It has sometimes been easier for me to
define what I am not about, rather than what I stand for…
My new business venture has been about marrying my entrepreneurial
drive with my vision around what redefining authentic beauty really is. It has
forced me to explore and define what all of that actually means to me - to any
of us, really. It has been a fascinating process for me because as I am trying
to define what we (@TRU) are about, I am having to understand what I am about,
at my core. And while I believe I know
part of what that picture looks like, there is far more to be discovered…and
even when I discover it, to some degree it is fluid and changing.
Creating my brand has forced me to
internalize the question, process it, and then live my answer. I feel like I have always been clear about
what I like and don’t like, believe in and do not believe in…but living
it is something entirely different. The example that constantly comes to mind
is how deeply I believe that everyone is uniquely beautiful, created with
purpose and passion. I live this with
the people I love-It is always true of them, but
seldom of me. I am very hard on myself and my loved ones call me
on my double standard constantly. I try to blow them off. Yet, in my quiet moments, I know they are
right and I am slowly beginning to see how deeply harmful my criticism of
myself really is. This is how I am learning about authenticity.
Authentic beauty is defined differently for
everyone. My definition has been fairly
narrow in some ways. The reality that I
have needed other people in order for this business to come to fruition has
changed everything for me….
This is what I am learning our tag line “redefining
authentic beauty” means for me…
Coming home to a family who loves me enough
to tell me I am not honoring the family boundaries I promised I would.
Camping with girlfriends and crying around
a fire together, because I am safe there and sometimes life can be really overwhelming.
Sharing intense conversation and beautiful
food with a friend whose support and love give me strength when I cannot muster
any of my own because I am just too emotionally and mentally exhausted.
Having so many people who believe in you
that you lay in bed at night, on the verge of tears, wondering how you became so
blessed. And knowing that when you’re paralyzed in fear (again), that little fact
will be the only thing that gets you through.
Getting a text from one friend and then
two, and then five more saying: what do you need me to do? I will help in any
way needed..and they mean it. They mean every single word.
Having your loved ones hug you and squeeze
a little tighter and hold on a little longer than usual to say “I am proud of
you” and you know those 5 words carry weight. Beautiful, life-giving weight.
Watching your spouse get up every single
day and complete another very long “to-do List” because your dreams mean more
than anything to him, even though he is dog tired.
Overhearing your 9 year old daughter brag
about the new business you are opening, getting most of the details wrong… and starting
to laugh because you know that the details don’t matter at all. The fact that she is bragging means you are a
role model in her young, sweet life and THAT is priceless.
And….
Opening a new business and stepping back on
Grand Opening night as you watch an entire tribe of people jump FULLY in,
without hesitation, full of passion and excitement and tenacity….for YOUR
vision…and having to choke back the tears because it is just too overwhelming
to receive in that moment.
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