Because HOPE is worth showing up for.
July 3, 2026
Do you ever make decisions based on which choice you'd regret more?
That was me a couple of months ago.
I was on the fence about signing up for a craft fair. I dragged my feet. I waited for my daughter's softball schedule, wondering if that would be my excuse. I questioned whether I had enough inventory. Maybe I just wasn't ready.
About eight weeks before the event, I realized something:
I'd regret not trying far more than I'd regret failing.
So I committed.
I doubled down on making earrings—both my semicolon collection and my regular designs. I created mystery journals, mental health-themed tote bags, and designed stickers. I poured myself into getting ready.
As I write this, I'm sitting in my vendor booth. My puppy is finally asleep in the dog bed beside me. The booth next to me is playing beautiful orchestral music. People are chatting all around me, and somehow, in the middle of all this, I found myself in the writing zone.
Now for the honest part.
Sales were rough.
Not just for me—many vendors struggled today. A few seemed to do okay, but overall it was a slow first day.
But I came here hoping for something more than sales.
I wanted to share information about the upcoming AFSP Out of the Darkness Walk. I wanted to invite people to join or support our Together We Cont;nue team for the Pierce County walk. Mostly, I wanted to start conversations about suicide prevention.
And those conversations happened.
I watched people pause at my semicolon earrings, giving me the chance to explain what the symbol means.
I saw people soften when they realized they weren't alone.
I watched parents acknowledge that their child would appreciate this semicolon symbol of hope.
People rolled up their sleeves to show me their semicolon tattoos.
Teenagers smiled and proudly explained the meaning of the semicolon to their parents.
Today I sold $49 worth of products.
But I also witnessed moments that don't fit on a sales report.
Moments of connection.
Moments of courage.
Moments of hope.
Tomorrow I'll set my booth up all over again.
Not because I expect the sales to be amazing.
Because hope is worth showing up for.
The Chief Happiness Officer, Cedar, finally taking a break after taking her duties SO very seriously!
