Creating a sustainable line of soaps from his kitchen, Donagh Quigley, founder of The Handmade Soap Company, has since grown the company into a booming international business. It all began with the recession of 2009, which essentially put him out of work as a roof thatcher. With time on his hands, he ended up sailing from Ireland to the U.S. in a friend’s boat. Once he and the crew arrived in the States, he found himself in a local bookstore where he discovered two books that would guide him on his journey, one on aromatherapy and the other on making soap. He eventually learned the art of soap making, and upon returning to Ireland, he and his wife began making soap in their kitchen and selling it at local farmers markets. Over the years, The Handmade Soap Company has grown, and it has expanded its product range to include body care, home fragrance, and more. It recently launched a new line, ANAM, which is its most sustainable yet. It was important to Quigley that the products rely on ingredients that are ethically sourced and feature packaging that is kind to the environment. Here, he shares some of his personal thoughts on wellness and how he maintains his own wellbeing.
What does wellness mean to you?
Years ago, when I was in my teens, I read a book called the Celestine Prophecy. It was kind of trendy at the time. There is a concept in it where two incomplete people who join to form a complete person are never fully whole, whereas two complete people can come together to form an interlocking circle that is unbreakable. That concept always stuck with me. So, wellness to me means looking after yourself. If you can’t be in tip-top shape yourself, you’re not going to be much use to anyone else, so it is being a little bit selfish but for the greater good.
What are your favorite things to do to maintain your personal wellbeing?
I run about 12 kilometers a couple of times a week down by the river. I don’t really go for the exercise as much as I do for the scenery, just to be outside in nature. It’s autumn time in Ireland, the leaves are turning, and it’s getting a little bit cool—it is my happy place. I’ve also been doing a lot of yoga over the past 10 to 15 years, and I have been keeping that up. I ebb and flow from a daily practice to a couple of times a week. At the moment, I am at twice a week and that is to keep me nourished.
What is your favorite healthy beverage?
Well, I’m not sure it is healthy, but I just can’t just stop drinking fizzy water. San Pellegrino is my brand!
What is your favorite place for a health vacation or escape?
I just love going camping with my wife and the kids. There is just something refreshing about sleeping on the ground. Basically, we invested in a lovely tent a few years ago. We even have a stove that you put inside of it. It is how we reset. We do stress, and that is our favorite family holiday!
What aspect of your wellbeing do you struggle with the most or would like to improve?
I absolutely love fizzy sweets—the sourer the better—and fizzy cola. I just couldn’t imagine life without them. Sometimes I struggle with it, sometimes I just embrace it.
Do you have a secret hint or wellness tip you would like to share?
There are no rules, and you do not have to ask permission. Just do what works for you— it could be rolling in peanut butter, or it could be doing something you love for 17 hours straight. It’s whatever works. There are no rules.
What do you think are the most overused words in wellness?
Well, wellness, of course! It’s just so subjective as to what it means to each individual person. Define it for yourself.
What brings you joy?
To be honest, another day. I love it all! I get a lot of pleasure out of work. I get a lot of pleasure out of going from this madhouse (work) to another madhouse (my home), and I really do enjoy it all. Every day is a gift.
