Reflections

Today I am sitting on my couch in my robe playing on Facebook looking up random people/friends seeing what everyone has been up to.

This week has been the busiest week of my career.

Last month (or was it the month before ) when I came home from Rosemary Beach completely rejuvenated I had a meltdown. I walked in the studio my first day back and broke down in tears. Day 2  I broke down sobbing. I hadn’t realized how hard I was working. I gained perspective and what I saw when I stepped back was a never ending treadmill of intensity.

I knew when I started Authentic Beauty it was going to be hard. I knew that there would be unforeseen sacrifices and that I would have to be willing to work harder than I ever have. I know how to suffer. I was a competitive road cyclist for nearly 8 years while having two small children.  That pales in comparison to the amount of focus and drive I have needed to get this company on its feet.

I was crying for my simple life. I really knew that that was gone forever and that the truth about the situation is that it will be another few YEARS before I can truly relax the way I did at the beach.

Ok, so I have been given tools. I breathe, I work out, I do Pilates, I have my “Big Rocks” on my calendar. The point is they have to be put on my calendar. I could say they are on the calendar and everything else revolves around that but I would be lying.

I have had to grow my world and myself to be able to be the leader of Authentic Beauty. People ask all the time “How do you do it?”  I just do. We all have the same 24 hours in a day. What are you doing with yours.

A funny thing happened I want to share.

The week that I opened the studio last year Jenn Hobby of Q100’s the Bert Show gave me a beautiful orchid. It bloomed 8 blooms consistently all year. Everyone commented about how amazing this plant was. The week I came back from Rosemary Beach it suddenly died. It shriveled up, all the flowers fell off and the roots were turning black.

My assessment was that I killed it. The roots were growing over the pot. I thought for sure the reason for its death was my fear of putting it in a bigger pot. I thought it reflected perfectly my state of mind. “How could I possibly grow anymore”. I like the current state of blooming I am in…..

Well….this weekend my friend Meri was in my office. I hadn’t gotten around to putting the plant in the trash. She looked at the plant, pulled the dried out stuff off and voila IT HAD BRAND NEW BUDS ON IT! Just in time for the studio’s one year anniversary. She said that once a year these orchids shut down….maybe that’s what happened to me.

Since loosing all my blooms after my vacation, I have come back to the playing field with a new sense of purpose and living my path knowing it is my choice. Me, The studio along with my orchid plant have new buds and I for one am looking forward to the new blooms.

A Prayer for Rejuvenation

It is Day 3 of my vacation in Rosemary Beach. I can feel the stress and fogginess of the stress floating away from my soul. I feel a clarity and peace of mind coming over me. Ahhhh…….

The sun is shining today and I am looking forward to sitting on the beach with our kids. Charlton and I walked on the beach this morning with Lola (our rescue Golden Retriever) who ran after birds and exhibited the characteristics of a puppy! She is healed! No more seizures for this dog. It was so much fun to watch the little kids at play on the beach before 8am and their parents who cannot believe they are up this early. One guy was watching 6 kids under the age of 8. LOL I am definitely DONE having kids. I loved being up at 6am with a 2 and a 4 year old when my kids were little-not kidding about that BUT I like the thought of getting up to do yoga at 6am instead.

Charlton, Lola and the kids running the beach

SO…..I am thinking we need to have a girls’ retreat here in January. To purpose would be to sooth our souls post holiday and set our intentions for the year.

If that sounds like something you would like to do let me know. First come, first serve. The house sleeps twelve. Not sure how much it would be to cover our costs but I will figure it out.

Today the theme is REJUVENATION!!!!

What I know is that there is a divine energy called spirit that runs through all of us and connects us to GOD/all there is.

I know that this energy is radiant and peaceful and abundant and nurturing of my soul. I am filled with divinity today and feel love pouring out as a result of remembering my connection. This connection is ALWAYS there.

I release any tension, any blocks that prevent the light from filling my soul.

I am grateful for all that I have and all that is flowing to me.

I release this prayer knowing that it is so and so it is.

Renee and Sean's Rosemary Beach Home

Vacation at Rosemary Beach

It has been three years since I have taken a vacation. Actually that vacation was my honeymoon. We are less than 50 miles until we arrive. I have spent the entire trip relearning how to navigate wordpress. An entrepreneurs best friend is an air card. I am sooo productive! I have had four hours of solid play time on facebook, the blog and just random emailing and searching. This is definitely vacation when I can spend four hours of computer play time.  I have promised to put down the computer the second I get to Rosemary. Ok y’all, how long do you think I can go without checking my email or text messaging? LOL

As an entrepreneur there are many sacrifices. What makes it ok is knowing that it won’t be long before I can take regular vacation like most people. I feel like I have been in the woods on a camping diet and the second you are on the road to civilization to start to smell food like never before!!!!

#1 rule

Think long term and reject “nearly” all immediate gratification.

What I am learning

Another midnight posting. Is it possible to be an entrpreneur and go to sleep at normal hours? I am getting ready to go to Sundance Film Festival and it is my first national awards event. I have so many things to do to be ready AND I have my business to run.

I think I am ready to write every night. But for now, while I am practicing, I will say hello out there and go to sleep.

I have been learning so much and I will definitely be sharing in the days to come.

Night Night

This is an important video to watch.  This is why the authentic Beauty Revolution is so important.  I love Dove. Without their campaign there would be no Authentic Beauty. However, just because you buy Dove products does not mean you will fall in love with yourself.  It begins with refusing to accept the FAKE images we view everyday.  AWARENESS.  We do not touch up any photo.  I will NEVER be photoshopped.  Speak out about this! Be informed!  Let your daughters know the pictures they are comparing themselves to are a lie.

Flickr

This is a test post from , a fancy photo sharing thing.

Thanks for Stopping by

It is 3:37 am ad I finally sent a letter worthy of what I am up to.  I am wide awake.  I got up at 7, hit the Delta Crowne room by 11, worked until my flight left at 2. Worked on the plane. Made it home, put my husband to bed and started writing.  I suppose when you have passion for something it keeps you up at night. What keeps you up at night? 

I am actually tired now…..

So, thank you for stopping by.  Come back often or, sooner than later, this will be linked into the website.

Night night.

Aly

Hello world!

I spent the past 5 days in LA at one of Peak Potentials courses aimed to teach everything one needs to know to be successfull at marketing. I am not sure I really and truly understood what it was until this course.

It IS ABOUT COMMUCIATING YOUR MESSAGE!!!

I have a HUGE message to share which..drumroll please..I will be starting a blog! I will be ranting about the horrors of the so -called “beauty” industry, I will be giving REAL tips about how to REALLY bring out your beauty with makeup instead of disguising it. This is NOT about the makeup. This is about BEING beautiful inside and out

The Authentic Beauty revolution is coming! SPREAD THE WORD

CHECK OUT WWW.MYIMAGEJOURNEY.COM

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