A short sea story: During midshipman cruise, one of my more ambitious peers asked the Commanding Officer (CO which jobs were best for promotion potential. The CO's advice was to choose the job that sounded like the most enjoyable because it's easy to excel when you're having fun.
Fast forwarding twentysomething a few years, I've decided that staying happy and energized is my #1 business priority. Why? I've spent a lot of time and money learning everyone else's "shortcuts to success" and "right ways" to do things. The simple truth is that a genuine and thankful heart radiates happiness. More than anything else, I want to encourage others to be sincerely happy and to share their best selves. Life is short. The time passes whether you enjoy it or not. Why not make the most of what's in front of you?
Helping other people find their hidden superpower energizes me. Missing my kids' soccer games to "hustle" at craft shows does not.
If taking breaks to meditate and study yoga means less product and less money, so be it.
Serving others by listening to them and helping them dare to dream big makes me happy. Making the same pair of earrings over and over does not.
I will strive to find new ways to bring positivity, self-confidence, and happiness to others. If there's one thing I'm excited about offering in 2016, it's a genuinely supportive and diverse community of people helping each other make their lives better.
I will be jamming out to Maroon 5 or maybe Guns N Roses while I do it. You're welcome to join me!
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Will you be joining me with a happiness manifesto of your own? Need help putting the words together? Here's a start, feel free to comment/discuss below:
This year, I choose to be happy because ________________.
Doing ________________ energizes & excites me. _______________ does not.
I will make time for _____________. It's ok to say no to _____________.
Are you a blogger focused on positive women who seek to serve others in a coastal or beach community? Are your readers into yoga, surfing, or chasing their kids on the beach? Do they seek out genuine relationships without undermining, catty competition? Is your superpower finding the hidden strengths in others or seeing opportunity where others see nothing but walls?
If so, then Simply Leilani is interested combining forces with YOU!
Please email Mandy at simplyleilani@y a h o o (dot) c o m and let's chat!
PS- Added bonus if you're a military spouse blogger!
This week's theme was "squares." I don't typically use squares, as I prefer to design around freeform shapes. However, I did have this fabulous, square shaped labradorite with lots of flash BEGGING to be made into something. :)
Bonus- since this stone is a lot larger than most pieces of sea glass, the backplate is large enough to try some fancy cut out work. What do you think- does it look like a mermaid?
This week's theme was to "hammer it." I use a hammer to texture most of my designs because it adds dimension to the piece and also work hardens the metal. :) Most of my earring designs are understated, but adding a small hoop looks great on women with longer hair and balances the face without being trashy.
Whereas the narrow, dangly earrings elongate your neck, hoop earrings (or anything that is heavier at the bottom) draws the eye to the bottom of your face and gives a more youthful appearance. (Think about it... the facial features of children and cute animals are all concentrated at the lower part of the face.)
So while you may not want to wear hoops to a corporate meeting, they are great for wine tasting with the bff's or a day at the ball park.