One of my three brothers started his own jewelry business after overcoming struggles with his mental health issues. He is a do-it-yourself kind of magician who recently started making his own hot pepper sauce with different flavours. Our dad thinks he should turn it in to another side business.
Adrian has had his share of S*&# and blessings. Growing up he taught me so many things: how to ride a bike, how to fly a stunt kite, and how to outrun cars driving down Arthur Drive to get to school in time. It’s no surprise we were both on the track team.
When I was admitted to an adult psychiatric ward in my Grade 12 year, he came with my brother Dan to visit me. I remember him saying, “It should be me here.” I didn’t know his inner battles. He joked around and made us laugh – riding a unicycle, juggling with fire, or making goofy faces.
After a traumatic car accident, he struggled with post-traumatic stress disorder, suicidal ideation, and living on the poverty line. It happened one summer when Adrian, our older brother Dan, and their friend went on a camping trip. Their car plummeted off a cliff and landed on top of trees. The impact of the car accident gave Adrian a double concussion and triggered mental health issues.
The medication he was put on gave him irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), which was debilitating. He has had multiple concussions – one from a horse throwing a log at his head. Which compounds the effect on his brain.
Even with all of that, he continued to work on and off and take courses. He took a silversmithing course at Vancouver Community College and loved it. He sold quite a few pieces of jewelry in the gift shop at the Queen of Peace Monastery of the Dominican Sisters in Squamish. He wasn’t quite ready then to take it to the next step. But five years later, here he is with his own jewelry shop called The Mindful Jeweler.
When he had chronic social anxiety, he got addicted to nicotine. Speaking to the cashier at the grocery store was hard. He would experience panic attacks.
When Adrian was struggling with his head injury, he experienced suicidal ideation. Once he couldn’t cross the street because he was so scared. He reached out when it got serious. Adrian lost a few people he knew to suicide.
He sometimes would rather be in a wheelchair to have his disability recognized. He doesn’t really want to be in a wheelchair but feels that it is more likely for someone to open a door for them.
Because of Adrian’s chronic back pain, IBS, anxiety, and so forth, financial security has been an issue for him. He would choose cigarettes over groceries sometimes. He is grateful for the resources in the community for assisting him when he has needed it. He encourages people to donate to the food bank and other mental health charities as well.
It has been three years and Adrian has overcome his addiction to nicotine. Coming back to the breath has been helpful for him. Focusing on breathing properly helps combat anxiety.
His health journey has been a climbing journey. It comes up, then dips, comes up, and dips. He’s climbed to a better place with his determination and grit. His mental and physical health is at its best and started getting better during the pandemic. That was when he created the plan of opening a jewelry business.
He opened a studio and then moved to another one to start making stock. He has been taking courses to learn about owning a small business. He is trying to take it easy now because he injured his arms, and he needs them for making jewelry. His goal is to find ways of working smarter not harder.
Routine is very important to Adrian’s mental health and so are regular bedtimes. He likes practising mindfulness meditation, going outdoors, and listening to music for mental wellness. He practices mindfulness as he works when he’s at his bench. If he notices his shoulders tightening up, he relaxes them and takes a deep breath.
Adrian believes family members can promote mental health by being non-judgmental, being patient, educating themselves, and listening.
My brother is an overcomer. I am inspired by his work on getting healthy and for opening his own business. I have been his biggest customer before he even had a business licence.
Adrian loves living. It is no longer a daily task to want to live. He has the will to thrive. And if you have the will to thrive, you can do well.
You can listen to the interview with Adrian on Lisa Rumpel’s podcast, The Will to Thrive: Stories of Resilience, which is available on popular streaming services.
If you would like to check out Adrian’s work, you can find him at themindfuljeweler.ca.
Instagram: instagram.com/themindfuljewelerbc
Facebook: facebook.com/Themindfuljeweler
Mental health charities: canadahelps.org/en/donate-to-mental-health-charities
Food bank: foodbank.bc.ca
