point of rest as a LIFESTYLE. In fact, I think we’ve all missed the DEFINITION of rest at its core.

In order to follow through in these four things, I’m making some adjustments to @tbsofspice_creations. I’m confident it will be a win/win/win situation for me, those of you who have faithfully supported me as I’ve worked this out over the years, and those who will join the community in the future. 

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The key aspects of A TBS of Spice will stay the same. Not much, if anything, is changing with my blog. I will continue to share things from my heart, but perhaps more frequently. My Instagram page and business will see the most change. I’m still selling my clay creations and sharing about the making process, but my focus will adapt.

Here’s how A TBS of Spice will look different.  

1. I have two main themes that will dictate what I choose to share. I’m taking you on my journey to live slowly, AND I’m sharing what I create along the way. I’m no expert on living slowly. I’m learning as I go.

   a. I’m going to close my Etsy shop, and transition to selling locally in actual storefronts. I WILL keep and continue to develop my one personal website atbsofspice.com, so selling online isn’t disappearing. I’m merely refocusing. 

   b. I’m going to share more of my authentic life. I’m not starting the journey to live slowly with ideal circumstances. I work an 8-5. We are a single income household with Ben still in school. We have a tiny house that gets messy. I’m balancing work, family, my relationship with God, marriage, self-care, etc. I have a “normal” life. I can’t afford to take much time off work, but I’m convinced that living slowly is in the little things anyway.. I don’t think this journey will be easy. I DO think it will be possible.

   c. I’m going to share more about books. Reading is one of the top ways I allow myself to rest.

   d. I’m going to share allergen friendly recipes.. It’s part of me. Might as well share it.

   e. I have a rich life, not a wealthy life. I want to lean into that and show the beauty of small moments.

   f. Algorithm isn’t king. I have a lot to say on this make, so let’s make it it’s own section.

Algorithm isn’t king.

For my career, I have spent the last several years learning how to please social media algorithms. I don’t think they’re bad. Sometimes I appreciate them. But, there are some rules for growing on social media that just aren't going to work for me on this page. I like to think I’ve learned the rules well enough that I can choose when to break them. So I WILL NOT be posting as often or consistently as I “should” be.

Let me clarify.

Instagram works best when you post every single day or more often than that. I’ve seen this lead to two things. 1) Content creators getting burnt out. (The whole point of this adjustment is to learn how to AVOID burnout. 2) Content creators posting content that is just “ehh” because they needed to post and didn’t have anything from the heart that day.

I’m not concerned about posting consistently. I have enough I want to share that that shouldn’t be an issue. BUT if a day comes when I’m tired and need to “live slowly,” I’m going to practice what I preach. If a day comes when I don’t have much too say, I’m not going to cater to entertainment just for the sake of the algorithm. If a weekend comes when I want to go camping where there is no reception, I’m not going to force myself to pre-schedule content.

I’M GOING TO PRACTICE WHAT I PREACH!

So, if all that sounds like something you want to support me in. If you want to join my journey of living slowly amid hustle culture, then I ENCOURAGE you to keep or start following me on Instagram @tbsofspice_creations. If you aren’t all about this new change, that’s OKAY! My journey isn’t for everyone.