We recently connected with Tiffany Edwards Baker and have shared our conversation below.
Tiffany, we are so appreciative of you taking the time to open up about the extremely important, albeit personal, topic of mental health. Can you talk to us about your journey and how you were able to overcome the challenges related to mental issues? For readers, please note this is not medical advice, we are not doctors, you should always consult professionals for advice and that this is merely one person sharing their story and experience.
In 2020, amid the pandemic, I experienced a traumatic miscarriage in March. Despite the deep emotional low, my family encouraged me to keep pushing forward. To cope, I turned to soap-making, a hobby I had started about a year earlier. Creating soap became a therapeutic distraction from my depression. It made me happy, I couldn’t wait to share what I had made! As I shared my creations on social media, friends expressed interest in buying them. Initially, I gave them away, but with encouragement from family and my husband, I started selling them through auction-style posts on my personal Facebook page.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
Since launching my business in 2020, becoming a registered artist with my tribe has been incredibly heart fulfilling. The support from my tribe has allowed my soap to be featured in the Choctaw Cultural Center and our tribal headquarters in Durant, Oklahoma. Sharing my art is a significant achievement, especially as a stay-at-home mom on and off throughout my adult life; having something that’s uniquely mine means a lot. Embracing my heritage with humility and faithfulness is crucial, and representing it through my creations brings me joy. As a firm believer in understanding one’s roots, creating new soaps has become a way for me to connect with my Choctaw culture, exploring its mythology and stories. The success of my recent creation, the ‘Sinti Scrolls,’ has been truly exciting, as it represents our older mound building community. Also, having faced the challenges of a difficult first marriage, I empathize with those trying to leave such situations. To assist other Choctaws, I created ‘Say Their Name’ soap, donating 100% of proceeds to MMIW-Chahta. This organization, led by a compassionate board and many volunteers, addresses the MMIP epidemic in our reservation and beyond in the 10 1/2 counties of Oklahoma.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
One of my strongest qualities that propelled me to where I am now is determination. I thrive on learning, especially about soap and my heritage. When I’m passionate about something, you can’t stop me. At 46, I’ve navigated through life without a clear career path until I started this business. It fulfilled my professional aspirations, bringing a newfound confidence. Determination, to me, is the key to overcoming hurdles; it’s a personal journey that no one else can undertake for you.
Also, having a strong support system is priceless. My husband and kids has been my rock, supporting and loving me through thick and thin. It’s not just about the cheering but also having someone who can gently point out when I’m wrong. Surrounding yourself with people who are 100% behind you, makes all the difference.
Lastly, it’s crucial to approach your work with care and diligence. Continuously research, read, watch, and listen in your industry. This process can never be done enough; each time you believe you know, do it again. People trust you, so it’s essential to have a deep understanding of what you’re doing.
What would you advise – going all in on your strengths or investing on areas where you aren’t as strong to be more well-rounded?
It’s better and much more rewarding to invest in improving areas where you’re not as strong. Take the Choctaw language, for example. Knowing only a few words, I enrolled in tribal language classes to connect with my ancestors, have conversations in Choctaw, and teach my kids. After starting in 2018 (I stopped and started a lot!), I completed my level one this past fall. Investing in your weaker areas not only enhances your skills but also helps you overcome fear of the unknown while also being more open to unfamiliar situations!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.theBBsoapery.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bakers.bars.soapery
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BakersBars
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tiffany-edwards-baker
- Other: TikTok; https://www.tiktok.com/@bakers.bars.soapery?_t=8jcDFnUMz7q&_r=1
