A childhood that involved questioning the meaning of life. A series of losses. A history of communication issues. All of these led to Katy Tarbell finding peace in nature, as well as a path to healing and the launch of a business.
By Edie Weinstein
By way of explaining her early years, Tarbell says that she was “not raised in a traditional family.” With a father who “valued unmaterialistic things, a mother with a good work ethic and a sister who was a good mother,” she had positive role models who helped to raise the creative and loving woman that she has become.
Wanting to be understood as a result of her speech challenges, had her feeling isolated at times; she was enrolled in speech therapy from pre-kindergarten through 4th grade. She needed to find a new ‘language’ to enable her to express herself. That, she discovered, was writing and enjoyment in crafts and creation. After facing some of the losses in less than healthy ways, Tarbell was able to take her mind off negativity and re-focus on what felt more soul nourishing. These activities also raised her self-esteem and empowered her to help others.
The next step on her journey led her to concoct herbal salves, lotions and soap. She doesn’t grow her own herbs; instead, she harvests some and purchases others. Her products include coconut oil, beeswax, and vitamin E.
Katy Tarbell shares: “I started trying different recipes online. A lot of everything I started making came from boredom, wanting to do something positive, and never learning how to play sports as a child.”
What she had initially considered a hobby has become a small business. She finds: “I mostly attract people that are interested in organic products. My products are a lot of recipes found online, just trying different things out. It started to grow when I started to buy more containers, labels, and my product in bulk.” Her products are now showing up in beauty salons.
Like many budding entrepreneurs, Tarbell wonders whether this will become her main source of income or remain a delightful and fulfilling hobby.
She muses: “I feel like I started doing it for fun, for friends close by in need. As it grows, I am pulled in two different directions and it is very difficult.” Finding that balance is essential, Tarbell expresses that she considers part time work, as well as making her product and traveling to sell it, and going to school part time taking online classes.”
Katy Tarbell adds: “I’m discovering myself, and the things I am passionate about along the way. It was just an idea that came to me, I don’t know how.” She recognizes that some of it was as a result of observing illness of those in her life, as well as her own condition at times. Environmental awareness, including the impact of pollution, and “simply being aware of the chemicals put into everyday products is scary,” are part of what motivates her to continue expanding and offering her product line.
She finds that as she works on herself, it helps her to “stay positive,” knowing that she is contributing to the well-being of people and the planet.”
Tarbell explains the nature of her creations: “The products are an oil base. I have an herbal salve that is good for dry skin, psoriasis, and eczema. I make a salve used for congestion and chest cold with eucalyptus essential oil. I make whipped body butters with shea butter and coconut oil. Sometimes I make my soap from scratch and sometimes I buy melt and pours. I really feel like I am just a beginner at this not knowing exactly everything, but liking it enough to keep on going with it. I want to do it because it is something I enjoy. As long as people are liking it, I’ll keep making it.”
Tarbell has a quote that perfectly exemplifies the work that we are all called to do as we cultivate a blooming beautiful life. “Planting a garden is easy; it’s weeding that takes time.”
Katy Tarbell shines in her work, embracing a simple life. It doesn’t take luxury to make this woman happy. Just place her in nature and she will create from its fruit potions that Mother Nature intended.
About The Author
Edie Weinstein is a career journalist with 23 years experience interviewing some of the most amazing movers and shakers on the planet, including Ben & Jerry, Shirley MacLaine, Ram Dass, Michael Beckwith, Jack Canfield, Alan Cohen, Karen Drucker, Judith Orloff, Louise Hay, Marianne Williamson, Dan Millman, Wayne Dyer, Elizabeth Lesser, Arielle Ford, Debbie Ford, SARK, Bernie Siegel and His Holiness the Dalai Lama. In addition, she is an interfaith minister, dynamic motivational speaker, opti-mystic, (seeing the world through the eyes of possibility), transformational coach, social worker and PR Goddess. From 1988-1998, she was co-publisher of Visions Magazine. Find out more at http://www.opti-mystical.com/.
