I started my Etsy shop in 2007 during a 20-month-long migraine. I'd had to drop out of my regular life and could do little besides stare at the pretty pictures on Etsy. As I got used to the pain and learned to manage my better days more effectively, I started selling handmade cards. I spent lots of time in the chat rooms (anybody remember the chat rooms?) and got involved with the teams. Etsy was something productive I could do during a time I felt truly horrible. It was the good thing in my life.
After I finally broke through the pain and started having some days with no headaches, I was able to expand my business and start my vintage shop. I went to estate, demolition, garage, and yard sales when I could and sold my finds on my site. I learned to take better product photos and researched the living daylights out of everything. I took time to improve my shipping and make every package arrive safely looking like a present. The better I felt, the more I did.
I still have chronic migraine but I'm much better now. The vast majority of my days are pain-free, but I still can't hold down a "normal" 9-5 with the constant threat of a debilitating migraine on any given day. I continue learning more and more about the business and am attempting to hone in on a specific product genre to sell in my shop. I'm always trying to improve as my health improves. I'm always looking to my "good thing" when I'm feeling bad.
Etsy is a lifeline and a love.