Maya Angelou is one of my greatest teachers and she sent me a message yet again, today...

Maya has shown up in my life for as long as I can remember: her wisdom, her laughter, her tears. Her deep, rumbling voice feels like home and yet, as powerful as a volcano that could erupt if it ever wanted to...

She is someone my mother and I both held dear. Many years ago, when my mother was sick with pancreatic cancer, she and I had tickets to go see Maya Angelou speak together, (finally), in person!! That was my one of our dreams and, ultimately, my mothers final year. That year she missed my graduation from college and she missed Maya. All of those moments were big turning points I never thought could possibly happen. I went to the Cajun Dome that night alone and stood near the ticket booth and offered the ticket to the next person who came to buy one. She was a beautiful African American woman who seemed pleased but as I handed her the ticket, I gave away a long held dream. I am not even sure I fully heard Maya that night as the realization that my mother who could make "anything" happen yet couldn't attend this moment was screaming in my head. Big things had changed. I sat and tried to listen and take it all in. I went home and told her everything, but it wasn't joyous for either of us. Years later, Maya still shows up for me, beyond my mother's death, beyond her own, and today was one of those days which is why I am sitting here writing about that rather than creating a little flier that explains Sugar Cookie Lotion Stars.

“Success is liking yourself, liking what you do, and liking how you do it.” ― Maya Angelou

This quote just appeared as I went to open Canva with still bleary eyes from the morning. At first I thought "yes!! exactly!" and "move on!" as we now seamlessly do when pop-ups invade what we were doing but then, I thought again. "Really take this in!" something whispered inside. And here I am.

"Like Yourself"

I have been on a journey of learning to like myself ever since I was forced to stop running away from myself. It was hard to accept and embrace the "likable" parts of myself because they seemed too big to take in and too hard to live up to. It was also hard to like the seemingly ugly parts of myself, the dirty, chimney sweep orphans I push out into the cold and deny, the wolves that howl in the night when no other sounds are around. We all have them. For many years I thought liking myself would happen when I became a good enough self, worthy of liking. Now I know it's more than that. Liking oneself is liking every nook and cranny and even loving them if possible and at some point, we are the only ones to do that work, to help our gorgeous souls, wrapped up in complex personalities, feel fully heard and treasured.

"Like What You Do"

I really do like what I do now and it can be a bit surprising at times to have such joy in the exchange of making and selling and connecting. I think liking myself was key to being willing to put things out into the world for sale because if it's truly coming from the depths of you, then putting a value on "that" and putting it out in public is huge!! There are parts of what I do that I don't like or love, but there is by far enough of what I like to really see just how significant it is to be able to say that.

"Like How You Do It"

Ok, let's be deeply honest here. THIS is the part of the quote that stopped me. Be Wyld Child is on the brink of its1yr anniversary. It's huge to have gotten this far!! The economy is changing, people's needs are changing, (even my needs are changing), and I have been spending so much time studying business models, how to be more productive, how to raise a toddler company and what success means to me. But the "how I do it" can easily get thrown in a pile of (never-to-be-folded), scarcity laundry on the couch if I am not careful and I can lose the joy and connection to what I create if I am only seeking financial success. I am also so deeply about connections that if I don't honor those and other core values, then a business is just a means to an end and I don't want that.

As I move into this big anniversary, I want to take this quote with me as I do of my Maya memories and teachings. I want to honor what BWC can be and let it stay WYLD enough to create its own magic. I have no idea how to do this and it's not in any of the business manuals I am reading... but my intention is there.

I want Be Wyld Child to have the chance to give more love and health and goodness and connection to the world. I want there to be joy in tiny hearts and healthier botanical perfumes ad sustainably-wrapped goodies. I want us to be successful financially and to joyously embrace abundance that flows in as lotions, potions and perfumes flow out of our doors. And I want to have the time and space to really enjoy this time we are in, what has been created, and all of the amazing things that have already happened this year.

I am so looking forward to what blessings may yet appear and I want to be deeply happy with "how I do it". Thank you Maya, you have always propelled me both inward and forward at the same time and the gifts you give are still huge.