How Creativity Helped Me Begin Again | Lori Morgan on Grief, Reinvention & Building Tom & Chickpea

What happens when life changes in an instant? In this heartfelt episode of The Motivatarian Exchange, I sit down with Lori Morgan, founder and creative force behind Tom & Chickpea, a beloved furniture painting and creative studio in Derry, New Hampshire. Lori's story is one of resilience, reinvention, creativity, and community. After the sudden loss of her husband Tom in 2017, Lori found herself navigating unimaginable grief while raising two young children. About a year later, she picked up a paintbrush—and that simple act became the beginning of an entirely new chapter. Today, Lori is an artist, furniture painter, interior design enthusiast, Wise Owl Paint retailer, business owner, community advocate, and the creator of a thriving brick-and-mortar creative space that recently celebrated five years in business. In this conversation, we discuss: ✨ Using creativity as a path toward healing ✨ Building a business after personal loss ✨ The connection between interior design, color, texture, and emotion ✨ Opening a creative retail shop and serving a local community ✨ The importance of organic growth and authentic connection ✨ Supporting other artists through collaboration and shared spaces ✨ Finding purpose through reinvention Lori also shares the touching story behind the name Tom&Chickpea and how her late husband continues to inspire everything she creates today. Whether you're an artist, entrepreneur, creative business owner, or someone navigating a season of change, this episode is a beautiful reminder that new beginnings can emerge from the most unexpected places. Listen now and discover how creativity can help us heal, connect, and begin again. Upcoming Events: I do a lot of community service and am going to be in the news soon for helping coordinate the collection of formal wear for the upcoming proms of the two high schools in town. I offer private paint classes with several scheduled this month and am working to offer a paint demonstration at a local winery in the next month. I also carry the work of several local artists and share my space with them to offer classes in their areas of art as well (pottery, dried flower arranging and more) Fun Facts: I bring my Schnoodle Leon to the shop every day and his underbite wins everyone over the moment they see him. Website Artist | Furniture Painter | Tom&Chickpea Facebook TomandChickpea Instagram TomandChickpea (@tomandchickpea) • Instagram profile