Thursday, March 3, 2016

What SCENTSY had to do with it?

Almost 8 years ago, I was busy setting up our teeth-whitening booth at the Women's expo. I was in charge of hiring, training and running the booth. It was an extremely busy job as a dental assistant and manager. The minute I got my first break was half-way through the day. I remember walking the long way around just to have a "breather." I was walking back to my booth, when all of a sudden, I saw this crowded 10x10 space of these little plug in candles. (2007) I only had time to smell one, grab a catalog and hurry back to my booth.

Little did I know that an exact year later at that same event in 2008, that I would feel impressed to walk over and find the Scentsy booth and join on the spot. I had no idea what was in store for me for that small $99 investment. (This month for only $49) And an investment it was! One of the best decisions I have ever made! (grateful for spiritual promptings) 

I embarked on this new journey with complete excitement. I didn't really know what I was doing but the excitement carried me through. Many doubted me or doubted the "direct sales" industry.

But, Scentsy was so much more than another direct sales company. It was an "INSTITUTION". I searched long and hard for the perfect word to describe Scentsy. I could say... Awesome and amazing! But it was so much more than that. 

Webster's defines institution as a significant practice, relationship or organization in a culture.

Scentsy was significant and Scentsy was a culture. A culture of bringing the best out of you. A culture of giving more than you take. A culture of  the "stickiness factor" as Orville (owner) always said. Scentsy was so sticky, you just wanted to keep going back for more. I was about to learn what this stickiness was truly all about! 

Free dictionary defines institution as a custom, practice, relationship, or behavioral pattern of importance in the life of a community or society.

Scentsy has changed my life for the better. It is a community of importance. A platform that allowed me to share my story for the very first time. I will never forget verbally sharing my story to an audience of people that I didn't even know personally. It was life changing and empowering! By growing my business and stretching beyond my comfort zone over and over I got the practice that I needed to become more. The relationships and a sense of belonging was definitely a behavioral pattern of importance. 

The mission statement, matched my heart strings. "To bring the world value through our products that Warm the Heart, Enliven the Senses, and Inspire the World." 

Even though they were talking about the Scentsy warmer, I now know that I am a product of Scentsy.

For the last 8 years I attended trainings and more trainings. I participated in conference calls, and group messaging, face book pages, World tours, conferences, summits, and conventions. Showing up to all that was offered...changed me! 

Here is a very mini sampling of the kind of things that I have written in my journals. I have truly valued it all through the years and it has helped make me a better person.... 

  1. Believe in yourself through sharing your authentic story. (permission to love "YOU")
  2. Dream Big (despite the nay-sayers, you can achieve anything you set your heart and mind to.)
  3.  In a chord progression...Chord 4 was to, Improve yourself.
  4. Catch your own vision (what do you want out of life)
  5. Know your WHY (why do you want more)
  6. Bloom where you are planted. Because if you're always going through life looking for better soil, you're never going to grow roots deep enough to bloom. 
  7. Find someone to serve.
  8. Core values... Simplicity, Authenticity and Generosity.
  9. Unlock your energy (What do you want bad enough. What makes your heart sing, ultimately unlocks desire)
  10. Being a leader is like an orchestra playing. The instruments don't always play at the same time. So day by day we have to pay attention to which instrument needs our attention. 
  11. What seems complicated, really isn't! 
  12. Never spend more than you have. 
  13. Live a life of significance! 
  14. You don't have to be PERFECT to be POWERFUL!
  15. Conquer your fears, Spread your wings and fly!
  16. Cross the line (With everything there is a line. You have a choice to cross it for a greater chance to become more, enjoy more and realize more. OR you don't and settle for less. It's always a choice.
  17. We are all like "frogs in a well" in some areas we may be at the top of the well and in other areas we are at the bottom. But, as we build our dream the greater our understanding becomes of what is possible in our lives. (climb the wall)
  18. You don't have to be great to get started, but you have to get started to be great! 
  19. Transformation comes about when you embrace who you are and live with courage and graciousness.
  20. Never be afraid to try.
  21. Embrace change.
  22. Love who you are.
  23. Tell this to yourself everyday..."I can Do It"
  24. Plant seeds  of greatness, everywhere you go.
  25. Your business only grows as much as YOU grow. (same as life)
  26. Arrow's out mentality (The more you think of others the greater and bigger our life will be vs. arrows in spiraling towards self and our world getting smaller and smaller.) I choose  ARROW'S OUT! 
  27. "MAN UP" (Massive action now) It takes action to make happen the things you want to see in your life. 
  28. There is enough time and space for all that I need to accomplish! 
  29. The power of one. (The smallest act can ripple and spread and have a bigger impact than you can ever imagine. Everyone of us has the power to make a difference)
  30. Be an excuse buster.
  31. Give more than you take!
  32. Don't let others inactivity determine your productivity!
  33. Appreciate your personality.(be the BEST version of yourself)
  34. Celebrate what's right with the world.
  35. Be like a butterfly. (emerge from your cocoon and embrace your awesomeness)
  36. You have to know yourself before you can Love yourself! (get to know you)
  37. Those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind!
  38. Be kind to yourself and value your brain and your heart! 
  39. When you feel insecure have no fear, because there is a light that shines within us all!
  40. Be brave and stretch yourself. (include others is the best way to be brave)
  41. Don't be too busy for friends. (You are a better person when you have friends)
  42. A friend may be waiting behind a strangers face! 
  43. Forgiveness is necessary for yourself and others! (it's freeing...let go)
  44. People will judge you and dismiss you...Don't harbor anger! It only hurts you! 
  45. Don't let things that you can't change eat away at your character.
  46. Don't think small! 
  47. Have hope and live with Optimism! 
  48. The concept of priming...(So important to practice optimism so you don't get sucked in to the wrong influence. We are all connected together and the thoughts of others matter to us.)
  49.  Live with Childlike wonder!
  50. Be contagiously optimistic!
  51. AND THE BONUS IS.......Double YAY! The profound Joy that comes when celebrate your VICTORIES! 
I could go on and on and on..... But the victory is that I know that I am enough! From that broken, 19 year old mother laying my first child to rest...and then again 4 years later... to a woman that has overcome and emerged into a beautiful butterfly, trying daily to spread my wings and be what God intended me to be. I can honestly say that Scentsy, coupled with my faith and the Gospel have been the influences that have shaped me into the person that I am today!  And it just keeps getting better and better....

I will continue to Find Joy in my Journey and help change lives one at a time! I'm grateful for my "Scentsy Institution" that has reminded me that I have WINGS to show me what I can become, and my ROOTS to remind me where I've come from!






Thank you to all of the people that I have met through Scentsy that have helped change my life for the better! I love you! 

xoxo, Heather







Wednesday, March 2, 2016

The Doctor...

Do you believe in being in the right place at the right time or in coincidences? We call it something else. The other day, as Shay was driving us all over Dallas for my Random Acts of Kindness Birthday, we pulled into the hospital and quickly discussed about Shay dropping us off in the front of the hospital. When all of a sudden he says, "let me go over here and park so that you will know where to come when ya'll are done." So, he drives around until finally deciding that he would back into this one particular spot.

Shay had joined us on all of the other activities that day, but said, for this activity he felt like he should just wait in the van for us. So he rolled the windows down and was ready to relax a bit and watch his favorite "big rig" videos on YouTube while he waited for us to come back.

We begin to all pile out of the van... As I was standing there waiting for the others to get out. I realized that I was in the way of another driver trying to get in his car. I said, "Excuse us, we will be out of your way in just a sec." He slightly smiled and said, "Oh no rush, I'm not sure my car will even start." I didn't really grasp what he was saying; but with flowers in hand...we began walking across the parking lot to go complete our mission..

We passed out flowers and had an amazing experience! You can read more about it here....   http://heatherearljoyinthejourney.blogspot.com/
(The Final Rose)



Upon our return to the van, and just when we thought it couldn't get any better. It did!
Shay hands me $60 dollars as I enter the van. I looked at him funny, and said "what is this for?"

He says, you remember when you were getting out of the van and you were in the way of that Doctor? I said, "yes, I remember!" The Dr. gave it to me...He insisted that I take it! I told him NO and he slapped it in my hand and said, "Please take it"  So, Shay begins to tell me the story....

Y'all walked off, and I was about to sit here and chill when I noticed that Doctor trying to start his car. It wouldn't start. I asked through the window if he needed any help. He told me that these issues had recently begun and that he would just call a tow truck driver. So Shay gets out of the van and walks over to his car. Shay looks under the hood and tells the doctor what he sees. The doctor says, "no no don't get dirty. I will just call a tow and get it to the shop." Shay says, "don't waste your money...let me look at it just a few." The Dr. tells Shay that he had just had it in the shop and replaced two things and that it still didn't fix it. Shay notices that it looks like the connection on his battery cable was bad. The Dr. tells Shay that he bought this car part the other day but hadn't had time to get it to the shop. The Dr. insists that he can just call a tow. Shay insists that he just let him put it on for him since he already had the part.

So the Dr. decides to let Shay fix it. In the meantime, they have small talk. The Dr. says..."You like this stuff?" Shay replies, "What stuff?" Dr replies, "Car stuff" Shay, replies "Oh I am not a mechanic, I just don't mind helping if I can figure out how to do something."

Then the Dr asks Shay what he is doing randomly sitting in the van anyway. Shay begins to tell him that it's his wife's birthday. The Dr. makes a funny looking face...(Probably wondering why the heck Shay is out in the van if its his wife's birthday.) Shay continues to tell him all the ladies he saw with flowers in their hands were going to pass them out to the patients. The Dr. laughed and said, what planet are y'all from...who does things like that? For her birthday? He was so shocked! The Dr. then said, so you are telling me that your wife and friends are passing out flowers to our patients for her birthday... Shay then explained all of the other random acts of kindness we performed that day. The Dr. told Shay that he didn't know that there were people like that anymore and that it restored his faith about the world we live in. Shay said that the Dr. couldn't quit commenting how amazing that was and that he could not believe that we wanted to do that.

Shay completed putting the part on his car and Shay told him that his car was fixed because it was the battery terminal that was bad and then he cleaned up the cables too. Shay told him to start up his car and it started right up. The Dr was very appreciative and continued to be in awe that Shay was randomly sitting there and able to fix his car. They shook hands and the Dr kinda lingered with his hand shake. The Dr. smiled, looked Shay in the eye and said, Thank you in the most deep and genuine way.

I know that this was no coincidence for Shay to have parked where he parked. This is what I call "DIVINE RIGHT ORDER" or a "DIVINE APPOINTMENT."  Placing two people together that could both be blessed by the situation.

Shay later said that he had his own special random act of kindness that he was meant to do while we were inside the hospital passing out flowers. Shay knew that this was a meant to be moment. He knows that God led him to the place he parked. The Dr. was also blessed, not just because his car was fixed but his faith in humanity was restored through Shay's act of kindness. And we were all blessed by hearing his story. The cycle of giving!

I truly believe that when you give with joy.... your reward is receiving the most pure joy and heart-expanding and exhilarating feelings.

I also believe that there is a power in giving...It is the secret to abundance. We gave all day long and freely spent our money on others. A little bit of that money came directly back to us through Shay's giving, and that Dr. demanding that Shay take a little cash from him. It's a beautiful cycle that we hope to always live in! "The window you receive through is made bigger by the window you give through." ~Dan Kennedy










I was so grateful Shay was able to join me on this wonderful day! Here he is visiting with the homeless. I'm so grateful to share the same love of giving and sharing kindness with this man. I love you, Shay!

Find JOY in GIVING!

Tuesday, March 1, 2016

The Final Rose

No, I'm not talking about The Bachelor's final rose.  A week ago today, we ventured out on what was going to be one awesome day! It was my "Random Act of Kindness" birthday party that I set up for and invited a few close friends to join me.  It was a special and memorable day, filled with amazing stories. One of the last random acts that we did that day was to go to the hospital and pass out flowers to the patients.
First, let me describe what it was like as we entered the 3rd floor.... We walked onto the floor and we see Doctors, nurses, and techs busy doing what they do. Filling out paperwork, responding to calling patients, checking vitals, discussing patients, paperwork and so on. We walk in with 4 dozen roses and explain that we would like to walk the halls and pass out flowers to the patients to brighten their day. We get the weirdest looks and responses. We heard, "so you just want to take flowers in random rooms" and "who are you with?" So I explain that we are not with any affiliation and that this is my "Random Act's of Kindness Birthday Party." When the Dr. immediately turns towards me and says..."There are no patients with restrictions, Go for it!"

So, we looked down all 3 halls and walked towards this one particular wing first. We entered the first room and saw this sweet elderly lady (we learned she was 96) laying there all cuddled up in a blanket and all that you could see was her little, sweet face. Her daughter was next to her bed and she just smiled so big and was so grateful for a flower. She turned to her elderly mom and said, "they brought you a flower." I explained that it was my birthday and instead of doing something for myself, my greatest joy and happiness comes from brightening someone else's day. The elderly lady looked me right in my eyes and gave the slightest nod. I knew that she heard me. There was such a peace in the room. I hugged the daughter and said that we would be praying for them. She was so grateful. The daughters smile and the elderly lady's eyes continue to linger in my mind. 

There was a different story in every room that we entered. One room we entered was an old, cute and flirty man. He was delighted for 7 women to enter his room with flowers for him. He made us laugh! His smile was so big and he didn't want us to leave. 

In another room, the sweetest little lady, upon sight of us walking in the room with flowers and smiles caused tears to stream down her face. She couldn't believe that we wanted to do such a thing. Another room we entered was a man that said, " I knew that someone would come to pray for me." 

In another room, we found complete sadness and loneliness and instant tears streaming down her face. She just cried and told us that she felt so alone and she didn't have anyone to come visit her and that our flowers meant more than we would ever know.  Knowing that we couldn't stay with her for very long, I offered to pray with her. She said, Yes, please. I prayed that she would know that she was never alone and that she would feel comforted as she finished her stay in the hospital. We hugged and promised to keep praying for her. And that I have done. 

Another room was a very sick gentleman that was sunken in his bed and had his head completely covered by his blanket. I said, "knock knock, is anyone under there?" He uncovered his head, and asked us what we wanted. I explained that we were bringing him a flower to brighten his day. He wasn't to thrilled by my remarks and I continued to tell him that it was my birthday, (I noticed when others know your heart it helps to open up theirs) So, I continued to explain,  instead of doing something for myself,  my joy and happiness comes from making others happy. He gave another tiny smirk, and all of a sudden, he told me that he used to be a gospel singer and that since I was bringing him a rose on my birthday that he would sing and one of his original songs for me. He asked me to hand him his phone and he searched for his lyrics. He began singing. I teared up while he sang, cause I realized that he was all of a sudden doing something that he loved and made him happy. After he finshed his song, I noticed the tears coming out of his eyes. I was so grateful that even for a moment, we could take his mind off of all that he was going through.

Our time at the hospital was full of these stories. Not just another room and patient; but a life and a story. I could go on and on and on about all 45 rooms we entered. As we left out of the last room, I saw my daughter Hayley finishing up a conversation with one of the nurses that had asked, "why we were doing this" and "who we were with." They couldn't believe that someone would just come and do this. But you could ask anyone one of us and hear the same response...that we couldn't wait to do it all over again! And we aren't even gonna wait for another birthday! 

As we left the final room and handed out our final rose... we realized that in the very first hall, the hall that we felt inspired to begin with. We had given someone, what would be their final rose here on earth. As we realized the magnitude of our service that day, we paused for a moment. We were all shocked that we were the last contact that patient had. Tears streamed down our faces as we imagined that their moments was our random act of kindness and love in being the recipient of our rose. 

We felt complete JOY that day and will continue to in our memories forever. What if your small act was the one thing that turned sadness into hope, or gave someone a moment of joy. Maybe, your kindness could touch a soul that felt alone. Maybe, you could save a life. Or maybe even your random act may be the very last act of kindness that was performed for someone. Be a blessing to others!









 FIND JOY IN RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS!
 Please share your stories of random acts of kindness with me.....