“Making soap is almost a magical feeling! The process beautifully combines science and craft, also leaving a space for creativity,”
These are the words of Anna Hrynenko, our Recruiting Specialist, as she tells us about her creative pursuit, and believe me, the way Anna narrates about her hobby tells more about her than the words she uses to describe her passion.
While Anna never considered herself crafty or artistic, her curiosity led her to explore the art of soap-making. Anna’s upbringing was centered around more “serious” pursuits, as her parents insisted on practical hobbies and activities. Art and craft were considered leisure, not to be prioritized.
“My family always emphasized the importance of pursuing hobbies and activities that could potentially benefit me in the future. Anything that didn’t seem to be connected with academics or future specialties was often frowned upon. As a consequence, I grew up missing the opportunity to explore artistic hobbies properly.”
Even though Anna hadn’t considered such a hobby before, unexpected advice brought a significant shift in Anna’s perspective.
“I began my journey of exploring craft hobbies in quite an unusual manner – with a visit to a doctor who suggested that I take up an artistic pursuit that potentially involves fine motor skills. Options like painting, sewing, working with clay, and others were presented to me. I must admit, I wasn’t immediately thrilled by the idea.”
Walking out of the doctor’s office, Anna was ready to dismiss the advice, but the idea kept popping up in the back of her mind.
“I didn’t see a sense in what the doctor had told me and I was skeptical about it, but at the end of the day, I wanted to try anything that would help. Eventually, I decided to give it a chance.”
Anna tried various options, exploring painting with watercolors and oil paints, but the results were not that good, and her skills didn’t seem to improve significantly. Besides painting, she also tried her hand at embroidery, clay work, floristry, and other activities, but she didn’t feel particularly enthusiastic about them.
“I started liking the idea of creating something with my own hands. I have never felt that type of excitement toward a hobby before. I knew that I wanted to create something, but what and how? And then I learned that you can actually make soaps with your own hands!”
Intrigued by the idea of crafting something beautiful and functional, Anna decided to give soapmaking a try. Ever since she mixed her first batch of ingredients, she was captivated.
“That was it! Just something I was looking for! I started with creating soaps using the soap base and then got lit with the idea to create soaps from zero, using natural oils. The best thing about natural soap is that you can make one that doesn’t need animal fat, meaning you only use plant oils.”
That’s where the process of soap-making became more than just a hobby. It became a therapeutic escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. As she worked with the colors, fragrant oils, and entertaining molds, Anna discovered a sense of calm and peace.
“Despite soap-making being painstaking work, I started noticing that the process actually helps me a lot with my anxiety and thoughts. It was almost like meditating! The doctor was right after all. Moreover, soapmaking is a great hobby if you want to get into artsy activities without necessarily needing specific talent.”
Another benefit that the process brought was allowing Anna to achieve a better work-life balance. It served as a means to detach from work-related concerns.
“I often struggled to switch off. Work and work-related tasks were always on my mind. Being focused on the detailed process is genuinely helpful to mentally unwind, and soap-making offered me a practical way to switch activities as a form of relaxation and distance myself from work-related concerns.”
With every soap she crafted, Anna felt her worries melting away. The joy of gifting her handmade creations to friends and family was an added bonus.
“Be conscious, though! The first year, I must admit, I was way too excited about my soaps. I gifted my soap to everyone and shared it with anyone I know. Even to my colleagues, God bless their patient hearts!”
In a world filled with stress and constant demands, Anna Hrynenko’s journey into soap-making stands as a reminder of the magic that lies in exploring new hobbies.
“This experience encouraged me to try new things out, even those that I was skeptical about. I believe this way we are able to learn a lot about ourselves and find pleasure in new interests and experiences.”
In conclusion, Anna shares that engaging in hobbies that are outside your usual style can actually lead to creative solutions. While doing something with her own hands, her mind starts to wander, often leading to solutions for long-lasting challenges, whether they are life obstacles or work-related issues.
So, let’s take a cue from Anna and start on our own [insert what feels right for you] journeys. Whether it’s soap-making, painting, or any other pursuit that might have scaped our attention until now.