There is always a fine and natural tension when blogging, between presenting the perfect world on one hand, and being on a downer on the other. I figure people want to read what is somewhere level-set between the two. There is no perfect world; but in blog-land there are many that come close! I see bloggers living in all corners of the world, writing about their days and I regard them with awe. They are taking time to answer the all-important question: 'what are you going to do with this beautiful life?'
Shouldn't we be thinking every day - what am I doing with this beautiful life?! Shouldn't that be our call to arms each morning? Yet somehow, no matter what, there is what I can only describe as 'seepage'! The corners of the beautiful picture of life get frayed, the colour washes out, the vividness ebbs away and life becomes less...beautiful.
I think a lot about this. I ponder what it is about modern life that takes us away from what is important. For me, the answer lies in being present. In slowing the pace to a point where I notice things more. It's about paring it back, getting rid of the clutter, eating well, listening, selecting what you participate in.
It's the same with the business. Paula and I (well Paula, mainly!) spend hours researching the skincare industry and its products. For us to find our place in it, for us to compete, but most importantly because this knowledge and insight is what informs our decisions about what we are and what products we make. I have been staggered by the chemicals and additives that are used in products that we all know of and revere.
We keep coming back to the pared-back nature of our own products; we are not ashamed of them. They work and we know that's because they are based on fine, ancient ingredients that are pure and natural. We find we are often considering an alternative ingredient and we say, almost in unison: 'that's not what we are.' We are learning what we are; it's a conscious and deliberate process that I think is vital to the development of any dream. You have to stay true, despite the adversity. Don't allow the seepage!
.jpg)
