From Flea Market Ventures to Spiritual Renewal: A Story of Balance and Belonging

Join me, Rebekah, on a heartfelt journey through the twists and turns of embracing the vibrant world of flea markets and finding balance amidst life's ebbs and flows. Over the last six months, I've carved out my niche as a permanent vendor at the famous Rose Bowl flea market, evolving from early morning setups with a rented U-Haul to efficiently running our booth with a snug cargo van. Along the way, I've transformed estate sale hunts with my family into shared treasures and navigated the financial rollercoaster from merely breaking even to celebrating profitable weekends. It's been a tale of adapting, learning, and finding joy in the unexpected.

The narrative takes a deeper, more personal turn as I share my recent life changes and spiritual resurgence. Answering the call for stability, I've made a return to the part-time workforce, which unexpectedly led me back to the familiar corridors of a doctor's office, where both challenges and a warm welcome awaited me. Balancing this with my market venture has been a practice in gratitude and growth. Amidst these life shifts, I've rediscovered my faith, finding solace and strength in preparation for a church wedding with my beloved partner. Together, we're building a future grounded in spirituality and community, sharing the trials and triumphs of committing to a life interwoven with grace.

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Transcript

Rebekah: 0:20

Hey guys, welcome back to an all new episode of my Wave of Life. My name is Rebekah. If you are new here, welcome If you have been here before and listened to me. Thank you for coming back and listening. I am back. August was my last podcast.

Rebekah: 0:38

There has been a lot that has been going on, at least the six months that I have not been podcasting. Well, let's just dive right into it. Like I know, I talked about the Rose Bowl, my last episode, and now it's just six months in. I'm still doing the Rose Bowl.

Rebekah: 0:57

It's been so awesome to actually like in reality, like thinking back on it. It's been six months since my first Rose Bowl and that's kind of crazy to think about it now sitting down and you know, talking about it. But like it's, there's been a lot of error and trial and and it's been really crazy actually. And the first time we did a truck and like it from the U-Haul truck and and that was it. That was insane. We never did that again and we took all my items that we bought and stuff and that was no bueno. And so we actually downsize to an actual cargo van of the U-Haul and it's been way better. We're actually way more prepared and we only take certain items and like seasons, you know, like going to state sales and stuff and that's where most of my items come from. The state sales have been incredibly awesome to go to.

Rebekah: 2:01

I have created monsters. I'm talking about my aunts and my mom as well, and you know I get into it too. It's been fun, but they've been just buying certain things for themselves and for you know it's. It's been really cool to actually, you know, spend time with my family and and having those moments and we're even having other people join us in our crazy mornings of estate salings and stuff and, to be honest, it's just been really. It's been really joyful to just spend time with family too and and it's it's. It doesn't feel like work. Is this a business? And it is a business but we're also having fun with it. In that sense, it's like pretty cool to think that like we're actually enjoying this and I'm actually enjoying it and it's not really a hard time of work, you know, but it is work, it's my business and stuff. So, yeah, that's where we're at right now. We've been six months in the Rolls-Boules already. We just had our last for the year in December.

Rebekah: 3:09

December 10th, I became a permanent vendor there and so basically you have to be up to date for three months worth of your time there. You have to pay. You have to pay three months ahead of time. And and I was like, great, like you know, I don't see myself stopping anytime soon of this. And like, even though, yeah, it was kind of like in the beginning of it, I was just like, well, I don't know if this is really going to be giving enough money into it. You know, like, if I'm going to break even, if I'm going to be short, you know, and or even make a profit and you know, I know we're not going to make profit anytime soon, right now but, like at that time, I just had to go with it. Obviously it's not going to hit it right away. Yeah, so it's been going great. So we have been breaking even with the cost of the actual spot and you know, the actual, the gas for the U haul and also the U haul renting and out. So we're breaking even and we're also making a little bit of profit and stuff. You know, that's great. You know I'm I'm pretty pumped each time that we do do this. Like, yeah, I get nervous, yeah, I get scared like what if it's not a great you know a great day for sales and stuff? What if we don't get that much people?

Rebekah: 4:38

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Rebekah: 5:28

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Rebekah: 6:54

But it's been fun and we're gonna still have fun. We're just learning new things and new antique things and new things that people like and what people are looking for. And you know people are looking for different things and you're always especially at the flea markets. You're you're gonna have different people, obviously, and people are gonna like different things and it's not the same thing over and over again. That's difficult, you know, trying to have a little something for each person.

Rebekah: 7:30

But it's fun to have conversations with customers and to actually have other people that have stores, you know, and to buy stuff for me that they're gonna sell in their store. You know it's, it's pretty cool to actually see that and it's like, okay, I'm on the right path, even though I'm young and I'm starting this out. Like these people want my stuff too, you know. And I'm like, okay, what if I should have priced it a little bit higher because they're purchasing that? You know, or am I missing something? Or you know, things like that go into your head and be like you know, but like I, I feel like like I I'm still learning and um, and I don't see it as like, did I under price it or not, but it's good to see that you're what you picked other people like and you're on the right path. You know, it feels good to know that.

Rebekah: 8:34

And then having these conversations with customers and stuff, it's it's, it's it's been really cool. Like you, you see, oh, what they're gonna use it for. Or, um, these, these dolls are gonna go to a good home or, especially for christmas, they everybody was buying for like other people, you know, and it's just not them. And they're like, oh, these linens are gonna go to my grandmother, or these linens are gonna go to my mom, like she really likes table runners, like stuff like that like that's really cool, you know, and or I'm gonna use this as a pot like, even though it's not for a pot, but, like you know, they get creative with it too.

Rebekah: 9:13

So it's really, really cool to actually hear what they have to say and and actually make something out of what we got out in the sales and get repurposed and reuse. You know they don't have to end up in the garbage or garbage or or at savers or or at the goodwill, like you know that people might not go to, you know, but like they're getting reused and we get it from homes that like people have passed away and stuff like that, and you know, and it's good vibes, it's not like it's a bad thing. You know people pass away and we've had conversations with other people at the state sales that, you know, knew the, the owners and stuff and their family and and everything like that, and it's just like, okay, we're gonna take care of this, we're gonna make sure that they go to a good home, you know, and it's just not not just going to waste, you know, and and we're taking care of these things. That I feel like that was based on what my purpose was, that I wanted to have items that we can resell but also have them go to good homes and be reused, like they don't have to end there and at their lives as well. These things, these items, can continue and keep telling different stories about every single item that they have. That's what I love about it and that's what I see people glow about when they look at these items that they buy from my little store, my little pop-up at the flea market, you know. And one day, yeah, I would love, love to have an actual storefront, and that will happen once, that will happen in this lifetime, I guarantee it.

Rebekah: 10:59

So if you do want to check us out at the Rose Bowl, we are in spot G14. We're in the area of all the antique items. There are not. There might not be some things that, some things that are antique in that area, but you will see that there's different rows and we are in row G and then there's a spot 14, but I don't think you can actually see the numbers of 14, but just know I'm in that, in that row of G, but yeah, so we're gonna be there every second of every Sunday of the month. You can look us up there and you can also. I also have oh my gosh, I totally forgot. I also do have a website that is. That is currently online and it is live. It is there for you guys. Go check those items out. Those will be also at the flea market as well. And, yeah, if somebody buys it from the flea market, it will be sold out on the website because there's only one available. Every single item is only one. So I always update that whenever something is sold at the flea market, so you do not have to worry about that right now. I'm just gonna stick at the Rose Bowl right now, because I really really, really enjoy the Rose Bowl and I feel like mostly what I can handle right now.

Rebekah: 12:28

So another life update are you guys ready? Because I don't think you guys are prepared for this. But I had to get a part-time yes, I know, because I just needed some income that was steady. I was very stressed out and with every business it is stressful and you don't know what you're going to get for that month. You don't know how much sales you're going to make. You just don't know. It was really hard. At least I can say for the three months that you don't know what's going to happen. You don't know what the future holds and which every single flea market is. You just don't know. Basically, I had to get a part-time job or a full-time job, I don't know which one. But now, you guys, I am back at the doctor's office the same doctor's office that I quit. Yes, I know, but they did end up finding somebody that's replaced me after I quit, but they've gone for like six months without having somebody.

Rebekah: 13:54

You guys, I was out of work for at least a year. Where did that year go? Seriously, where did that year go? I was like what did I do in that year? What did I do? I felt like I didn't do anything, but I did. I started a business. I started with crocheting certain things and putting that on Etsy and trying that out. That did not really work out for me and I needed to pivot and do something else, and that's what I found Rebecca's Rodial LLC Doing the antique store and stuff that came out afterwards I'm like, okay, yeah, that happened all in a year, but what the heck, where did the year go? I am back there. I am back there part time.

Rebekah: 14:54

The person that did replace me. Within the six months that that person was there for, she ended up leaving because of personal reasons and then, and then my aunt that is a manager she ended up was like I need help. I'm not gonna do this again by myself for another six months before we find somebody, or if we find somebody, and so I'm gonna ask the doctors if you can come back part time. And I was like, okay, I mean yes, I did say, hey, you know, if you need me, I will come back. If the doctors don't want me, then okay, like I can understand. You know there was a lot of stuff that would that happen and I would understand why they would not want me to come back and that's okay and I understand.

Rebekah: 15:51

But, yeah, so, long story short, they said that you know they would take me back after trying to find somebody within the applications and stuff like that that they got, but nothing was sticking and people were not showing up for their interviews and so, yeah, so they ended up having me back and for the, for the one week I was there for part time and now it's more going into like slowly, you know, full time, but I just do not want to go full time. I really enjoy it being part time and then I can still focus on my business and because there's a lot to do on that and in that end. So I'm glad that I am part time, even because I want to have that steady income at least, and that will be great to have for the meanwhile so I can eat and get groceries, you know, and thank God I am still here with my mom and rent free, you know, and I am super grateful for that, because if that was not the case, like what would I be at, you know? Like where would I be at? Like I would not even have a business right now, because I would have to, or maybe I would be, because, or I would also have to have a full time job, you know, and have, you know, my business be full time as well, and so that would be a hell of a lot. And I know people do that and you know kudos to you guys because, damn, like it is a lot, a lot of work.

Rebekah: 17:38

You know, going back, like I didn't know what to expect, you know, and I didn't have any expectations, so I didn't, just just so I wouldn't be disappointed, you know, or feel some type of way, but other than that, like no, everything was fine, like they opened up with open arms, they accepted me again and it was pretty cool to be back. Actually, like I kind of missed it. You know, I kind of missed having to do a job. Now that my business is not a job, but it is just like having to go somewhere that you can do something for, for work, and you're gonna get paid for it, because like, yeah, I was doing my business but you get paid slowly and you get paid as how much you work and or not even how much you work, like I know I work hard in my business but like it's it's very, it's very hard out there, especially with the economy and stuff like that and having a small business, it's it's hard, you know, and so so, yeah, I really missed it.

Rebekah: 18:52

I really missed the, the patience and and seeing them again and yeah, it was really cool and people, people really, really, really like enjoyed seeing my face again, you know, and that was really cool to know that I was missed, or you know they thought about me and you know, you know it feels good to be, to be noticed. I guess that I wasn't gone and you know, I just didn't feel when I, when I first left, I just felt like I wasn't appreciated, you know, and and to see that the patients felt like, oh my god, like a sigh of relief, like on their faces that I was back, it was kind of like crazy that they even you know, I thought it was invisible. You know, you just feel invisible when You've been there for a long time and and you just feel like you're just doing this, just to do this, like here we are, you know, and you see the patients coming go every single month or every three months or you know, stuff like that. So it was really cool to see them and to know their faces and know their names. You know, I'm like, oh, they're so and so and I don't, my goodness I can. I know you are, you know, but yeah, it was pretty cool to.

Rebekah: 20:10

To go back what I say it's a new job. Yeah, it's a new job. It's not like my old job. I'm obviously part-time and stuff, and I don't think I would go full-time, but the doctor said that as I can stay as long as I want to and I can also do as more hours as I want to as well, and so some days I am half day as well. So we'll see, I definitely don't want to do full-time, that's for sure, because I also have my business as well to focus on and I feel like if I do that, then I'm gonna totally lose focus. And if you guys are listening and you want to start your own business, like learn from my mistakes that I'm saying throughout, every little, through every single flea market that I do, and the pros and cons of what I'm doing and stuff like and what if it's not for you? But like if it is, then go for it.

Rebekah: 21:03

Like it's pretty cool to do the Rose Bowl and to be like, oh, no, I'll never be in the Rose Bowl, but like when I was like, hey, I'm doing the Rose Bowl, guys they're like what, like what, and everybody got on board and everybody was happy for me and and it's, it's pretty special to like actually have those accomplishments and have it under about. You know, like that, like you did it, you did that, you know, and it feels awesome. And guess what? Like if I have I've done it, I'm doing it right now and, yeah, it might be slow right now, but guess what? Like I can look back and be like, hey, I did that, I did that business, and you know what? I regret nothing. I regret absolutely nothing and I'm going to keep doing this and To be real with you guys. Like I was afraid of failure, I was terrified, I am still afraid of failure.

Rebekah: 22:00

But and to go through the, the, what is it? Like? The, the obstacles, like us, or like the hardships? Because, like, of course, nobody wants to go through the hardships, no one wants to go through, um, through the bad times. I guess you can say right, but Obviously you have to go through the bad times, the hardships, in order to get to the good things in life.

Rebekah: 22:26

And to say that the hardships at the time were really bad, but To actually break through of it, it, it's like, how can I explain this? Like it's, it's all within the journey and if you don't have the hardships, you're not gonna enjoy it. If it's all like good, good, good, good, good, and you're like, well, this is easy, you know, like, oh, who cares? You know, but if you actually have hard things that you have to like, go over and do the obstacles of it, you know, be like, and you look back and you like I did that, like that was hard to do, that obstacle, you know, and I do that and that's what gets you more motivated to keep on going, to keep going with it.

Rebekah: 23:12

You know, and that's what I get now, that other people have said that before and I'm like, how, why would you want to go through that? Why would you want to go through that hardship? Just to get like I know you want to get to the other side, but can't you avoid that hardship? You know, but you can't, you literally can't. It will happen and you just have to figure out how to get to the other side. And you will look back and be like, damn, I did that, like I overcame that, like okay, what else, what else can I do? Like bring it, like I mean, don't bring it, you know, god, don't bring it, you know. Like I can get through it. But yeah, so I, I'm just enjoying the season of life, like there's has been a lot of ups and downs and a lot of happy tears, a lot of sad tears, a lot of I Don't know tears.

Rebekah: 24:11

I don't know what the future holds, tears, I know, I don't know. I just have a strange strong feeling that I'm gonna be okay and I feel like my business, I feel like my business is gonna be okay, I know I'm gonna be okay, I know my future is gonna be okay. I mean, obviously we don't know for certain, but like I just I have a feeling like it's gonna be okay, it's great and you know I am enjoying life. I you know we're here for a good time. You know we're not here for a bad time.

Rebekah: 24:47

I Mean that brings me to like getting closer to my faith, like I have been a very I've been very estranged from my faith, meaning like going to the church and and being a part of a community of church and and actually Having a church that is home in a way. I used to go to the Catholic school and and that Catholic school was everything for me and I was there for eighth grade and you know I would keep going back and like, of course, when you're a little kid, you don't want to. You know, go to church or whatnot, and like when you become grown up, you just don't want to, you just don't have time and you're not putting that as a priority. You know, and I'm just in a season where I know I need God and God has provided and God has been there for me through everything that I have been going through ever since I started this business and and I have been putting everything on him and, yeah, I worry, but at the end of the day, it's not.

Rebekah: 26:01

My story has been written already and I'm just going through the motions as they come to me for me to figure out on my own, to Create that path that has been already written for me. So that's where I'm heading and I feel like I'm getting more closer to God in that aspect and I feel like I need to go back to church and that's been pulling on my heartstrings. You know a lot lately and you know, yeah, you, I've been watching like YouTube live streams, you know, but it's not the same as going into a church and and physically being Like, like your physical body being in that church. You know, I'm raised Catholic, so I will be going back to a Catholic church and I know the reasons why I left the church and I would probably speak on that on a different, on a different podcast, because I would really Like to talk about that, because it's my form of therapy, but as of right now, I in this moment, I don't think I can talk about it right now, but I will have the strength to talk about it at some other time.

Rebekah: 27:20

But, yeah, I do want to continue the path of Religion in my life and in my future, and my fiance knows that that's a big part of me and my family and we're Mexican, so it's always gonna be a part of who and how I was brought up. So, yeah, he's going to be coming to church with me and it would be our first time going to church together. I'm really happy that he's going to come with me and he was like, yeah, let's go. You know, like he's open to it, like he has gone to church before, but it's always been pushed down his throat in a way. And so for him to know that it's important for me and he wants to come into the journey with me and it's it's scary for both of us, because he hasn't been into a Catholic Church and and for me me going back to a Catholic Church is huge, you know. So it's it's both scary for both of us and I think it's a great opportunity for both of us to To experience it together, you know. And also we want to get married by the church as well, so we haven't even set a date yet, but we will be because of the preparations for the marriage and the church. So we will have to decide on a date. So that's exciting and and and I'm really Again happy that he has decided with me to do a Catholic Church Even if he's not Catholic, he still wants to have that for me and he knows that like it's really important for my family and I to do that, you know, and you know, listen, like I would be great and just have like a beach wedding, you know, and he would be great and just go to Vegas and just you know, elope, or just go to Vegas and just get married there. But it's just at a different level when you get married at the church and yeah, you can get your marriage license and get married at the courts and stuff, but it's just a different. It's just a different type of connection.

Rebekah: 31:42

When you do it within a church, it's like a covenant to each other, a sacrament that we are going to Be married in front of God, in front of our whole entire family, and there's also preparations for it. There's classes that we have to take to be prepared of what the future holds. Like I don't know some things that like maybe I should know, you know, about marriage and about certain other things that come within a marriage, and I love that they are going to prepare us for that and to do classes in like a family gathering and stuff and and that's really cool to have. You know, it's just not let's go get married at a courtyard, you know. Let's go to the courts and just get married like who cares? You know, like it's just more than just going to the church and getting married.

Rebekah: 32:40

It's a covenant, it's a sacrament, it's a sacrament that I have been preparing my own entire life for. It's. It's a commitment to, for, for both of us to have God in our lives, to have God be in front of our relationship and to also build a family around God, you know, and have God be a very important topic in our family, in our household, you know. So we're both very happy for that and I'm glad we are on the same page because if we're not, then, like you know, there's no moving forward. You know, and I am grateful that I to get to share my life with somebody that respects my wishes and respects my religion and and he wants to get to know more of the Catholic side, and not saying that he wants to fully, you know, convert. All I need from him is the support that he is giving, you know, and so that's that's all I can ask for, you know, and and for him to go to church with me. That's big, and so I'm very glad that he's going to go along with this journey with me and that just brings so much joy into my life, into my heart. So, yeah, I will end it here.

Rebekah: 34:09

If you guys have any questions or anything that you guys want to share with me, or any advice that you guys want, like let me know. Like just send me an email or post something wherever you guys are listening this to, like just ask me something. I will respond to you guys how to get to the rolls bowl, how, what's the process of that? Like, what's the process of getting your LLC, because I have an LLC for the business. You know, I had to look all that up, I had to do my research on that, and if you are stuck anywhere, like just let me know and I will let. I will tell you what the steps are and what I have used and what permits you need. You know, all that stuff. Like I will let you guys know if you guys are really interested on doing your business, because you know what working for yourself is everything, and I and I would want this for every single one of you guys.

Rebekah: 35:11

If you guys are thinking about doing your own business, like do it, like don't let anything stop you. If it's money and go get a loan. If it's money, go get people that will invest in you at like, talk about it, talk to your friends, talk to your neighbors. Your, you know anybody you never know. You never know who's going to be listening to you and wanting to be a part of your journey or want to do that type of business with you, to like who knows, you know. But if you guys have any questions, let me know. I will try to answer to the best of my ability. It might be a new question, like who knows? We will learn together, you know. So just let me know and I will make a podcast out of it and, yeah, we'll learn together.

Rebekah: 36:02

As always, we are going to be sending you guys out with a Bible verse, and today's Bible verse is Proverbs, chapter 16, verse 3 commit your work to the Lord and your plans will be established. I 100% agree on that. I have nothing else to say about that that is self-explanatory. I have no words, okay, guys. Well, thank you guys so much for coming back to listen to the podcast and for all the newcomers welcome. And there is more to share, don't worry. So I will be coming back on now, tuesdays. I hope you guys are making waves in your guys's lives and we will see you guys next Tuesday. Have a great day, guys. You.