It's October...

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

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.