Finding Peace in the Pandemic: How Soap Making Became My Sanity-Saving Hobby

As an ICU nurse, I've seen my fair share of chaos and heartbreak. The COVID-19 pandemic tested my skills, my patience, and my emotional reserves. Every shift was a high-stakes game of triage, where lives hung precariously in the balance. But as the days turned into weeks, and the weeks into months, I began to feel like I was losing myself in the process. 

That's when I stumbled upon soap making. It was like a breath of fresh air in a world that seemed to have gone mad. The simple act of mixing oils, adding essential oils, and watching the lye mixture transform into a beautiful, bubbly bar was meditative. For the first time in months, I felt like I was doing something just for me, something that brought me joy and tranquility. 

Soap making quickly became my escape, my sanctuary from the chaos of the ICU. It's funny, I used to think of nursing as my "calling," something that required a level of dedication and sacrifice. But soap making showed me that even in the midst of chaos, there's room for creativity and self-care. 

I experimented with different scents and recipes, finding solace in the knowledge that I was creating something tangible and useful. And when I was stressed or overwhelmed, I'd take a step back, breathe deeply, and remember that I had the power to craft and shape something beautiful. 

Soap making didn't change the circumstances of my job, but it gave me the strength to keep going, 

one bar at a time.