The Story of a Security Guard and a Paper Crafter

I used to be a full-time entrepreneur for several years when my kids were small. Creating browser-based tools for companies was relatively easy to do without leaving home. It's a very common story for many mothers—to earn some extra cash while being a stay-at-home mom and raising their children.

In the summer of 2024, my father passed away. His death was quite unexpected, tho I was lucky to be at the hospital with my younger sister to see his final moments and say our goodbyes. I thought it wouldn't affect me too much, as loss is a part of life and we all experience it—but I was wrong.

I've always had very vivid dreams, and I saw my father's passing many more times than I would’ve cared to. Painful, suppressed memories from my past started to haunt me again, as they tend to from time to time. With all the sleep problems and sluggish days, I lost my ability to code. Spending two hours to fix one hour’s worth of work didn’t pay the bills—my professional self-esteem was crushed, and I fell deeper into depression, feeling like a total failure.

That’s when I found myself doing paper crafts. It started with designing paper dolls for my two girls, but I quickly fell into what felt like meaningless crafting, as it brought me an unexplainable sense of comfort and peace of mind. It wasn’t really like me—it wasn’t something I’d normally do—and I even felt ashamed of it: becoming so devoted to a “childish” hobby while my business was falling apart because of my lack of interest in it.

I started studying this phenomenon, and it turns out that crafting with your hands really does reduce stress and anxiety, as it can be very meditative. You get an amazing feeling from seeing something you created entirely by yourself. This is due to oxytocin—sometimes called the “happiness hormone.” It doesn’t really matter what material you use (wood, paper, clay, etc.)—in moments of unexpected stress, your brain may naturally seek out available outlets to rest and heal.

I came to realize that this is something I want to share and advocate for. I want to do something meaningful—something that helps people. We all face loss, fear, trauma, and sadness, and I want to help others find their own outlets, whatever they may be. Paper dolls were mine, and I’m happy to share them—but more than that, I want to create a community where all handcrafted art is welcome and every story is heard.

I got very lucky and I’m thankful for it. I never thought I would return to field of security, but I found a job that I love. One that keeps my mind occupied from the things I’d rather forget. Having a stable income gives me the chance to build the dream I have—to create something unique to leave for my girls after I’m gone from this world, and to help both myself and others cope with all the stress that this modern life brings.

Thank you for being here: It's time to start crafting!