Peace & Courage

"peace. 

it does not mean to be in a place 

where there is no noise, trouble 

or hard work. it means to be in 

the midst of those things and still 

be calm in your heart."

 "courage does not always roar.
sometimes courage is the quiet voice
at the end of the day saying,
'i will try again tomorrow'"
-mary anne radmacher

Find Places of Repose

The passage from Journey to the Heart on Saturday was too good to not share. This is such a great reminder to carry throughout this new week. 

"Rest when you become tense, afraid, upset. Rest until peace returns. Stop what you're doing. Take a moment, take an hour. Take the time you need to restore peace. Breathe deeply. Breathe in the quiet beauty of the world around you. Let it be a sanctuary that soothes and calms your soul.

Places of healing and repose are moments away. Find them in the world around you. Then discover those places in yourself. The universe holds the antidote for your fears and agitation. It offers all the healing you need. That healing is right around the corner.

Take a moment, take an hour. When you feel your peace interrupted, look for a place of repose."

-Melody Beattie

Life is Precious

This week has been such a reminder of just how truly precious life is. 

"Kiss your life.

Accept it, just as it is.

Today.

Now.

So that those moments

 of happiness you're waiting for

don't pass you by."

Here are some simple words to carry you through the weekend. 

Love and healing to all!

Grief

“Grief starts to become indulgent, and it doesn't serve anyone, and it's painful. But if you transform it into remembrance, then you're magnifying the person you lost and also giving something of that person to other people, so they can experience something of that person.”

― Patti Smith

Desiderata

Heal Me 1-2-3 with Latte Beads and Kiwi Accents

Go placidly amid the noise and haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence.

As far as possible without surrender be on good terms with all persons.

Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even the dull and ignorant; they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons, they are vexations to the spirit.

If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain and bitter;

for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.

Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.

Keep interested in your career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.

Exercise caution in your business affairs; for the world is full of trickery.

But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals;

and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself.

Especially, do not feign affection.

Neither be critical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth.

Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with imaginings.

Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness. Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself.

You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars;

you have a right to be here.

And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be,

and whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul.

With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be careful. Strive to be happy.

-Max Ehrmann 1927

You Will Never Be Lonely

Mixed Emotions Bracelet on Navy

"If you have a goal in life 

that takes a lot of energy

that requires a lot of work

that incurs a great deal of interest

and that is a challenge to you

You will always look 

forward to waking up 

to see what the new day brings

If you have a person in your life

that understands you completely

that shares your ideas

that trusts you 

and believes in everything you do 

You will always look 

forward to the night 

because you will never be lonely"

-Susan Polis Schutz

Recipe for Life: The Perfect Sissy (In-Law)

Last night, I had the opportunity to see Beyoncé. You know, the one person on this planet that I talk about/obsess over. The show was amazing. I was able to be 20 ft away from Bey and Jay as they made their entrance and exit into the stadium. It was all set-up to be perfect.

Beyoncé and Jay on their way to the stage

Except, there was something missing. Through all of the lights, the music, the dancing, and my idol being under the same roof as me...there was an emptiness. I had a seat that was directly against a railing on my right. But, on my left, an empty chair. While that seems hard to believe in a show as massive as the On The Run tour, there was a vacant seat. And I can't help but think it was symbolic of that something missing. That something was my sister-in-law.

My older brother has only seriously dated one person. And that dating started really early on when they were just preteens. I always made fun of him for having a girlfriend (what are little sisters for?) and thought that Heidi was mean because she was taking my brother away from me. But, as the years passed and my brother went through different stages of his life, Heidi was by his side. Eventually, I realized that I should probably start being friends with this girl because she is probably going to be around for quite awhile. I grew out of my immature stages (for the most part) and grew extremely close to the two of them, looking up to them for just about everything. Heidi got me ready for every school dance and even made my prom dress for my senior prom. That's right, she made it just for me. They were my role models, my support system, and my best friends, and they still are.

Sam and Heidi 2004 Homecoming

Me, Heidi and Sam, SEU Graduation 2014

In 2009, I heard that Beyoncé was touring in Dallas and knew I had to see her live. But, who to go with?

This was the first trip that Heidi and I took together, just the two of us. We had traveled together before, but it was always with Sam or the rest of our families. This time, it was just us.

We drove to Dallas with our Beyoncé playlist, chocolate covered pretzels, crazy outfits and so many giggles. We checked into our fancy hotel that my mom Pricelined for us. We wore our high heels and robes and danced to Single Ladies. We went to the show and were sure our lives were changed forever. Bey has such a presence that seeing her live is nothing short of magical.

Me and Heidi pretending to be fancy with our robes in Dallas, 2009. 

Fast forward to 2013. Sam and Heidi are married and living in Georgia while my brother earns his chiropractic degree. The miles apart are extremely difficult. I was so used to driving 20 minutes to their apartment for weekend-long sleepovers, and now we see each other but a few times a year. The price of getting older, I guess.

The timing worked out just right so Heidi was in Texas for the show. We, once again, drove to Dallas and jammed the entire way. We had a nice hotel in which we pretended to be fancy by ordering room service and drinking (cheap) wine. This was becoming our tradition. Our bonding. These were the moments in which Heidi went from being my brother's girlfriend/wife to my Sissy. Not even sister-in-law. Heidi is now known as my sister. It confuses people when I tell them that my brother and sister are married...but hey! She is 100% my sister and I am so glad to have had her play such a huge role in my life as I grew up.

Snaps from our 2013 trip to see Beyoncé in Dallas

When this On The Run tour was announced with both Beyoncé and Jay-Z, I knew I had to get my ticket early. They went on sale around the time I was finishing up school, so I knew that splurging was a must as this would be my graduation gift to myself. But, the dates didn't line up for Heidi to come with me. And in the moment of me buying my ticket, that was totally fine. I am independent and can totally navigate a new city by myself to see the person I idolize so much.

Until yesterday. When I didn't have a fancy hotel to stay in, or a sissy to dance around in heels and robes with. No one to order over-priced room service with. I didn't even plan my Beyoncé outfit, because what was the point? I wasn't sharing it with my sissy. So I sat there, waiting for the show to start when I get this feeling that I shouldn't be there. When I just want to cry and leave because I'm alone. Even if I was about to see the power couple that many dream of seeing. I felt empty.

That seat next to me stayed vacant throughout the entire show. I know that was supposed to be Heidi's seat. There were moments when I would turn to exclaim about the amazingness that was unfolding in front of my eyes, but Heidi wasn't there to share in that moment with me.

So last night, I figured it all out. People often ask why I love Beyoncé so much. And while there are obvious answers and reasons (she's amazing and amazing and amazing)...it is so much more than that.

I love Beyoncé because she is this symbol for my relationship with my sister. We created an entire experience out of going to these shows, and without Heidi, it just isn't the same.

So I am declaring it right here and right now. From now until we can no longer stand and need to be wheeled into the shows, we will go as sisters. Because that is what Beyoncé is all about. Me and Sissy pretending we can sing and dance. Eating junk food and pretending we're fancy. Wearing heels that are too uncomfortable for life and buying Beyoncé t-shirts that cost way too much. Laughing until we cry and crying because Beyoncé is so powerful. And sharing all of these moments together...as sisters.

Love you, Heidi! Sissy trips to Beyoncé or bust.

Area Code Bracelets – Always a New Idea Out There!

Monday night a dear friend invited me to dinner. She has been one of those magical pieces to getting Healing Knots off of the ground. We have had various times in our lives that our paths crossed. From babysitting co-op days in the neighborhood, to working at the same church (I was in the gym teaching movement and she was in the office crunching numbers) to sweating through yoga class together.

It is the yoga class that landed us in this forever amazing journey of Healing Knots. We always parked our mats next to each other when we got eye contact in the yoga studio. Chatting about our kids and how to weather the many chapters of teenage boys. We got closer when I needed a driveway to park my son’s first car. We wanted to surprise him and needed to leave it somewhere for a couple of weeks. Tracy has a long driveway so the little black CR-V lived there for a few weeks.

This opened the door to our friendship and it has been growing ever since. Tracy is a master number cruncher and does the books for a variety of businesses in town. When she started seeing my bracelets on people she said to me one day,” What are those? I am seeing them everywhere!” As I shared the story of Healing Knots she instantly put on her business hat and demanded that we make this a business. She would come to my house and we would feed her and she would coach Bob on how to file the paperwork to make us legit and what kind of spreadsheet would document all of the orders and expenses…and all of those things that made me and Emily cross-eyed. We like the side of Healing Knots that is fun and creative and full of color! The fact that numbers, record-keeping and rules are involved really does not enter into our minds. So the famous “Queen Spanker” was born!!

Now Tracy is not happy with the job title that she has received here at the Healing Knots headquarters. But, if the shoe fits….you know how that saying goes. So she filed for the LLC….and BANG…we are official! And then Bob filed for the trademark…and BOOM…done…and now the R with a circle around it out of Washington, DC…IT IS CRAZY!!

But truly, it is Tracy that started to put all of this in motion for us. She believed in the whole mission of Healing Knots. She wears her bracelets diligently and is always bringing new people into our circle of bracelet wearers. Her courage to tell me that …. "Corinne, you MUST charge tax….you CANNOT give any more bracelets away…you MUST keep track of every bracelet you make.” All of these quotes and more keep her with that infamous title of Queen Spanker. When she first came to our rescue she saw my first business account.  It was a tiny brown paper bag. On it I had written the amount and date for each bracelet I had sold. The bag was filled with cash and checks. It just sat on Bob’s desk. She almost started shaking it made her so uncomfortable, I remember her looking at me and saying, “You mean to tell me that this money is just sitting here in a brown paper bag? REALLY….” She had to take a picture to send to her bookkeeping friends because I had now qualified as the most frightening client she had ever worked with.

Luckily, she and Bob can manage all of the details that make my eyes roll back into my head. Emily and I sit around and do the fun stuff and Bob and Tracy do the spreadsheets. It is a match made in heaven.

It is a great mix of characters and somehow we pull it off, have fun and are runnin’ a business!!!

Arianna, the waiter, and Hayden rockin' their knots!

Back to the new bracelet idea that was born on Monday night. So every time I meet new people and they are designing a bracelet I tell them, you might have a new idea or concept.  There is no right or wrong and the sky is the limit. So Monday night, Queen Spanker brought her daughter and friend that were visiting from Charleston. As we sat on the patio in the humid night air the girls started designing their bracelets…and a whole new concept was born. It should have come as no surprise that if your mother is a bookkeeper that you would use numbers to tell your story…and the area code bracelet was born. Hayden designed a bracelet with her hometown area code of 512 and one of her new town bracelet, Charleston, 843. How genius! If there is one thing in life that you remember it is the area codes of places you have lived.  And that alone can be how you trace your steps and hold your memories. Every area code brings back those special people and places that have been a part of the fabric of our lives. So here's to Hayden and Arianna! The birth of a new bracelet design!

The area code bracelets!

Hayden receiving her Area Code Bracelet

So adorable, so young and full of new ideas!

We hope to hear more from you as you take your bracelets and take Healing Knots to the Charleston area.  Thanks for giving us a new idea and thank you Queen Spanker for sharing your precious daughter and her friend with us. 

Good luck girls!!!

Recipe for Life: Perfect Wedding Day

We have a new recipe today from our dear friend, Holly. If you ever get to meet her...she will take your breath away...she is so gorgeous...and she can rock the wake surfing...

But, she is so gentle, so kind and so dear...

Here is her recipe for the perfect wedding day.

________________________

Gorgeous Holly and her handsome husband Dan 

When Dan and I decided to marry, we knew right away that we didn't want a traditional ceremony. As much as we love the warm fuzzy feeling that traditions provide, stiff clothes and a stuffy church just don't suit us. Anyone who knows Dan and I, knows that we love the outdoors and our little house on the lake. During the summer months our days are spent in the sun, swimming and boating. We practically live in the water, spending hours wake skating and surfing. Soaking up every drop of sun because we are, in fact, solar powered. Why not celebrate our special day this way? A gathering of all our close family and friends, sunshine, good food, swimming and boating at our little house on the lake.

When I told Corinne she was so excited and immediately said, "I have the perfect gift!" A few days later, I met her outside of her yoga studio and we sat and laughed and made 40 bracelets. Each bracelet had 3 beads, one representing me, one representing Dan, and one in the middle, representing our love and
commitment. A perfect "made with love" favor for our wedding guests.

What a surreal moment it was, being surrounded by all our family and friends, each wearing a bracelet, tying us all together. I just wanted to stay in that moment! So much love and positive energy flowing through us all.

It was a day that truly exceeded my expectations. As soon as we said "I do" everyone hopped on a boat for a sunset cruise. Surfing in my wedding dress was a dream come true. We let all our cares slip away and soon everyone was in the water in their wedding attire.

If anyone out there is looking for the perfect wedding day recipe, I think we have it perfected. It is as follows:

• 2 people in love 
• 1 overflowing cup of loving family and friends 
• A heaping handful of sunshine and refreshing body of water
• 40 Healing Knots Love Bracelets 

Bake at 80 degrees on a beautiful May day and then Savor. Every. Bite!