Selling Vintage Changed Me: Here’s What I’ve Learned So Far…..

Before You Read This, Start Here:

If you’ve been following my journey, you know my vintage booth was more than just a business—it was a place of creativity, connection, and personal growth. And if you’re just joining in, welcome!

This post is part three of my booth series, and it’s the one where I finally share exactly what happened. But before you dive in, I encourage you to read the first two posts to get the full story:

Where Dreams and Fairy Lights Began – The story of how my booth came to life, built with love, creativity, and the excitement of something new.

I Can’t Believe This Happened to Me – The unexpected twist that changed everything and forced me to face a difficult reality.

Each of these posts tells a piece of my journey—one filled with hope, heartbreak, and resilience. And now, in this next chapter, I’m finally opening up about exactly what happened, how it unfolded, and what it meant for me.

Before you read on, I just want to say thank you. Your support, encouragement, and kind words have meant the world to me. This hasn’t been an easy story to tell, but knowing I have a community that understands and believes in me has made all the difference.

So, if you haven’t read the first two posts, take a moment to do that. Then come back, because in this next chapter, I’m pulling back the curtain and telling it all.

Because sometimes, the hardest endings lead to the most unexpected new beginnings.

Selling Vintage Changed Me: Here’s What I’ve Learned So Far

I never set out to sell vintage treasures. Not really.

What I set out to do was find myself again-to create something that felt like me, that brought me joy, that made me feel alive.

What started as a simple idea-a small booth, a few carefully curated pieces-became so much more than I ever expected.

This business has been my teacher. It has pushed me, challenged me, and shaped me in ways I never saw coming.

And as I step into a new chapter, I can’t help but reflect on everything it has taught me.

The Power of Saying Yes (Even When You’re Terrified)

I remember when I signed up for my first booth. I was nervous, excited, and slightly convinced I had lost my mind.

Would people actually buy what I picked out? Was I even qualified to do this? Would this be a success or a complete failure?

But I said yes anyway.

And that single yes led to more yeses-yes to taking up space, yes to trying new things, yes to trusting myself. Because the truth is, you don’t grow by waiting until you feel 100% ready. You grow by doing the thing that scares you.

I didn’t have all the answers when I started. I still don’t. But I have learned that waiting for perfection kills dreams before they even begin.

People Buy More Than Things-They Buy Connection

I used to think this business was about selling stuff. It’s not.

It’s about stories, emotions, and the way certain pieces make people feel.

I’ve watched customers walk into my booth and instantly be transported back to childhood by a glass dish their grandmother used to have.

I’ve seen people light up over a quirky piece of art because it made them laugh-because it felt like them.

I’ve watched someone pick up a mug, run their fingers over the handle, and whisper, “This reminds me of my mom.”

This business isn’t just about selling things-it’s about helping people find themselves in the details.

And in doing that, I’ve found myself too.

That’s why I don’t just fill my booth with things I think will sell-I fill it with things that feel like “me”.

Because those are the things that will find the right people.

The Emotional Toll of Running a Small Business

People talk about the excitement of starting a business, but what they don’t tell you is how deeply personal it becomes.

When you’re running something that you built with your own two hands, every success feels huge, and every setback feels personal.

I have had days where I walk into my booth and feel like I’m on top of the world. Customers are engaging, sales are flowing, and everything feels aligned.

And I have had days where I walk in and think, “What am I doing?” The sales aren’t where I want them to be. The doubt creeps in.

That’s the real side of entrepreneurship-the mental and emotional rollercoaster.

I’ve had to learn how to separate my business’s success from my self-worth. I’ve had to remind myself that one slow day, one difficult moment, doesn’t erase everything I’ve built.

And most importantly, I’ve had to learn that it’s okay to evolve.

Change Is Inevitable (Even When You Don’t Want It to Be)

I poured my heart into my booth. I made it a place where I felt seen, creative, and inspired. It was “mine.”

So when it came time to leave it behind, it wasn’t just business-it was personal.

I had spent countless hours making that space my own. I had carefully selected each item, arranged and rearranged displays, and built something that felt like home.

To take it all down-to undo what I had worked so hard to create-was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. But the hard truth is, not every space is meant to hold you forever.

Some doors close before you’re ready. Some places serve their purpose and then push you toward something bigger.

What I’ve learned is this: Change isn’t an ending-it’s an invitation.

An invitation to grow.

An invitation to realign.

An invitation to trust that something bigger is waiting.

Even though I couldn’t see it in the moment, I now understand: leaving that space didn’t mean the end of my journey.

Where Do I Go From Here?

If selling vintage has taught me anything, it’s that the journey is never over.

There’s always something new to discover, always another treasure to uncover-not just in antiques, but in “life”.

So where do I go from here?

I go forward.

Carrying everything I’ve learned. Taking the stories, the lessons, and the growth with me.

Trusting that wherever I land next, it will be exactly where I’m meant to be. And for those who have followed my journey, for those who have supported me, cheered me on, and believed in me-thank you!!!!!!

This next chapter? It’s going to be something special.

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