The drive: What challenges have you overcome?
At the risk of “oversharing”, my personal journey of motherhood has not been easy. I’ve battled with postnatal depression twice. Navigated my firstborn’s ASD level 3 diagnosis. Experienced a miscarriage. Illness that resulted in severe chronic pain. A traumatic birth from my third child and a very long physical recovery process. Because of all of the challenges that have been thrown my way, I have learnt to stick to what we can control, and to let go of what we can’t. We can’t control what happens to us, but we do have a remarkable ability to control how to respond to adversities and challenges. Our bodies are very capable of healing and adapting, but they do need breaks and rest, which is what I’ve had to do throughout this journey. I’ve had to step away from Dig the Flow for months on end to allow my body to process things, and medication to allow my brilliant but completely exhausted brain to heal. But through it all, I still had my period and so cloth pads were always there for me – they’re more like emotional support pads if anything haha.
There really is so much value in the human experience. Adversities and challenges – while they really do suck and are horrible when you’re deep in the moment – they aren’t just for suffering, they can become lessons. From the post-natal depression, I learned that I was worthy of love; from the ASD diagnosis, I learned how important regulation and non-verbal communication is and to let go of expectations; from the miscarriage, I gained an appreciation of how intelligent our bodies are and the awareness of how devastating the experience can be; from the chronic pain I learned the power of breathwork and visualisation; through the traumatic birth, I gained deep gratitude for the midwives in our public health system; and through the recovery from it all, I learned to cherish and appreciate the days that I am considered completely healthy and pain-free.
Looking back at it all now on the other side of the tunnel, I can honestly say I am in love with myself, my resilience and how far I’ve come. And now that I’m okay, I’m excited to see how much further I can go with growing Dig the Flow Reusables into an incredible business that can spread much-needed period positivity into the world.
For better or worse: What are the pros and cons of running your own business?
Cons: Accountability – I am 100% responsible for absolutely everything. I do all of the design work, the sewing, the photography, the listings, the storefront management, the social media, even my own cheerleading when I get a sale – all while juggling being present for my kids. It is really hard at times to be in that place where you want to do all the things, you have the drive to do it all right now, but you physically can’t. The timeline shifts and elongates when you have 100% care of kids, 24/7 – but it’s okay.
Because the pro is: you can write the rules when it comes to your business, and it can work around you. I never in a million years could have foreseen that I’d end up sewing reusable cloth pads, but that’s how my life turned out. I went with the flow of the universe, and it turned into a fulfilling business that enabled me to pay forward the gift of self love. I get the joy of creating a product that is not only incredibly useful and fun to make, it can truly change lives. The second pro is the personal growth having a small business can give you. Running a business is 100% mindset, and removing the fear of success, the fear of visibility and being open to change is insanely hard work but so worth it. Even though I’m “cured” from my post-natal depression, I still have the occasional feelings of anxiety. I try to channel that nervous energy into curiosity or reframe it as excitement instead.
When the opportunity presents itself, take the risk and see where it ends up. If it doesn’t work out, it’s a lesson to learn how to succeed the next time.
Hopes and dreams: What next?
I have hopes and dreams to continue to expand my skillset and bring some more wearables in the same Dig the Flow style to the range – think underwear that’s more compatible with cloth pads and matching comfy wireless bralettes to lounge at home in. I am also particularly jazzed on the idea of creating rituals and sacred spaces around periods and am thinking of ways to combine my other loves of crystals and cycle tracking into the mix – I’ve become a little obsessed with my period-centric altar that I have in my bedroom and think more people should experience building their own. I’m also toying with the idea of a monthly subscription with a new pad, a beautiful crystal and an affirmation to go with it.
I would love to be able to clear out my little shop more often and restock more frequently, and even have a stockist or two to buy in person. But the real dream is to grow my inner circle and attract more like-minded souls who also believe that periods can be sacred, that holistic self care should include cycle awareness, and that no-one should bleed alone.
Visit the Dig the Flow Reusables Madeit store to shop their products, and connect with them on Instagram and Facebook.
