About a year and a half ago, I asked my intern from Westfield State University to review all the blogs I’ve written over the past decade and compile her favorites. I intended to publish a “Best of the Blogs” book, but I never got to it. I was too busy to spend time on a heart project.

About six months ago, I set two other interns to the same task, and again, their work sat in a “Hold” folder in my inbox.

Then, along came COVID-19, and I had some time on my hands for the first time in many years. I went through each interns’ suggestions and began to make some decisions of my own on which of their selections to keep, and which to discard.

Slowly, as I put these blogs into a certain order, I realized that what I actually had was a second memoir.

“Core Strength: Because healing the heart starts in the center” continues where “Divine Renovations” left off. It tells the story of the past ten years. After I was laid off from a beloved job, and my husband died four days later, I had to reinvent myself and grow up in many ways. 

This new work will take you to places far away—such as the Marshall Islands, where I spent a month several years ago with my younger daughter, who was teaching on the island of Majuro. The book also looks at the importance of family and letting go of fear, so you can have some fun. Tales of online dating will make you laugh, and poignant moments might make you cry.  

The essence of “Core Strength,” though, is found in a concept that emerged for me over the past ten years: We can’t really love others well until we love ourselves, and we can’t make good decisions on a life partner until we know who we are, what we want, and what we deserve.

“Core Strength” tells the story of how I learned those very important things.

At this time, I have shared the memoir with interns, friends who are writers, my husband, Steve, and my daughters. I’ve gotten essential feedback that continues to shape my work and make it stronger. 

Soon, I will design the book’s jacket and inside pages. And after that, well, we print!

I’m very much looking forward to sharing it with you. My hope is that it will help others to reinvent themselves and see all of who they are when they look in the mirror.

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I have had to reinvent myself many times in life, most markedly in 2002, when I got divorced from my first husband, and in 2010, when I was laid off from a job I loved four days before my second husband died.

Each time, it was painful and difficult, and I had to figure it out. The experiences made me strong, resourceful, resilient. And those traits are serving me well now as we all must create a new normal and mutate a little bit in the wake of COVID-19.

March 10 was the last normal workday I recall. I had a busy day at my desk and was at a client event in the evening. The next day, two press releases I had in the works fell through—my clients had had to close their stores. And three events I had helped a client organize were cancelled. There was nothing to promote.

Each day brought similar bad news.

After a week, there was only junk mail in my inbox. 

My gut reaction was to panic. How would I pay my bills? Would my clients come back? Was this the end of Beetle Press and Janice Beetle Books? Then, as I’ve mentioned, I shook myself off and saw the opportunity I had to work on my own creative projects and to work on my website and marketing as well.

I had about three weeks to do that—to imagine what else was possible for me, to work on a book of my own, to dream up a new feature for the Janice Beetle Books website (stay tuned). Then slowly, work trickled back in. I’ve done a few press releases for Beetle Press clients—most of them focused on client responses to the pandemic—but the majority of my work is for Janice Beetle Books.

I am writing one woman’s memoir, and I’m working on a how-to manual for a trio of businessmen. I have several other projects in the works at well, and I’m grateful and gratified. My own books can wait.

It astounds me that, a year ago, Janice Beetle Books did not exist, and this year, it is key in supporting me. That is tremendously affirming—like a big sign in the road saying, “This way!”

I have no doubt Beetle Press will come back as well. I will be here when my clients are ready.

I have created both of these businesses from nothing but an idea. To be able to do that feels accidental, but instead of feeling lucky, I’m going to take credit for following my heart both times. Tremendous thanks to business coach Val Nelson for helping me do that.

The point of this blog is not to pat myself on the back, though. It’s to show you a way out of a bad situation by applying your passion and creativity. 

Have you been laid off, like hundreds of thousands across the country? Are you at home, scared?

Give yourself some time to feel the emotions of it. Be angry. Sad. Anxious. Wring your hands.

Then, apply your own passion and creativity and imagine what is possible. 

What excites you? What do you love to do? Love to cook, garden, write?

Imagine how you might be able to help others with your skills.

Think about who you want to work with. Children? Adults? Seniors?

Think about what makes you happy—not what you think could bring in the biggest paycheck. What we love is the best compass.

Are there businesses out there you could turn to that are not suffering? It would be hard to find a job in the restaurant business now, but think about the industries that are thriving—businesses that sell home gym equipment, delivery services, toilet paper manufacturers. (Sorry, couldn’t help myself.)

OR imagine creating a business around your passion. 

What steps could you take to bring your idea to life? To get paid for doing something that makes you feel fulfilled?

Use the internet to search for like-minded businesses in the area. See if there is competition. Research how to write a business plan. Name your business. Imagine the services you offer, and the fees associated with them. 

Then get the word out there. Create your own website. Register your business in your city or town. Create a social media presence. Write a press release. 

Don’t know how to do these things? Use the internet to learn, or recruit a team of friends, family, former colleagues who do have the experience and knowledge, and let them help you. Call Val! 

You have the time.

You could do it. 

Reinvent yourself! 

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