Who's Your Master?

Soul's Notes (TL;DR): My family chose to sell greeting cards because our products force you to sit with your feelings before putting pen to paper. I hope that whenever you send out one of our cards, the process of writing out your greetings is a break from the hamster wheel that looms large before us.

I once bought liquid soap in a plastic bottle with a pump dispenser on top. Exciting topic, I know. I eventually got through all that soap and by the end, was watering down the last remnants in an effort to get my full money's worth ($1.97, to be exact). So that poor watery soap would swill around the bottom as I violently pumped the dispenser. Eventually, I was so vicious about getting every last drop out of that damn thing, the negative pressure caused the bottle to collapse inwards and the pump broke off.

It was in that moment that I had an epiphany about how I treat myself. Before I go any further, if you or someone you know is showing signs of deteriorating mental health, please do not be afraid to seek professional help. Mental health issues take many forms and whether it's mild or has reached a breaking point, there is NO shame in asking for help. Just like any physical ailment, pretending it doesn't exist will not help and there is no guarantee it will go away on its own. Here in Canada, the Canadian Mental Health Association is an excellent resource if you or a loved one don't know where to start.

External deadlines and pressure is inevitable -- we work to pay our bills and achieve our material goals. Fine. But do you put pressure on yourself? Let's be real, most of society has taught us that we live to work, not the other way around. We're constantly bombarded by stories of the ultra rich and famous as if it's the only means to happiness, or that working only one job or less than ten hours a day is a sign of weakness and laziness. Why is this the only correct way to live?

When I pushed my soap dispenser to its limits, it just collapsed out of nowhere. Of course, I saw it coming in my mind's eye every time I pumped that thing like there was a global soap scarcity, but when it finally gave up, it was so immediate and intense. Am I heading this way in the name of taking care of myself and my family? Do others go through this, too (answer: yes)? What is the remedy?

In my personal, untrained opinion, the remedy is self-love. Break the chains of your own expectations of yourself. You are your own master and you decide your limits. You decide what that limit is to you with no one else's judgement or input. And most importantly, when life hits you like a runaway train and challenges those limits, stand by yourself. Say no, forgive yourself, and rest, because you don't owe this world a damn thing.

You may notice that I do not set a tight schedule for these blog posts. I write them when I can. I'm also terrible at social media (follow us on Facebook, anyway, haha!), but you know what, that's okay. I'm doing my best, I have other things to tend to, and I never want this sweet family business of mine to become a ticking time bomb for my well-being.

My family chose to sell greeting cards because our products force you to sit with your feelings before putting pen to paper. I hope that whenever you send out one of our cards, the process of writing out your greetings is a break from the hamster wheel that looms large before us.

Love others, but more importantly, love yourself. Let your cup run full so that you can spread love to others from a place of abundance. And that is how we will heal this world.