I think that the Fall season has always been my favorite... with the months of September, then October, come new beginnings: a new school year (wearing favorite sweaters & boots), autumn gardens of squash & pumpkins, Fall's equinox, the ushering in of The Holidays and thoughts of gift-giving... (need holiday decor & gift ideas? see SweetPea & Violets' Gift Gallery)
Even though I so love and enjoy the season and coming holidays, it is also a time that I, as do many, occasionally deal with bouts of depression. Despite all of the festivities, it is so very common that one often feels overwhelmed with all that "needs to be done" - as well as an engulfing sense of lonliness. Yes, I have my family all around me, and yet I tend to still feel so completely on my own and isolated. The "kids" are all grown up and doing their own things. I often feel left to my own devices (not a bad thing, generally) and without someone special of my own to share the laughter and merriment with. Do I need someone to share these things with? Maybe not... but, it would be so much more... fun... to share it all. Throughout their childhood years, I always gave all I had to make sure my children would have funny memories to recall. The costumes (both made by me and bought upon occasion), the few get-togethers or parties that I actually managed to put together, the school parades and festivities... I did these things on my own, without benefit of a "partner's" assistance, support, participation. Thus, the resultant sadness, the lonliness. These experiences didn't quite live up to my... expectations. You know, those envisioned fantasies of blissful married life. My life, my married life of those years, was far from blissful.
And, yet, I perservered. I kept it up, hoping, hoping... for what, I don't really know. I suppose for what should have been and wasn't.
I have admittedly abandoned that mode of thinking in the past few years. Still deal with the sadness, but know that I do indeed have the power to make it different, make what I envision a reality. Working on that... It is where the aromatherapy and meditation comes in, I suppose. I've learned to deal with emotive responses and control how I react to given circumstances or events with meditative practice and essential oils. It helps, it really does!! Not that I'm perfect - far from it! Still so very much to learn... and I am learning, every single day. I want to share what I learn, the skills developing. I want to give back and help...
That's where my websites come in to play... I've used these websites to fulfill the need to give, to help, to create. They've been my resource, my implement through which I have both gained and made available usable knowledge. At SweetPea and Violets one finds the tools - essential oils, accessories, candles, books, even links to other resources - to utilize in helping oneself, in growing and evolving emotionally, spiritually. At Cottage Craft Creations, SweetPea's sister site, one finds the art and craftwork that, I believe, rounds it all out. After all, healing and creation kind of goes hand-in-hand, doesn't it? And, I do indeed feel the energy buzzing through me when I am creating - whether it's the hands-on of clay sculpting, drawing and painting, writing, or the needles clicking with the making of each new knitted or crocheted hat, scarf, sweater or baby afghan...
That said, I'd like to share a bit of poetry by a favorite unknown writer:
Preparation
What is needed, what is wanted
To purge the meek and save the strong,
what we need is a loving song,
to grab our axes with one hand,
and swing down harder than the land:
The vessel of which will hold our blood,
and the lungs that will help breathe out loud,
the feet that will climb over teeth,
and the warmth that will deny penetration;
the link that will lower into the dark,
the air that will consume our thirst,
the life of fire's wrath,
and the tune of wind's shout;
the extension of man's hand,
laid deep in nothing's mouth,
taken farther with one word,
defied again not by riddle;
tome's of wisdom far begotten,
chests of fear far departed,
logic represented,
never left in solid question;
if none are present with the coming lesson,
we will be undone at the seams,
lest there be another attribute,
of which will be allowed to lead...
This is not what we want...
simply what we need.
- Odin Cult
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Thursday, August 20, 2009
...a bit more on Meditation
I've been studying more of the meditation techniques, as described through the e-newsletters I receive from The Meditation Expert. I admit, I am a novice at this - it takes a lot of work and concentration to empty the mind of all thoughts (we've all seen, I'm sure, the funny commercials of Ellen DeGeneres attempting to meditate) to just breathe deeply and... be, for however long at a time. It does help to concentrate on the breathing - sort of like when a woman is focusing on her breathing when in labor (which I did during natural childbirth!)... You are just focusing on each breath, each inhalation, each exhalation. Slowly. Slowly. It's interesting how... relaxed one becomes during this practice. No thoughts. Just breathing.
I do like to have a complementary music CD playing simultaneously - whether or not it's actually distracting... I don't think so. I have several favorites, among them "Anjali" by Michael Mandrell and Benji Wertheimer, "Still Chillin'" by Gabrielle Roth, and, of course "Music as Medicine" by Nawang Khechog & R. Carlos Nakai (you can find this one at CD Universe, by the way). "Kismet" by Aurah is another good one. I also just love the music by Larisa Stow & the Shakti Tribe - I find her music more exciting and prayerful than meditative, though.
...to continue...
I persist with the meditation practice, always looking (hoping) for a follow-through of those generated feelings of well-being that is the result of each "session". I think that the particular essential oil blends that I assemble and utilize during these meditations have their effect on me, my emotive state, as well. I come away feeling more empowered, somehow... more hopeful regarding any given situation or circumstance that has been prayed about or meditated on - and, yes, I do sort of combine the prayer/meditation in a silent (for me, effective) manner... results come. Not always the results I would expect or hope for, admittedly, but always results in keeping with what I actually require - whether I am aware of that or not. Knowledge, understanding, always comes around.
I realise that I am such a novice, an infant, in this... I have read that it takes years to reach particular stages of meditative prowess - and I believe it. I believe one needs a teacher, a Master to guide through the basic steps of meditation, whether that be via one's religion or other resources such as The Meditation Expert, that I found and am so enthusiastic about. Perhaps one would read, study, practice with and through these guides and still come to one's own conclusions on technique and assists - such as incense and essential oils or complementary music such as that from Sounds True (where one can find those awesome sounds I mentioned above - "Music as Medicine", "Anjali", etc...) or even from independent online alternative music stations...
I am on such a path... how did I get here? I don't quite know. But, I happily continue...
I do like to have a complementary music CD playing simultaneously - whether or not it's actually distracting... I don't think so. I have several favorites, among them "Anjali" by Michael Mandrell and Benji Wertheimer, "Still Chillin'" by Gabrielle Roth, and, of course "Music as Medicine" by Nawang Khechog & R. Carlos Nakai (you can find this one at CD Universe, by the way). "Kismet" by Aurah is another good one. I also just love the music by Larisa Stow & the Shakti Tribe - I find her music more exciting and prayerful than meditative, though.
...to continue...
I persist with the meditation practice, always looking (hoping) for a follow-through of those generated feelings of well-being that is the result of each "session". I think that the particular essential oil blends that I assemble and utilize during these meditations have their effect on me, my emotive state, as well. I come away feeling more empowered, somehow... more hopeful regarding any given situation or circumstance that has been prayed about or meditated on - and, yes, I do sort of combine the prayer/meditation in a silent (for me, effective) manner... results come. Not always the results I would expect or hope for, admittedly, but always results in keeping with what I actually require - whether I am aware of that or not. Knowledge, understanding, always comes around.
I realise that I am such a novice, an infant, in this... I have read that it takes years to reach particular stages of meditative prowess - and I believe it. I believe one needs a teacher, a Master to guide through the basic steps of meditation, whether that be via one's religion or other resources such as The Meditation Expert, that I found and am so enthusiastic about. Perhaps one would read, study, practice with and through these guides and still come to one's own conclusions on technique and assists - such as incense and essential oils or complementary music such as that from Sounds True (where one can find those awesome sounds I mentioned above - "Music as Medicine", "Anjali", etc...) or even from independent online alternative music stations...
I am on such a path... how did I get here? I don't quite know. But, I happily continue...
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
On Meditation...
It's August - my god, the year is passing me by, and without a lot getting accomplished! It feels like I am working so hard toward that ever-driving goal (my personal freedom, my website's success, a brick-n-mortar storefront - lifelong dream, that)... and I am not quite making any progress, visible or otherwise! It all becomes so overwhelming, the dreaming, the planning, the work with what feels like nothing to show for all that effort. I admit it - I do become tired. Just short of depressed, even. What does one do with this?
Sometimes, I take a break. Especially when I find myself succumbing to "naptime" a tad too frequently for comfort - i.e. more napping than working. That break consists of finding a good book and losing myself in delightful, suspenseful storytelling (thank you, Nora Roberts, Stephen King, and Dean Koontz). But, as much as I adore reading a favorite suspense thriller, that can be just another form of procrastination and/or avoidance. What is a better, healthier method (at least, for me) of dealing with these feelings of inadequacy and failure?
I fall back to affirmations and meditation. When I first started working at The Blissful Soul those few years ago, I had access to an assortment of marvelous self-help books authored by Wayne Dyer, Gregg Braden, and Louise Hay, among many, many others. I was quite amazed, in fact, to come across the original book by Ms. Hay that actually started it all for me quite some time ago: "...You Can Heal Your Life..." I had actually read this first book years before, without knowing who she was at all. Talk about full-circle.
I had taken that first book of affirmations all those years ago and sort of tweaked them to suit my particular needs and I utilized them as part of a prayer and meditation practice that I committed myself to. I can't say I saw a lot of change in my life, through those years, but I did feel better for the activity. Prayer in and of itself is quite healing, as far as that goes. And, I certainly did a lot of praying, that was for sure.
Anyway, over these years I've grown, done a bit of modifying to those prayers practices, those original beginning attempts at meditations... I've read and studied other texts - on theology, spirituality, etc - in conjunction with the self-help, locating a thread of connection between all. Creating, forging a prayerful path, if you will. Something to "do" pretty much daily that would give (or at least encourage) some semblance of peace that would, almost by default, create that productivity that would result in some sort of life success.
Has there been "success"? one might ask. Eh, to a degree, I suppose. I am much better at finishing those things I start, which is a plus. I have made life-altering changes... relocating from L.A. to Valencia being the biggest for me, so far. I work very hard to be more independent, to grow intellectually, emotionally, while improving health and fitness... I've worked hard to achieve some semblance of financial independance - hard, hard, hard that is!! Right now - yes, it is still paycheck-to-paycheck... but, I am so very thankful for that paycheck and the opportunities and friendships that have come with employment. And, I persevere with the website "business".
Again, to help me through it all, I have fallen back on the affirmations and a renewed interest in meditation. The affirmations are what they are (it's funny how sometimes the day will bring with it the very thing - or persons - that I have affirmed/meditated/prayed for). The meditation, though, I found to be improving as I took the time to study and learn how to meditate. I found a great tool in this through the Meditation Expert. Oh, my, this man, Bill Bodhri, just offers the most detailed teaching tools, meditations and advice on how to get the most from meditating. I am so grateful for stumbling across his website - yes, I found him quite by accident.
Most of my most influential resources have been found by accident, as it happens. More to come...
Sometimes, I take a break. Especially when I find myself succumbing to "naptime" a tad too frequently for comfort - i.e. more napping than working. That break consists of finding a good book and losing myself in delightful, suspenseful storytelling (thank you, Nora Roberts, Stephen King, and Dean Koontz). But, as much as I adore reading a favorite suspense thriller, that can be just another form of procrastination and/or avoidance. What is a better, healthier method (at least, for me) of dealing with these feelings of inadequacy and failure?
I fall back to affirmations and meditation. When I first started working at The Blissful Soul those few years ago, I had access to an assortment of marvelous self-help books authored by Wayne Dyer, Gregg Braden, and Louise Hay, among many, many others. I was quite amazed, in fact, to come across the original book by Ms. Hay that actually started it all for me quite some time ago: "...You Can Heal Your Life..." I had actually read this first book years before, without knowing who she was at all. Talk about full-circle.
I had taken that first book of affirmations all those years ago and sort of tweaked them to suit my particular needs and I utilized them as part of a prayer and meditation practice that I committed myself to. I can't say I saw a lot of change in my life, through those years, but I did feel better for the activity. Prayer in and of itself is quite healing, as far as that goes. And, I certainly did a lot of praying, that was for sure.
Anyway, over these years I've grown, done a bit of modifying to those prayers practices, those original beginning attempts at meditations... I've read and studied other texts - on theology, spirituality, etc - in conjunction with the self-help, locating a thread of connection between all. Creating, forging a prayerful path, if you will. Something to "do" pretty much daily that would give (or at least encourage) some semblance of peace that would, almost by default, create that productivity that would result in some sort of life success.
Has there been "success"? one might ask. Eh, to a degree, I suppose. I am much better at finishing those things I start, which is a plus. I have made life-altering changes... relocating from L.A. to Valencia being the biggest for me, so far. I work very hard to be more independent, to grow intellectually, emotionally, while improving health and fitness... I've worked hard to achieve some semblance of financial independance - hard, hard, hard that is!! Right now - yes, it is still paycheck-to-paycheck... but, I am so very thankful for that paycheck and the opportunities and friendships that have come with employment. And, I persevere with the website "business".
Again, to help me through it all, I have fallen back on the affirmations and a renewed interest in meditation. The affirmations are what they are (it's funny how sometimes the day will bring with it the very thing - or persons - that I have affirmed/meditated/prayed for). The meditation, though, I found to be improving as I took the time to study and learn how to meditate. I found a great tool in this through the Meditation Expert. Oh, my, this man, Bill Bodhri, just offers the most detailed teaching tools, meditations and advice on how to get the most from meditating. I am so grateful for stumbling across his website - yes, I found him quite by accident.
Most of my most influential resources have been found by accident, as it happens. More to come...
Saturday, April 25, 2009
on Truth...
... and (the) Truth shall set you Free... that's a favorite quote of mine. One definition of Truth is: the quality or state of being true; the quality of being according to experience, facts or reality; conformity with fact... (from Websters Dictionary) Integrity and truthfulness are both important qualities to me. Fun-loving aside, I make the effort to incorporate both in my behavior and life. Thankfully, those traits are a given part of my character, though it isn't always an easy way to be or even to aspire to, let me tell you! Meditation helps. Reading inspiring books by awesome authors such as Gregg Braden or Wayne Dyer (and many, many others) helps, too. As do readings from the Gospels - of Thomas, of Mary Magdalene, etc... I love those.
You may be wondering what brought this particular musing on... It's true, recent familial and friend losses have just wracked me. Not dealing with it all as well as I could be. Work pressures - both online business and on-the-job - create a stress not always easy to cope with. And, the personal issues that just don't allow one to breathe... Where does the Truth fit in all these? I suppose in how one perceives the goings on and happenings in one's life. The realization that the Truth of our lives is not always what or how we perceive our lives to be. Truth is. What we perceive of our daily life experiences is emotional, our response to what is happening. Standing back, re-assessing, looking at a given situation or happening without emotion (not easy!!!!), but clinically, examining the facts of that same situation or experience - it is liberating. There is that enlightening "oh! I get it, now" epiphany that just lightens the heart. And, I've truly needed my heart lightened, lately... that is a fact. That is Truth.
I came to this lovely location, a year ago, now. An anniversary of sorts, I suppose. One I didn't celebrate, though in retrospect, I suppose I should have. After all, I've come a long way - if not as far as I would have hoped. I am still working on specific changes - personal, intellectual, spiritual, emotional. Hard, hard, hard! Physical - I have lost weight! A good thing, must'nt over-do... The whole idea of re-locating in the first place was to re-create my life. Which I am working on. It just hasn't been as I thought - which brings me back to the Truth of things. I am who I am, what I am, where I am. I am becoming what I aspire to. Those I allow into my life are who they are - or as they perceive themselves (not always truthfully) to be. It is up to me to discern correctly, wisely, and make the decisions on who to keep in my life and who to "weed out" as it were. And, there are those I want in my life - for what they can bring, what can be learned, experienced - new for me. That's one of the blessings of coming here - I've met some wonderful, loving people... true, I don't know them, not really. There's only so much information to be gleaned in certain environments, after all. And, sadly, people do have a tendency to reveal only what they want you to know - not necessarily the truth of themselves. Which brings me full circle. Perceiving about others based on conjecture - not on truth - bad for the heart. But, as I stumble upon the truth of things, I take that information and I go on... I persist in this new adventure, discovering new things, new places, new people - re-discovering myself. I like this journey...
You may be wondering what brought this particular musing on... It's true, recent familial and friend losses have just wracked me. Not dealing with it all as well as I could be. Work pressures - both online business and on-the-job - create a stress not always easy to cope with. And, the personal issues that just don't allow one to breathe... Where does the Truth fit in all these? I suppose in how one perceives the goings on and happenings in one's life. The realization that the Truth of our lives is not always what or how we perceive our lives to be. Truth is. What we perceive of our daily life experiences is emotional, our response to what is happening. Standing back, re-assessing, looking at a given situation or happening without emotion (not easy!!!!), but clinically, examining the facts of that same situation or experience - it is liberating. There is that enlightening "oh! I get it, now" epiphany that just lightens the heart. And, I've truly needed my heart lightened, lately... that is a fact. That is Truth.
I came to this lovely location, a year ago, now. An anniversary of sorts, I suppose. One I didn't celebrate, though in retrospect, I suppose I should have. After all, I've come a long way - if not as far as I would have hoped. I am still working on specific changes - personal, intellectual, spiritual, emotional. Hard, hard, hard! Physical - I have lost weight! A good thing, must'nt over-do... The whole idea of re-locating in the first place was to re-create my life. Which I am working on. It just hasn't been as I thought - which brings me back to the Truth of things. I am who I am, what I am, where I am. I am becoming what I aspire to. Those I allow into my life are who they are - or as they perceive themselves (not always truthfully) to be. It is up to me to discern correctly, wisely, and make the decisions on who to keep in my life and who to "weed out" as it were. And, there are those I want in my life - for what they can bring, what can be learned, experienced - new for me. That's one of the blessings of coming here - I've met some wonderful, loving people... true, I don't know them, not really. There's only so much information to be gleaned in certain environments, after all. And, sadly, people do have a tendency to reveal only what they want you to know - not necessarily the truth of themselves. Which brings me full circle. Perceiving about others based on conjecture - not on truth - bad for the heart. But, as I stumble upon the truth of things, I take that information and I go on... I persist in this new adventure, discovering new things, new places, new people - re-discovering myself. I like this journey...
Thursday, January 29, 2009
End of Month Update...
It has been exactly a week since my dear Uncle Joe was laid to rest. Goodness, but his passing was a bit of a blow. That he should make his exit on my mother's birthday... and just after calling her with felicitous birthday wishes. A part of me is still in a bit of a shock. I can only imagine how my cousin, his daughter, must be reeling from the blow - not to mention the rest of his family: wife, younger daughter, grandchildren... all and everyone that knew and loved him. He was quite a character.
I think about my uncle, my own mother's near-death illness of the past year... and I am faced with the truth of my own mortality as it stares at me just a bit more closely than I am comfortable with, I must also admit. I suppose Death is our constant companion all throughout our lives, a given, as much as many of us would think (believe) or even convince ourselves otherwise.
It does (these events), however, insist that I really look at the life I have lived and examine just how I would continue... There is a need to acknowledge (at least for me) the necessity of "living life to its fullest" (I know - what a cliche)... How does one do that???? Extremists risk-taking? I don't know... I am slightly unsure. Too old to be that unsure!!! But, yes, yes, yes... one, anyone, I must live each day as fully as possible - not so much crammed-full of activities that would threaten to numb both mind and body, but with feeling. With ideas and awareness of our surroundings - the world we live in and those who populate it. And that leads me to my own personal thankfulness for my world - this Earth - and yes, thankfulness for all those that have been integral to my development throughout my lifetime... even those who have brought such sadness or pain, anger, disappointment... all have been necessary for growth. I know that. Even if I wasn't quite so thrilled with the happenings at the time.
So, I choose to take this time, those past experiences, and move forward. Educate myself as much as possible (neverending, that one). Offer those daily prayers of thanksgiving for all that was, is and will become.
I must be honest here... one of the indulgences I allowed myself over the past weekend was the reading of the Twilight series of books. I know, I know... where have I been? I recall when the series first came out (via my book club notices) and I purposely chose at the time to not allow myself to become enthralled. I do have a tendency to become... infatuated with a series - or character, more like. I have pretty much all of the R Salvatore "Dark Elf" books, the Harry Potter volumes (and DVDs)... Stephen King's "Gunslinger" series... (I could go on and on with my "list") I love fantasy fiction. In any case, to get back on track here, reading those books did their bit in adding to that teensy bout of melancholy I indulged in, if only for 24 hours. You know - the mortality acknowledgement brought by my uncle's death, swiftly followed by the nod at my own fast approaching birthday... Sometimes I absolutely detest getting older. The fear that life has/is passing me by with so much undone. And then, what? I realise that there is so much more to do! So much more to "live", to experience, to learn. For myself. Yes, yes, those who populate my "world" will have a share, a part, but (and forgive me, don't misunderstand) I need, I must live for myself. And, so, as I go on with the studies, the work (the website!), the personal growth, the evolvement - I make every effort to take all I can from the "lessons" while simultaneously sharing all I've had (and will have) the priviledge to glean with any, with all I come into contact with. You've been forewarned.
p.s. SweetPea & Violet's January Newsletter for any interested...
I think about my uncle, my own mother's near-death illness of the past year... and I am faced with the truth of my own mortality as it stares at me just a bit more closely than I am comfortable with, I must also admit. I suppose Death is our constant companion all throughout our lives, a given, as much as many of us would think (believe) or even convince ourselves otherwise.
It does (these events), however, insist that I really look at the life I have lived and examine just how I would continue... There is a need to acknowledge (at least for me) the necessity of "living life to its fullest" (I know - what a cliche)... How does one do that???? Extremists risk-taking? I don't know... I am slightly unsure. Too old to be that unsure!!! But, yes, yes, yes... one, anyone, I must live each day as fully as possible - not so much crammed-full of activities that would threaten to numb both mind and body, but with feeling. With ideas and awareness of our surroundings - the world we live in and those who populate it. And that leads me to my own personal thankfulness for my world - this Earth - and yes, thankfulness for all those that have been integral to my development throughout my lifetime... even those who have brought such sadness or pain, anger, disappointment... all have been necessary for growth. I know that. Even if I wasn't quite so thrilled with the happenings at the time.
So, I choose to take this time, those past experiences, and move forward. Educate myself as much as possible (neverending, that one). Offer those daily prayers of thanksgiving for all that was, is and will become.
I must be honest here... one of the indulgences I allowed myself over the past weekend was the reading of the Twilight series of books. I know, I know... where have I been? I recall when the series first came out (via my book club notices) and I purposely chose at the time to not allow myself to become enthralled. I do have a tendency to become... infatuated with a series - or character, more like. I have pretty much all of the R Salvatore "Dark Elf" books, the Harry Potter volumes (and DVDs)... Stephen King's "Gunslinger" series... (I could go on and on with my "list") I love fantasy fiction. In any case, to get back on track here, reading those books did their bit in adding to that teensy bout of melancholy I indulged in, if only for 24 hours. You know - the mortality acknowledgement brought by my uncle's death, swiftly followed by the nod at my own fast approaching birthday... Sometimes I absolutely detest getting older. The fear that life has/is passing me by with so much undone. And then, what? I realise that there is so much more to do! So much more to "live", to experience, to learn. For myself. Yes, yes, those who populate my "world" will have a share, a part, but (and forgive me, don't misunderstand) I need, I must live for myself. And, so, as I go on with the studies, the work (the website!), the personal growth, the evolvement - I make every effort to take all I can from the "lessons" while simultaneously sharing all I've had (and will have) the priviledge to glean with any, with all I come into contact with. You've been forewarned.
p.s. SweetPea & Violet's January Newsletter for any interested...
Monday, January 19, 2009
It's a New Year!
Happy New Year, all... I know, it has been much, much too long since I posted on Pami's Page. A bit going on, I have to admit - with the wesite, as well as in my personal life. Life does have a way of continuing on, as I do. To that end...
Even as I plug along promoting and updating SweetPea & Violets, I work at my other job - sales associate at Macy's. I have to admit, I do like my job. I like the department I work in, as well as the people I work with. Working through Christmas was an experience - very busy, stressful (in a productive way!) and exhausting! But, I did enjoy it very much. I like productivity and being busy. I like helping people and having my presence be a positive influence/experience to all involved. It has been a bit distressing, I will admit, to hear/read the news of store closures - and, no, where I am employed is not one of them! "My" store is actually in the midst of remodeling - due to be completed fall '09. It has also been distressing to read really negative blogs relating to bad customer service, etc, as related to Macy's employees (and company/store policy overall)... I cannot speak for the stores throughout the states, but, where I work, especially in my department, customer satisfaction is of utmost importance. We do our best to make customers happy. I know that I go out of my way to address my customers requests - and I like doing that! As for store policy - not a lot I can do or say about that. I have read blog comments from those that expect so much, demand so much (and I have assisted a few, myself) to the point of ridiculous-ness... However, I do believe that customer service is the backbone of any successful retail establishment and I think that if associates are not living up to our promise/commitment of service... well, a lot can be said for upbringing, in addition to on-the-job training implemented. It takes a bit of both. If I am rambling, apologies... Just know that I am commited to doing/giving/being my best - both at my department store job and in my website business.
As for the website: I have been caught up in making site/page revisions and in adding new product for 2009. As I continue to educate myself in all things aromatherapy, it only follows that it should carry over into what I do with SweetPea & Violets. I am working hard to create a "green" website presence - though I will be the first to acknowledge that not all of my offered gift products fall into that category. I am working on it, though! I have come across organizations and groups, other product sites that truly offer not only great products, but informative, educational information. Green America is one of several that I really value receiving newsletters from. Mountain Rose Herbs is another favorite company (I get my herbs from them!) that was voted Co-op America's (now, Green America) People's Choice Most Green Business for 2008... Congratulations to them!
In continuing along that line, though I do still love the Taronga candles line, I have pursued more organic candles and aromatherapy oils - I have included two new lines at SweetPea & Violets: Inbal Aromatherapy [I was familiar with them from The Blissful Soul store (visit Cheryl's updated Blissful Soul website btw)] and Crystal Journey Candles. At the SweetPea website you'll also find Inbal essential oils, as well as massage oils - great romantic Valentine's Day idea! I must say, I am looking forward to these changes, even as I implement them.
This past year was busy for me... family illness and loss... the move to Valencia (still love it here), a new place, a new job... Creating a new website and promoting that through various online communities. You'll find SweetPea & Violets at both MySpace and Facebook, in addition to StartUp Nation and Adlandpro. I work hard at promoting, but never seem to have enough time to do all I aim for! Hopefully this 2009 will be just a bit more successful at that, more productive. In speaking of that website promotion, though SweetPea & Violets did not make it in StartUp Nation's top 100 competition, we are trying again - this time in the first annual Leading Moms in Business 2009 competition. Check it out and vote for SweetPea & Violets! Thanks very much, in advance...
You know, some might believe that 2009 has had a rough start - what with our economic woes and all - but, I am one that believes in the adage that we receive what we give. I have so much hope and faith in our futures, despite the negatives that seem to make up all news media... we have all suffered losses, it is true - some more than most, both personal and financial. We need to hang in there. Have faith. Pray. Meditate. And work to make it all what we would have it be. That's what I believe. It's what I do. I hope you will, too.
Blessings.
Even as I plug along promoting and updating SweetPea & Violets, I work at my other job - sales associate at Macy's. I have to admit, I do like my job. I like the department I work in, as well as the people I work with. Working through Christmas was an experience - very busy, stressful (in a productive way!) and exhausting! But, I did enjoy it very much. I like productivity and being busy. I like helping people and having my presence be a positive influence/experience to all involved. It has been a bit distressing, I will admit, to hear/read the news of store closures - and, no, where I am employed is not one of them! "My" store is actually in the midst of remodeling - due to be completed fall '09. It has also been distressing to read really negative blogs relating to bad customer service, etc, as related to Macy's employees (and company/store policy overall)... I cannot speak for the stores throughout the states, but, where I work, especially in my department, customer satisfaction is of utmost importance. We do our best to make customers happy. I know that I go out of my way to address my customers requests - and I like doing that! As for store policy - not a lot I can do or say about that. I have read blog comments from those that expect so much, demand so much (and I have assisted a few, myself) to the point of ridiculous-ness... However, I do believe that customer service is the backbone of any successful retail establishment and I think that if associates are not living up to our promise/commitment of service... well, a lot can be said for upbringing, in addition to on-the-job training implemented. It takes a bit of both. If I am rambling, apologies... Just know that I am commited to doing/giving/being my best - both at my department store job and in my website business.
As for the website: I have been caught up in making site/page revisions and in adding new product for 2009. As I continue to educate myself in all things aromatherapy, it only follows that it should carry over into what I do with SweetPea & Violets. I am working hard to create a "green" website presence - though I will be the first to acknowledge that not all of my offered gift products fall into that category. I am working on it, though! I have come across organizations and groups, other product sites that truly offer not only great products, but informative, educational information. Green America is one of several that I really value receiving newsletters from. Mountain Rose Herbs is another favorite company (I get my herbs from them!) that was voted Co-op America's (now, Green America) People's Choice Most Green Business for 2008... Congratulations to them!
In continuing along that line, though I do still love the Taronga candles line, I have pursued more organic candles and aromatherapy oils - I have included two new lines at SweetPea & Violets: Inbal Aromatherapy [I was familiar with them from The Blissful Soul store (visit Cheryl's updated Blissful Soul website btw)] and Crystal Journey Candles. At the SweetPea website you'll also find Inbal essential oils, as well as massage oils - great romantic Valentine's Day idea! I must say, I am looking forward to these changes, even as I implement them.
This past year was busy for me... family illness and loss... the move to Valencia (still love it here), a new place, a new job... Creating a new website and promoting that through various online communities. You'll find SweetPea & Violets at both MySpace and Facebook, in addition to StartUp Nation and Adlandpro. I work hard at promoting, but never seem to have enough time to do all I aim for! Hopefully this 2009 will be just a bit more successful at that, more productive. In speaking of that website promotion, though SweetPea & Violets did not make it in StartUp Nation's top 100 competition, we are trying again - this time in the first annual Leading Moms in Business 2009 competition. Check it out and vote for SweetPea & Violets! Thanks very much, in advance...
You know, some might believe that 2009 has had a rough start - what with our economic woes and all - but, I am one that believes in the adage that we receive what we give. I have so much hope and faith in our futures, despite the negatives that seem to make up all news media... we have all suffered losses, it is true - some more than most, both personal and financial. We need to hang in there. Have faith. Pray. Meditate. And work to make it all what we would have it be. That's what I believe. It's what I do. I hope you will, too.
Blessings.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
StarWest Botanicals
Posts
