The One Decision I Made 17 Years Ago That Changed Everything

Seventeen years ago, I made a decision that would change the trajectory of my entire life: I chose to get sober.

That choice — made in my darkest moment — led to a journey of recovery, rediscovery of my passion for writing, the creation of my blog, and eventually, the launch of the By Jillee Shop, which celebrates its 6th anniversary today.

Today, I want to share the deeper story behind the shop — a journey that began long before we sold our first product and continues through every life we touch.

A Second Chance at Life

Some of you may already know parts of my story. Seventeen years ago, I hit rock bottom in my battle with alcohol addiction. After a particularly dark Thanksgiving where my family didn’t know if I was dead or alive for 24 hours, I finally admitted I needed help and entered a residential treatment facility called The Ark.

My counselors emphasized one crucial lesson during my 78 days there: I needed to find my passion and pursue it if I wanted to stay sober. This wasn’t just a suggestion — it was presented as mandatory for my recovery.

As a former broadcast journalist, I reconnected with my love of writing. When I returned home from treatment, I started a blog where I would share “one good thing” each day. I did this partly to keep myself accountable, and partly to focus on the positive things in life that could help me overcome my demons.

What began as a personal healing journey soon touched others. Comments and emails poured in from people who found hope, practical solutions, and community through my daily posts. One Good Thing by Jillee grew beyond anything I could have imagined, eventually reaching millions of readers each month.

Your Problems, Our Solutions

As One Good Thing grew, I noticed something that bothered me deeply. I was constantly testing and recommending products to solve everyday problems, but I couldn’t guarantee their quality. I’d spend hours researching the best solutions for you — from cleaning supplies to essential oils — but had no control over what you actually received when you purchased them elsewhere.

This disconnect frustrated me because I knew how it felt to waste money on products that didn’t work. I’ve been disappointed by items that overpromised and underdelivered, leaving me feeling skeptical.

Your comments and emails confirmed you shared the challenge of finding trustworthy solutions for everyday problems — products that actually worked without breaking the bank.

The By Jillee Shop was created with one simple goal: to provide solutions that actually work. I wanted to build a place where you’d never waste your money on ineffective products or feel that familiar disappointment when something doesn’t deliver on its promises.

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Looking for solutions that are tested, trusted, and truly work? You can explore our bestselling problem-solvers as part of our Anniversary Sale — on now through April 23rd. CLICK HERE to shop!

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A Look Behind The Scenes

I started One Good Thing by Jillee alone, writing late into the night in my green armchair. For the first year, I did everything myself — writing posts, answering comments, managing social media, and handling technical issues. While it was incredibly fulfilling, it simply wasn’t sustainable as the audience grew.

Today, One Good Thing and the By Jillee Shop are powered by a small team of just eight dedicated people who believe deeply in our mission. Our production manager Brittany is the backbone of our daily operations—we simply couldn’t function without her. My business partner Chris provides the organized, detail-oriented perspective that balances my creative approach. My daughter Britta helps with writing and editing (I often joke that she knows me better than I know myself), while my daughter-in-law Kaitlyn manages operations for the shop.

We also have team members working remotely: Jessie handles shop customer service from Tennessee, Stacie manages OGT Plus and blog support from California, and Margie assists with writing and editing from Arizona.

When you read our blog or purchase from our shop, you’re supporting real people with families and dreams—not a faceless corporation with shareholders.

The blog will always remain free, and we understand many of our readers are on fixed incomes. You should never feel bad about enjoying our content without making a purchase—that’s exactly what it’s there for! While we do need ads on the site and product sales to support our team, we’re committed to earning your trust and business by providing real value, not through guilt or pressure.

When my counselors at The Ark urged me to “find my passion and pursue it,” I never imagined it would lead to creating a community that touches so many lives—both readers and team members alike. It’s become one of the most rewarding aspects of this entire journey.

Your Transformation Stories

While the behind-the-scenes work is important, what truly matters are the lives we touch. Here are some of the stories that remind us why we do what we do:

Terri had suffered from terrible headaches her entire life — sinus headaches, tension headaches, migraines, you name it. When she ordered our Complete Relief roll-on, she was understandably skeptical. As she later told us:

“I didn’t really want to waste my money on it; nothing ever helps my headaches. So I woke up with a sinus headache, and my neck hurt. I thought, ‘This stuff probably isn’t even made for sinuses.’ But I rolled it around my face anyway and all over my neck just to try it. MY HEADACHE WAS COMPLETELY GONE WITHIN 5 MINUTES!!!!!”

She was so shocked by the results that she now carries Complete Relief with her wherever she goes. “I will definitely be ordering more of this wonderful wonder blend of oils,” she wrote, “I am truly grateful for Complete Relief!”

Or Conni, whose sleep issues had plagued her for years—insomnia, waking too early, and waking up multiple times a night. She’d tried countless remedies without success.

“I was half-heartedly hopeful,” she admitted when ordering our Slumber roll-on. “I mean, what could possibly help me now after years of trying everything short of knocking myself unconscious?”

The results surprised even her. “To my surprise (and grateful relief) – it really, really, REALLY WORKS!!! I can fall asleep & stay asleep!”

Suzanne lives with multiple autoimmune diseases, including Sjogren’s and Lupus. As she explained to me, Sjogren’s attacks organs that produce liquid or lubrication, including the skin.

“The skin on my face feels like fine sandpaper. All. The. Time,” she wrote. “It’s been so many years that I don’t even remember what ‘real’ face skin feels like.”

After just one month of using our Timeless skincare line, Suzanne experienced a transformation: “For the first time in years, the skin on my face is beginning to feel like real skin.”

Then there’s Jane, who suffers from Erythromelalgia (EM), a rare and painful condition that causes extreme burning pain and redness in the extremities.

After exhausting all conventional treatments, Jane was facing morphine as her only option for pain relief—a path she desperately wanted to avoid. Though skeptical after so many disappointments, she decided to give our Restore blend a try.

The results changed everything for her. “This little miracle in a bottle is a game changer for me. Now I’m not sitting in tears through the burning agony of this condition. It soothes and if I apply at the onset, can stop it in its tracks.”

Her message ended with words that humbled me to my core: “This has changed my life in ways I could not imagine.”

While these dramatic transformations touch my heart deeply, I also love hearing about the everyday moments of joy and relief our products bring to people’s lives.

Take JoAnn, who at 73 was skeptical about trying our Danish Dough Whisk. She wrote, “I am thrilled I took the chance. This is one item I can definitely say has made my life easier.”

Or Carole, who at 70 had taken in three teenagers and was watching every penny. She hesitantly tried our Wool Dryer Balls because one of the boys had sensitive skin. “I have saved money. My son’s skin does not itch him anymore,” she reported.

Perhaps the review that best captures the spirit of what we’re trying to accomplish came from Jan, who wrote: “Every product, every hint, every unusual way to use an ordinary product makes life so much more manageable and enjoyable!”

When I read your stories, something profound happens. I’m transported back to those early days of my recovery when my counselors urged me to “find my passion and pursue it.” Never in my wildest dreams could I have imagined that following that advice would lead to products that help people sleep better, feel better, and live better.

If you had told me seventeen years ago—when I was struggling just to make it through each day sober—that one day I’d be running a business that positively impacts people’s lives in such meaningful ways, I would have laughed in disbelief.

These stories aren’t just customer testimonials. They’re reminders that when we commit to quality and truly care about the problems we’re solving, we can make a difference in people’s everyday lives—sometimes in ways that even doctors and prescription medications cannot, and sometimes in simple ways that just bring a smile to someone’s face or make a daily task a little easier.

And that makes every challenge, every late night, and every hurdle along this journey absolutely worth it.

Our Promises To You

These transformations aren’t accidental. As we celebrate six years, I want to share the promises that have guided us from the beginning:

1. Tested, Trusted, and Worth It — Every product has been rigorously tested and personally approved. If it doesn’t meet our standards, we won’t sell it.

2. No Risk, Just Results — Our 90-day money-back guarantee means you’ll love what you buy, or we’ll make it right.

3. Practical Solutions, Not Clutter — We offer honest, high-quality solutions to real problems—no exaggerated claims, unnecessary upsells, or trendy gadgets that collect dust. Just practical products that save you time, money, and effort.

4. Real Support from Real People — When you reach out, you’ll hear from someone who genuinely cares—no bots or runarounds, just friendly service from people who understand your challenges.

5. Your Feedback Shapes What We Do — We listen to your reviews, questions, and suggestions to improve our products and service. Your input matters.

6. Transparency Always — If we make a mistake, you’ll hear it from us first. We’re committed to honesty and proactively making things right.

7. You Belong Here — We create products with women in their 50s and beyond in mind, because we understand the unique needs of this stage of life. When you shop with us, you’re part of a community where you’ll always feel understood and valued.

None of this would be possible without you — the incredible community that has supported us every step of the way. Your loyalty, feedback, and encouragement mean more than you know.

Celebrating Together

Our Anniversary Sale is happening right now to mark this milestone! If you’re interested in exploring our collections and anniversary specials, you can CLICK HERE to see what we’re offering. The anniversary celebration continues through April 23rd, so there’s still time to join in.

Whether you’re looking for natural remedies that actually work, skincare that delivers real results, or household tools that make everyday tasks easier, you’ll find thoughtfully crafted solutions you can trust.

But whether you shop with us or not, please know how grateful we are to have you as part of our community. The connections we’ve built together over these past fourteen years on the blog, and six years on the shop, are the true gift — and they’re what keep me passionate and purposeful every single day.

What is one of the best decisions you’ve ever made?