Pan a camera to my (Joanna’s) face as someone else wins the Academy Award for Best Actress.

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In the spirit of American Thanksgiving, I’d (Joanna) like to talk about gratitude and gratefulness.
This is a great topic to embark upon, because this past weekend, was our one year anniversary. And if you met two people who were more thankful this weekend, than Mia and I…well, I simply wouldn’t believe you.

It’s been often said that 80% of all businesses fail within the first year of opening their doors. By this standard alone, Green Lavender is a success.
However, I’m happy to report that not only have we kept our doors open, but, we are, in my opinion, thriving. Imma break it down:

exibit a: I look at pictures from our opening night (which can be found on our FB page here) and we have built our humble selection of a few eco lines to more and more cool and useful items. Not only that, but we’ve really worked hard to source more and more responsible local and Canadian companies to our assortment i.e. apparel, yoga & meditation props, greeting cards and stationary. And I’ll stop there b/c now I’m just starting to sound like a brochure. In short, you folks have really seen the value and importance of buying locally and supporting responsible companies…success!

Above: Family & Friends celebrating our grand opening

Below: Geez guys, would it kill you to smile just a little bigger?
(documenting first sale ever!)

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I got an amazing video from one of my dearest friends. I met up with this wonderful lady yesterday and as we were discussing it I realized that I really need to share its message with all of you fine people.

In the past couple of years I’ve been to what seems like a million bridal showers, baby showers, house warming parties, kids birthdays ect ect….and the list goes on and on. In theory these events are a great way to celebrate milestones in the lives of those we love. And I understand that its a great way to ensure that the soon to be newlyweds or soon to be parents aren’t completely broke by the time all is said and done. However I believe there is a difference between getting what you need out of necessity and getting enough stuff to start your own store right there in your living room. And I’m afraid most showers I went to leaned more towards the second. As I was sitting at these events my stomach would turn at the site of all the wrapping paper, packaging, ribbons and material that went into making all these products. I realize I’m one of the few who is sitting there trying not to pass out while the 67th present is being opened; and I certainly don’t expect others to be the same but hear me out for just a sec.

The truth is most of these goodies will be used a couple of times and stored away somewhere never to be seen again. I understand that not everyone has big showers to only get things that they’ll barely use, but the reality is that a lot of people do. Again I believe gift giving is great, and getting what will actually be used on regular basis is fantastic, but in the western world we’ve gone way beyond necessity to ridiculousness. If we take a moment to bring awareness into our lives, think globally and look at the big picture it becomes apparent that we create more waste then necessary, not only that but all the stuff that we buy at such low prices and high quantities have a great effect on our plant’s resources and people in other parts of this world. This is sometimes referred to as the ‘true cost’ of production. To see what I’m talking about watch the ‘Story of Stuff’ video posted here.

And is it all really worth it? I think this is a great question to ask ourselves. Is all this stuff making us happier or is it enriching our lives in any way? Does the child who just celebrated their 1st birthday need 10 stuffed animals instead of just one or two? I dunno, just putting it out there. Instead of getting the child you love oh so much a closet full of clothes that they’ll get to wear twice before they grow out of it, maybe the money would be better spent on something like starting a college fund.

And it doesn’t stop with just showers and birthday parties, I’ll be the first to admit that I’m guilty of impulsively buying things in the past that I don’t really need. And for that reason I know first hand that the joy that the item brought me at the time of purchase is not a very sustainable feeling over time.

To sum all this up when we look at the three things that makes us happy in our lives, I would argue that the stuff we buy doesn’t make it on the list. So the payoff for the ‘true cost’ of production barely seem worth it at all.

The video that I was talking about is posted below. Go on take some time to watch it, it talks about measuring a country’s success not by how much it can produce but by the welfare and happiness of its people. What a concept! Using this as a measure of success Costa Rica tops all other countries…you’ll find out what they’re doing to come in first place. Its no wonder so many North Americans are moving there.

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We can take this gift, this lesson and use it to open our external eyes to what is happening around us. Whether it’s cultivating and caring for the relationships with the people we love. Or, knowing that our inhabitance on this planet is also a relationship, one we must treat with care. Or perhaps it’s about waking up and not dismissing and forgetting about the other 46% of the world who can’t just turn on the tap as we do, every day, to drink.

There are millions of yogis around the world. Think about the impact and change that we can create together.

Seva is a Sanskrit word meaning selfless service. Ghandi and Mother Theresa come to mind. However, there are many people and companies in the yoga community that are practicing what they preach.

American yoga teacher, Seane Corn has an organization called Off the Mat and Into the World. There site is here…truly inspirational. Jade Yoga, a yoga accessories company based in the states which plants one tree for every rubber yoga mat they sell. Their site is here, and they do a good job, at putting back what they’ve taken out. Plus, they have the best mats in the world, again, my opinion.

Unlike Atlas, we don’t have to carry the entire weight of the world on our shoulders. If this post resonates with you, yogi/yognini, start somewhere. Pick a local charity supporting a cause you are passionate about and donate your time/resources.

Mia gave me a great quote the other week when I was blasting her ear off about the contents of this post. She said something to the effect of, “It may just be a drop of water, but a multiple drops of water fills oceans”.

As for me, I too will practice what I preach. Mia and I have always been on the same page when it comes to giving back to the community. Green Lavender has done several fund-raisers and Karma classes in which we’ve donated our time and resources to local charities (check out of Free Kula Friday classes).

However, I myself would like to do more. I’m posting this publicly so that I can get called out on it if I back-track. I’m currently researching local not-for-profits that I can donate my time to. If anyone knows of a great organization which helps to feed those in need, in a healthy, sustainable way, please send the info my way. I’m also researching international organizations which raises funds for those who need clean drinking water.

After all…one drop, is still one drop.

The best way to find yourself, is to lose yourself in the service of others – Ghandi

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This is a great post for all entrepreneurs and those thinking of entrepreneurship…enjoy. I (Mia) wish I knew this prior to opening up a business, but I guess learning is part of the process.

Along the path of becoming and being in a position where you get to sign your own cheques you hear a lot of encouraging words such as: ‘Good for you!’ or ‘You’re so lucky, I wish I could leave my full time job and become my own boss’ or ‘Whats it like to wake up and want to go to work every day?’. The point here is: although these words of support are always great to hear and are very empowering, they may have a very negative impact depending on how they are internalized….as I learned the hard way. I got to a point of thinking that I’m so blessed to have a business that is flourishing, and to prove that I deserved it I brought my life to a state of serious unbalance. Some mornings the thought of going to work made me want to pull my eyelashes out one by one. Serious, I know. But the second a thought like that came into my mind I started judging myself. I mean how was I suppose to live up to my standards of being a ‘happy’ business owner if I’m waking up in the morning not wanting to go to work? You can see how this could be an issue and a serious waste of energy. I quickly learned that even parents who love their children more than anything had moments where they just wanted to run away from it all for just a little bit. So what makes me so special? Why do I have to be excited about my business 24/7? Well the truth is I don’t, its not possible. We’re human, we need balance in our lives and perma excitement is just plain creepy. Not wanting to go to work some days does not mean that you made the wrong decision when choosing your path in life or that you’re unhappy with what you’re doing…..it just simply means you’d rather sleep that day.

My lesson: let yourself be in whatever space you are in, without judgment. There is nothing wrong. If you watch your thoughts, without trying to change them its funny how fast they pass because you realize that they’re just your thoughts and not the truth. Ah, one of the many great lessons to be learned from Yoga.

This quote doesn’t have much to do with my post but I love it so much I had to share it:

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us.
We ask ourselves, “Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous?”
Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God; your playing small doesn’t serve the world.
(Marianne Williamson, quoted by Nelson Mandella in his inaugural speech)

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And yes…we did yoga on the beach. How can you not breathe, with a view like this

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