Sometimes the path to health and wellness first requires a difficult journey of recovery. Such is the case with Linda Taylor, owner of Juxtaposed Boutique in northeast ABQ. A Cancer survivor who changed her life to pursue a more positive and fulfilling direction, she takes every opportunity to share her recovery experience to anyone who might need solace.
Linda told us “I wanted to share my story to others who might be battling a disease or a physical disability…anyone who might not be feeling good about themselves. I tell them you can get through it. You can create a new version of yourself even when, in the moment, it might seem like you can’t.”
After graduating college with a bachelor’s degree in international business, Linda began her climb to executive positions in retail and workforce solutions. She says “I became very career-oriented, working 60 hours a week. I was highly motivated to break the glass ceiling for female executives. It eventually became my entire identity.”
Then in 2010, Linda was diagnosed with an aggressive form of Head and Neck Cancer despite being only 29 years old and having no risk factors such as lifestyle or genetics. She has battled it three times over a span of eight years with substantial rounds of recovery. Her jawbone had to be replaced by a piece of her fibula, and she had difficulty walking, speaking, and eating. Her inability to clearly communicate and her lack of mobility curtailed her public social interaction and she felt isolated.
In 2019, Linda and her husband Trevor moved from Las Vegas, NV to Albuquerque, seeking a more inspiring environment for recovery. She took up artistic projects like hand-painting décor and furnishings to compliment the style of their new home. This eventually led to opening her shop Juxtaposed, where she also represents 12 other local artists.
She says that the local community of artists and customers that drop in were a big factor in her recovery and that her shop is “a little place of peace,” away from any negativity that might come along.
Linda told us that “It really takes a village to create a healing environment. Our artists and customers are what keeps me going and what makes me smile.”
Juxtaposed is located at 5200 Eubank Blvd NE. Their phone is 505.859.4287.