7/6/12

Viva La...Something


With the fireworks, cookouts, and various celebrations of American Independence Day just behind us, I find myself looking forward to celebrating Bastille Day on July 14th. I’ve never celebrated Bastille Day before. Why now? I’m just not done celebrating Freedom. I want more. Because the seeking and winning of Freedom, regardless of one’s country of origin, must be encouraged and commemorated above all else. 


Always ready to embrace change and move forward with ease, Marie Snail celebrates both Bastille Day and the American Independence Day with the great enthusiasm and loads of ice cream.

Sometimes I become overwhelmed with everything I want to do and everything that I must do. It is clear to me that I cannot do it all, at least not all at once. What I can do is trust that I am taking the correct steps for the path that I am meant to follow. 

That sounds really enlightened, doesn't it? I'm not quite there, yet. I'm working on it. I opened the doors to my online stores a little over three months ago. Sales are not overwhelming. What I am finding overwhelming are: 
- Marketing-on-a-shoestring, which requires constant vigilance and for me a massive learning curve. 
- Inventory. I create the inventory, which requires many steps: I write it, doodle it, sketch it or photograph it. Then I scan it to my computer. Then I clean it up, add stuff (maybe), change stuff (probably), format it, print it, photograph it, write descriptions, tags, upload it, tweet it, facebook it, pinterest it...then I have to let it go and hope someone will take interest.

Up until six months ago, I had always worked for someone else, doing my best to make their dreams come true. It was never presented to me in such a lofty manner. "Yeah, come work for us and make our dreams come true." Did any of the places I worked at actually ask me to make their "dreams come true"? No. Never in those words. But that's what I took on. Look, this is what I subscribe to: a business shouldn't be just about making money. A business should be about fulfilling your heart's desire. What you do for a living needs be about doing what is in your heart period. Some of us are Healers. Some of us are Teachers. Some of us are Artists, Nurturers, or Storytellers. The form our healing, teaching, art, nurturing, or storytelling manifests is not the point. In fact, it really doesn't matter. If you're a healer you can choose the form of doctor, nurse, therapist, masseuse, witch or shaman. It doesn't matter. You'll still be a healer, regardless. Whatever lies within our heart is who we are and what we must express. Or else…what? Or else we’re freaking unhappy. And unhappy people make for an unhappy world.

With this as my compass and little else but huge-white-hot-gulping fears and major-butterflies-in-my-stomach excitement, I began my very own Quest for Freedom to do the work that lives in my heart. Let the Serious-as-a-Heart-Attack-Doubts begin! Wheeeeeeeeeeeee! What a ride this is. I cannot say that I’m enjoying it all. Some of it has sucked. Sucked in ways that I’d never even imagined. And my imagination sits on a lone outpost somewhere beyond Pluto welcoming pretty much anyone and anything to sit and place an order at its Diner O’ Strange & Unexpected.

I’m not kidding about the doubts. The doubts are huge and overwhelming. Way more overwhelming than marketing, finding the right 100% recycled paper and envelopes, setting up an online store, or doodling. Doubts can absolutely kill you, literally and figuratively. I had to come up with a plan on how to deal with the doubts. After trials and many errors (something I proudly admit to excelling in), I’ve come up with this: do it anyway. Really? That’s the best you could come up with, IK?? Yep.

Eventually, what I’m hoping for is that by “doing it anyway” I’ll gain freedom from my jailor, Doubt. I realize the doubts will not go away entirely. I know that there is a reason we have them in the first place, but ultimately, freedom is what we’re meant to experience. That I do believe. We are meant to be free. We are meant to be free to do the work that lives in our hearts. It’s why we’re here. And nothing can truly stop us, except ourselves. So, Viva La...fill in the blank. 

This is how I celebrated the Fourth of July and this is how I’ll celebrate Bastille Day. To honor the lives lost and the sacrifices made in the effort of becoming free, I must battle my own demon doubts with equal bravery, drive, and commitment. 




26 comments:

  1. Well said IK! Another great post. I'm glad you have began your own Quest for Freedom and to work for you, not anybody else. I hope the business takes off and you begin to realise your dreams (whatever they my become).

    Love Marie Snail too, her head feathers the same colour as 'le drapeau tricolore' and her love of ice cream!

    Viva La Snails!

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  2. Hahaha! Indeed, Viva La Snails! And what would a Quest for Freedom be without ice cream? Dreary.

    I greatly appreciate the well-wishes, Mr.GG. :)

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  3. One can never do too much celebration of freedom. Adorable snail, too. I love your doodles. :-)

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    1. Agreed! Glad you like the doodle, Amberr. :)

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  4. I reckon that you are well on the way to something quite remarkable and special. I absolutely love how you write IK and your doodles are absolutely mad - viva the mad doodles! viva Ik's wonderful imagination! and viva Cards for a gloomy day! and ice cream sales.....and anything that can bury demons for good.

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    1. Why, I believe all of those "Vivas" you mention will bury those damn demons...or perhaps run them out on a rail (which sounds equally satisfying).

      I absodamnlutely LOVE that you called my doodles "mad." They are, aren't they? I'll have to work that into my marketing "campaign"! Thank you, lovely Lottie. x

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  5. I love this post.

    1) Thin Lizzy are awesome, 2) snails should be careful in France, I believe the French eat them, 3) I think of you when I'm around recycled paper...but only the good kind. Always good to read your entries, IK.

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    1. Agreed, Thin Lizzy are awesome.

      Haha! So glad you mentioned the danger to snails in France. And yes, it did cross my mind...then I decided that Marie is so brave that she basically said "screw you!" and proudly celebrates with everyone else, regardless of the very real danger of being eaten. I could learn a great deal from her.

      Glad you only think of me when you run across the good kind of recycled paper, RA. :)

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  6. I struggle with doubt balance, by the way. When it's good and when it isn't. You know what you're doing. You rock.

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    1. That means a lot, RA. And I believe the same is true of you.

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  7. I think your wonderful, and that you know what you want is the best thing any one could ever hope for. To know your life calling and to be able to do it is a blessing.

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    1. Thanks, Natalie xo

      And you're absolutely right...to know our life calling and be able to do it IS a blessing. I believe it does live in our heart, we just need to hear it. Not always easy to hear over all the BS and crapola that goes on in our lives at times...but it's there.

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  8. I have been horrible about blog comments lately, sorry :) Great post as always and that snail doodle is too cute! My son was looking over my shoulder and got very excited by your drawing, he thought it was the neatest thing ever! I always love all your posts and I know that you will do great at anything that you put your mind to. I wish you the best of luck!

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    1. No worries, I get it! I've been horrible at writing posts lately. It's hard to get everything done, isn't it?

      Really happy to hear that your son liked my snail doodle. And good wishes are always much appreciated. Thanks, Frugal :)

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  9. This was absolutely wonderful! Very inspiring! I don't know if i've ever heard of Bastille day, but good for you! We aren't the only ones who fought for our freedom and we aren't the last. And i LOVE Marie Snail! She's awesome! I love period dress!
    I have to applaud you for going out and doing what your true passion is and what your heart desires, most people couldn't do that. I don't know that i could. I don't know what it would be that i would do, but it would be very difficult. You always seem to stay positive through it all, ups and downs! I think it's a wonderful thing you have going and I wish you the best with this and i hope it grows and becomes all you wanted it to be and more.

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    1. Really glad you like Marie Snail!

      It is difficult...but I think we make it that way. I think doing what you love should be easy, we just get in our way, you know? We humans have such a talent for complicating matters!

      If you want to know what your heart desires, just look at what you enjoy doing the most. I believe you'll find your answer is there. xo

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    2. It's so true, we are our worst enemies!

      That's something i'll have to think about, as sad as it seems i can't really answer that, i'm not sure why...
      xo

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    3. I think finding out what you love is process. You will discover "it"! It just takes time. xo

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  10. Another fab post I.K, always a pleasure to stop by!

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  11. fantastic post, IK!
    i actually hated bastille day because i got it wrong on a quiz in european history back in high school lol
    but ive never forgotten it! im up for celebrating as many holidays as possible :)
    and i think what you said about working for someone else's dreams come true is one of the most insightful comments i've heard in a long time!
    i was chatting with some people about work the other day, and i didn't put it as philosophically as you, but i said that, yeah, you should do what makes u happy.... why get caught up in something to make money for others, or to have someone else tell you what they want done
    cheers to a great post!

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    1. Agreed, Jeremy! We should celebrate as many holidays as we can. Why not?

      And that's the bottom line, isn't it? We all need to do what is going to make us happy. Life is too short to work doing something we don't like.

      I know you're working on making your dreams come true with your (totally cool) book and I think it's AWESOME!!

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  12. Love Marie Snail, she is awesome! So like you to make up your own holiday and have it include lots of ice cream LOL! Doubting yourself unfortunately is an epidemic these days. Learning to follow your dreams and sticking to it is a lifelong process but hopefully will someday be well worth it! We should all learn to find out what makes us happy and pursue it! Life is too short and miserable to do anything else. Thanks for another great post!

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    1. All holidays should include lots of ice cream! Haha! So glad that you like Marie Snail.

      I agree, following our dreams is a "lifelong process." And it IS worth it, because we are. xo

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  13. Marie Snail has the right idea --- celebrate freedom for all, in all its various forms. I think you really summarized the secret to happiness in this post, IK. And moreover, you've inspired me to get off my arse & get some more writing done. I'm already home following my dream, but my hubz is still "working for the man". I have to find a way to help him be able to follow his dream, since he has been so instrumental in getting me to quit my job. I hope I can help him find as much joy as he has helped ME discover! Thank you, IK. You've given me plenty to think about. xoxo

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    1. If I can inspire someone to get off their "arse" I'm very happy! Life is short, you know?

      I appreciate what you're saying about your husband still "working for the man" and mine is, too. When you make your dreams come true, it does help other people...that's what's so amazing. You GO, Andi-Roo!!

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