Fear is the brain’s way of protecting our bodies from pain and danger. Fear stops us from taking a risk that could potentially hurt us. But what if that risk would transform your life in a positive way? What if fear is stopping you from achieving something amazing? True happiness could be waiting just outside of your comfort zone. Brooke Riley understands what it means to take that leap of faith. Six years ago, Brooke decided her dream life was worth more than her comfort. She risked everything to launch her own lifestyle blogging business, and the outcome has been remarkable.
Brooke Riley grew up in Hopkinsville, Kentucky, but has called Mayfield home for the last fifteen years. Throughout her life, she excelled academically. She was unique in her love of school and was a noticeably strong writer from a young age. She was on track to be the valedictorian of her high school and knew that meant speaking at graduation. Her fear of public speaking almost caused her to purposely underperform so her grades would drop. She was going to slack off in school, just so she would not have to give the valedictorian speech. Brooke realized she needed to overcome her fear of public speaking. Not only did she present the valedictorian speech, she went on to major in Public Relations and minor in Organizational Communication at Murray State University. She challenged her fear when she could have easily given in to it. This wouldn’t be the last time she pushed herself out of her comfort zone.
Brooke fell in love with a man while attending Murray State and married him as soon as she could. She had always dreamed of getting married and starting her own family. Watching her own mother as a little girl, she wanted that life for herself. Brooke reminisced on how she would doodle the names of her future children while sitting in class. She had a vision in her head; her entire life laid out. However, life never goes exactly as planned. She says, “I knew what I wanted, but God had different plans for me.” Brooke and her husband tried having children for four years. Every month that passed with no pregnancy, she grew more frustrated. She struggled to understand why people that didn’t want children could have several, but she, who so desperately wanted them, wasn’t getting pregnant. The experience was extremely isolating for her. Friends and family tried to offer words of encouragement, but their comments only made her feel worse. The couple almost lost hope until one day, they discovered they were pregnant with twins. Brooke was absolutely elated. She had always loved the idea of having twins. The couple began sharing the happy news. She told everyone she knew that they were pregnant. She was excited to begin her life as a mother. Unfortunately, God had different plans for their little family. At nine weeks pregnant, they lost both of the twins. Their hearts were truly shattered. The devastating news was felt through their entire community. As a woman of Faith, Brooke put her trust in God. She believes everything happens for a reason and did not let the loss break her.
After the miscarriage, Brooke’s physician suggested she undergo a procedure for endometriosis. The surgery would not only help ease some of the pain she had been experiencing, but it could help her conceive. Brooke and her husband decided to proceed with the surgery. The results were better than they could have ever imagined. A month after the procedure, she became pregnant with her daughter, Eden. She describes it as the biggest miracle in her life. When Eden was born, she had to be transferred to the NICU at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau, MO. She stayed there for five days. Despite some of the complications, Eden was such a blessing to their lives. When she was a year old, the couple decided to try for another. This was when the couple had their son, Blaize. Unfortunately, Blaize had to spend time in the NICU at St. Francis Medical Center as well. Once she had both of her babies at home, life began falling into place. Brooke says, “Things don’t happen on our timetable, but it’s always right. It wasn’t how I thought it all would happen, but I am so glad it did.” Brooke encourages anyone struggling with fertility issues to hold on to hope. She believes it is vital not to lose faith. Her story has the power to inspire and uplift so many women. That is one of the reasons she chooses to be vulnerable and raw on her lifestyle blog. She wants to show other women that they are not alone. Her blog is a safe space for so many, including Brooke herself.
However, she hasn’t always had her blog as an outlet. In fact, Brooke was pursuing a career in a very different field. She had a comfortable position in a company that many people would stay with for a lifetime. She was raising her kids and working full time. She had actually been with the company for nine years. She describes it as “a career I loved, I had good pay and good benefits,” but it was beginning to weigh on her. The job was stressful and took a toll on her mental health. Brooke says that she felt God pushing her in a different direction, but fear kept her there. Although the stress was physically affecting her, it was risky to leave such a secure position. One day, the mental pressure became too much. Brooke fell extremely ill, to the point of being life-flighted to Vanderbilt Medical Center. She had suffered a stress-induced Transient Ischemic Attack or a “ministroke.” This is the moment she realized she wasn’t fully living. Her purpose in life was more than this job. After some self-reflection, Brooke acknowledged that she loved to write, renovate, and fix things up. She began considering the possibility of documenting all of the projects she had been working on.
Before starting her own, she had never read a blog, nor did she have any previous knowledge about starting or managing one. She decided to dip her toes into the world of blogging. Brooke would stay awake all night working on her blog. She would spend a full day at her job, prepare dinner, get her kids into bed, then the writing began. Exhausted but determined, she kept moving forward with the blog. She knew it would take time to gain popularity, but her passion kept her going. She titled her blog “Re-Fabbed.” The name seems simple at first, Brooke flipped furniture, “re-fabbing” projects around the house, but the title has a much deeper meaning. She says that God has re-fabbed her, “He has sanded me down and made me new.” He has renovated and restored her the same way she transforms projects. Throughout all of her trials, Brooke’s faith has been her pillar of strength. The name of her company honors the way God has moved in her life. Re-Fabbed is a place for inspiration and community. Six months after starting the Re-Fabbed blog, Brooke and her husband decided she would leave her job to pursue her business full time. This was a major decision that the couple prayed over and felt in their hearts was what God wanted. Her husband was incredibly supportive throughout the entire process. He took over the financial responsibility while she started the business and stood behind her every step of the way.
Brooke says that she is so much happier and fulfilled with her life now. She is now able to spend more time with her children as they grow up. Re-Fabbed has been inspiring women for six years and has grown into a thriving company. Brooke now has a cult following, an online clothing boutique, and was even featured in Forbes Next 1000 as a business owner. “We all have dreams. We wish we could turn our hobby into something. Until you take that step and try it, you’re never going to know.” While Brooke is proud of where her business is today, she is also incredibly grateful. She hopes that her story will inspire people to walk in their passion and purpose.
Fear has a way of holding us back from our full potential. Brooke Riley challenged that fear throughout her life and has found her happiness. She is truly a success story.
