Recently, I had a moment that reminded me who I was, outside of running a business, being a mum, and holding everything together.
My last two blogs have been about humanising, first animals, then my business. After sending last week’s newsletter, I realised the story wasn’t quite finished. There was something else I needed to say, something more personal.
When the Lines Begin to Blur
I’ve run Olive & Joyce for four and a half years now, and if I’m honest, that has meant non stop thinking. Thinking about the business, how to grow it, how to support you, and how to support my children and myself. It’s been exciting, fulfilling, and something I’m deeply proud of, but I haven’t really switched off.
Over Christmas, while I was busy at the markets, something small kept happening that turned out not to be small at all. People would come up to the stall and ask me, “Are you Olive or Joyce?”
I’d smile and reply, “Neither, I’m Emily.”
Somewhere between saying it for the tenth time and the hundredth, it hit me. Not gently either. More like a metaphorical frying pan to the face. I wasn’t just running my business, I had become it. I was eating, breathing, and living Olive & Joyce, and somewhere along the way, Emily had gone a little quiet.
Choosing to Step Outside
During one of the busiest periods I’ve ever had, I made a decision that might sound completely bonkers, but one that came from a place of care. I decided to take on a permanent volunteer role for a few hours a week, simply to step outside my own business for a moment.
I wanted to work alongside other people again, learn from others, and give my mind permission to rest from constant decision making. It felt important to be Emily for a few hours a day, rather than always being the founder of Olive & Joyce.
It has done more for me than I expected.
What Space Can Do
That space has helped me breathe again. It has grounded me, steadied me, and unexpectedly, it has made me feel more inspired. Giving myself room to be human has brought fresh ideas, new energy, and a clearer perspective back to Olive & Joyce.
Stepping away slightly hasn’t diluted my connection to the business. If anything, it has strengthened it. I’m returning with more intention, more creativity, and a deeper sense of why I started in the first place.
Why I’m Sharing This
I wanted to share this because Olive & Joyce has always been rooted in honesty. This isn’t about stepping back from the brand, it’s about showing up to it more grounded, more rested, and more myself.
Running a small business can quietly blur the lines between who you are and what you do. This has been my reminder that caring for the person behind the brand matters just as much as caring for what is created.
Olive & Joyce continues to be built slowly, with care and intention, guided by the same values that shape these stories. If this way of doing things resonates with you, you can explore the shop whenever it feels right.
Thank you for being here, and for allowing this brand to grow in a way that feels real, sustainable, and human, for all of us.
With love,
Emily x
Founder, Olive & Joyce