It’s Friday in the bakery, and that means it’s blog day! Here I am, wrapped in my buffalo blanket, which is odd because we’re in the midst of a three-day heat wave here in New Hampshire. Despite the warmth, I’m wearing my blanket like armor, with the fan on full blast, one eye on my whiteboard, trying to calm my mind for the coming storm — my very first market. This market represents first real “give it a go” at turning my passion into a business. It’s been quite a challenge, as I find myself second-guessing nearly every decision I’ve made, from the menus to the packaging. This has led to a few meltdowns and some late-night exclamations of, “Why did I think this was a good idea?”
Despite the warm days, there have been a few nights where I’ve reached for a blanket; since my kids stole all the other ones for forts, all that was left was my buffalo throw. I can almost hear my Dad saying, “How providential.”
A few years ago, I learned an interesting fact about buffalos, and amidst all my emotions these past two weeks, my resurfaced memory has proven to be quite helpful. Did you know that buffalos will charge into a storm? While other animals flee, a buffalo will charge.
“Buffalo wait for the storm to cross right over the crest of the peak of the mountaintop, and as the storm rolls over the ridge, the buffalo turn and charge directly into the storm. Instead of running east away from the storm, they run west directly at the storm. By running at the storm, they run straight through it.” Rory Vaden
The above photo shows me hard at work, a little bit messy, with a fairly determined but mostly passive look on my face. Mostly, I was trying not to pass out. I was on-site for a wedding, and after every box of cupcakes, I had to go lie down in my van until the room stopped spinning. I had a terrible migraine and managed to mix up the wrong medication before I left for the venue — a terrible combination and an awful mistake that nearly ruined the whole day.
I would quickly shout out an order for whatever remained to be done (for my husband to attempt to complete), remove my apron, rip off my gloves, and exit the kitchen door. The sticky, outdoor air would hit my face, and moments later, I’d be totally prostrate in the back of my van, breathing deeply in and out. In and out, until I could get back up and continue my work. All the while, two of my dearest friends were preparing for their lovely ceremony. I had to finish. There was no option to quit, no one else to do it. I couldn’t go east. So I went into the storm.
Everything turned out fine in the end. The product was perfect and completely delicious. The display was lovely. I pulled it together. Only my closest friends could tell I was not myself, but I did the job I was supposed to do. I took it moment by moment. Step by step. That’s the lesson and it seems as humans we just need reminders. The blanket (and my friends) were there just when I needed it this week.
Yesterday I realized it was time to stop fussing, remember why this business is a good idea and face into the storm. It’s time to stop second guessing all I’ve worked for and be a buffalo again. I mean, I did it once (or twice) before I can do it again. Something tells me you can too if you also need the reminder. Freely take what you need from this post and charge into the weekend friends.
Menus, more behind the scenes and bakery happenings to come in the future. Keep an eye out and an email subscribed!
Stay sweet, Alice
Link to article quoted above by Rory Vaden: Be the Buffalo and Face Life’s Storms
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