A Certain Level of Professionalism

A bit of real life: today, partly in prep for the wedding and partly to help out my future sister-in-law, I hosted a Mary Kay party at my house. Anyone who knows me knows I’m far from a girly girl. It was definitely a learning experience, and I now know of a few cool skin care tips. Having this party was important to me though, because my sister-in-law has two children, a husband overseas, and this is her primary form of income. Helping her helps my niece and godson/nephew, too.

It reminded me of back in the day when I used to sell Lia Sophia jewelry. (That was a bad experience all around, honestly.) While I was reminiscing, my sister in law was talking to my best friend about working from home. My best friend just completed her Masters in Adult Education and has two young children at home, so her plan is to continue her website job part time and teach online classes. And I started thinking about my own work: the job I am currently employed at, and how I wish I didn’t have to be, and the work that I want to do, that I’m called to do, that I’m passionate about. I want to help people, and working at a country club serving food and working functions in the ballroom is not helping in a meaningful way. I want to treat people in mind, body, and spirit. I want to make skin care products and candles that pamper but also heal. I want to make pretty jewelry and accessories that others look at, admire, and want. I want to guide people towards their own goals and help them help themselves. And I want to be able to do all this while working out of my home, because I’ll be married soon and having kids, and there’s no way I’ll want to ship them off to daycare while I go work for someone else to make money.

Lately, especially after the faire, I’ve been thinking about getting a table at the local flea market and selling candles, jewelry, and skin care products there. I can also advertise The Poor Pirate, although we’re a bit of a specialty shop. But really, I want to get out there and do more work with reiki. Getting to practice on other people at the faire was so life-changing. Reiki is all about energy, and I was connecting with these people on an energetic level that is so beyond comparison.

The best was when I had a young girl come to me with her parents. She had broken her arm, and her parents wanted her to try reiki. She was super nervous, but by the end she was comfortable and giggling with me. I love kids; I worked with them for years at the YMCA, and when I left to pursue a career in holistic health, I knew I wanted a specialty with kids. I still do. Kids just have a completely different energetic feel to them. It’s incredible.

I’m rambling. The point is, the desire has been growing inside of me to really get off my ass and promote myself. I need to build up a clientele base and delve earnestly into working for myself. I want to be able to bring home what I bring home from the country club (which honestly isn’t much), but by doing something I love. It’s the endgame for me, really. It’s something I’m working on.

Wish me luck!

EDIT:
I’ve started a new Facebook page for my reiki and apothecary products. If you’re interested, go check it out.