This I Know...

So the news has been pretty grim lately. This morning as I read about the collapse of Iceland amid financial turmoil I begin to think to myself just where does Soul of the Rose fit in here. There is no doubt about it this is a time to watch your spending, to pare down and do away with the superfluous things. But this is what I know. People will always want to give gifts. People will always find a way to give something. Sometimes we give extravagantly sometimes we give more simply, but we will always give, it is the enduring nature of people. At Soul of the Rose we really focus on that premise – that giving is a way of life and that there is always enough to share and to spare.

This year I will be focusing on offering unique gifts, special, affordable little luxuries that you can take pride in sending to your friends and family. After all just because we may be economizing, does not mean that we forgo the quality of the gifts we give. I will focus on providing top notch service no matter the size of the order. Did you know that every order is packed with a free gift that contains something sweet to smell, something sweet to eat and something sweet to think about all wrapped up in a pretty pink bag? In addition we hand write every gift card and sign them for you so that your gift has the personal feel that you would want it to have. Soul of the Rose Gifts will continue to be diligent in the support of our local, national and international charities as they need it now more than ever.

I feel confident that where we fit in the big scheme of things is that we are a giving source providing not only soulful and indulgent gifts and through our customers purchases we have enough to share and to spare for others in need.

Positive Thoughts for a New Year

I bet a lot of people are entering this New Year with trepidation. It certainly sounds scary if you listen to the news. I hope the new President is brave, if it were me I might have been tempted to say “You know, I change my mind, it’s not really the job I signed on for now.” But leaders don’t do that.

We had a particularly hard holiday season in our family this year as we lost our beloved Uncle Jim. The only bright spot there was the recognition that I am better for having known such a loving and caring man. And his wife and children are all so wonderful. I wish them peace.

So along with holiday parties we had funerals and wakes. That is the roller coaster of life. Our close knit family probably had too much time spent with some and not enough time spent with others. It is always interesting when we get together – this year proved to be no different. I love each and every person in my big family.

At the beginning of 2009 I learned that sometimes when you love someone you just have to let them go. I learned that sometimes fighting to hold on to someone is not always the right thing to do. It felt like I had been reaching down the edge of a tall cliff just barley catching hold of this long loved person’s hand and it just became too hard to hold on any longer. Letting go and watching them fall never entered my mind, it was my natural reflex to stretch out my hand and try to pull them up. I learned that it may be presumptuous to think that everyone wants to be caught and hoisted up. There is some guilt with letting go. But I have learned that sometimes it is freeing to both people when you let go.

So, where are the positive thoughts you may ask?

Through the highs and lows of the coming year

I wish each of you health, happiness and love.

I wish each of you the inspiration to find a way to give of your self in a way that is unique to you.

I wish each of you abundance and the recognition of your abundance and so I wish you all gratitude.

I wish you all peace and the ability to find peace of mind no matter the circumstance.

I wish you creativity in the face of adversity and the joy of that flowing expression.

I wish you calm quiet reflection and the strength to greet the lessons that will be learned.

I wish you the bravery to create a life that is rich, full and overflowing with the stuff that makes you wish your days would never end.

Here is to 2009, may it be a great year!