Daily Gratitude + I Stand For Love
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Though I originally posted this article several years ago (shortly after my experience with a hurricane scare) I’m re-visiting it once again. Spring 2020 has brought a slew of different kinds of storms—pandemic, economic crash, social injustice. We’re all facing tremendous personal, professional and global challenges. Love is needed now more than ever before.
Thank you Wildpreneur Sarah Love, founder of I Stand For Love for giving us tools to spread love globally. Sign up and receive a free daily love messages in your inbox. Please share with your friends and community! Read Sarah’s interview below.
Sarah also offers a monthly subscription that includes a printable workbook, screen savers, an audio meditation and a monthly playlist. It's designed to hit all the senses and really dig into the daily practice for lasting self love. Check it out here.
Original Post: Hurricane of Nov. 2018
We returned to the jungle a few days ago to be greeted by a category 5 hurricane swirling off the coastline. “What does the radar say now?” was the question of the day.
Needless to say, we were tremendously relieved when the storm took a northern turn. Phew, that was a close call! My heart is filled gratitude that my jungle home has been preserved. The jungle is also grateful for the downpour—it’s now glowing a radiant green.
Gratitude is beautiful practice to integrate into your life as a wildpreneur. Pause regularly to savor your surroundings. We must appreciate the now—things can certainly change quickly!
My casita is filled with gratitude reminders. A sign on the wall says “life is a beautiful ride.” Another reminds me to take things “one day at a time.”
One of my favorite gratitude reminders is the I Stand For Love calendar hanging on my wall. I bought this little calendar in a gift shop in San Pancho in 2012. I’ve gotten one every year since (it travels with me too!). On a romantic note, when I first met my boyfriend I noticed he had the same love calendar pinned up in the cabin of his sailboat—a fateful beginning to our love story :).
Below is some wild inspiration from Sarah Love, the founder of I Stand for Love. Check out her awesome calendars and get 10% off at checkout with COUPON CODE: Iamloved at www.istandforlove.com/shop-o-love/
Now is a perfect time to get your 2019 calendars (I love to give them as Christmas gifts too).
Interview with Sarah Love:
Q: What was your inspiration to create I Stand For Love?
Years ago, I literally woke up in the middle of the night with those 4 words in my head. It sounded so simple yet powerful and I thought if people said these words the world would change. I had an inspirational art business going, but I wanted it to be more universal. More about the power of love than about me as an artist. So I changed everything to I Stand For Love and even created an international holiday on August 8th called I Stand For Love Day.
My deepest desire is for future generations to feel more love in their own hearts and I think this is a crucial time for us to make a shift in that direction. I believe in the power of the collective and the more of us that turn towards love the more we will increase that vibration in the world. So the mission of I Stand For Love is to be a little wave of positivity and hope to uplift human hearts every day.
Q: Is this work your passion? What keeps you motivated? Yes! It really has to be a passion or it would be hard to stay self motivated for me.
What keeps me motivated are other individuals who are using their energy to create a ripple of change. Big or small, I love hearing about people doing awesome things. I also stay motivated by making sure I practice what I preach. It can be challenging to look for the good, remember the magic, create positive outcomes all the time (and it’s natural to go down into fear or frustration), but if I can remember the same advice I would give someone else, that can make a big difference.
I’m also motivated to keep moving forward because I truly believe that we are living in very transformational times. This is not the hour to stick my head in the sand, this is the time to bring my heart fully into life.
Q: Did you make any personal sacrifices to get your businesses started? Any funny examples of living on a shoestring budget?
It’s always a bit of a roller coaster. Constantly getting creative with growing the business, making new products, and covering living expenses.
When I first started it was very much a shoestring experience. I created the first Life is Beautiful calendar at Kinkos. I only had enough money to print 50 copies! But I love that it’s grown organically and the daily messages really resonate with people. As the business grows there’s more I want to create, but I’ve never gone the investor route. Just taking the next step (or leap) as it feels right. I’ve maxed out a few credit cards in the process of trying to make things from scratch, but it always seems to work out in the end.
Q: What is the best piece of advice you'd give to someone looking to start their own business?
Make sure you are in it for the right reasons. If it’s just for the financial gain, it is hard to stay in the game. Money isn’t enough when you are your own boss. You have to have a deeper reason to be getting out of bed everyday.
And if you are going to be in a partnership make sure you have a very clear understanding of your relationship, working styles, responsibilities and communication styles. I’ve seen many partnerships in business end with really hurt feelings or worse.
It rarely happens in a straight line so be prepared for lots of learning curves and enjoy the process!
Q: What do you wish you’d known prior to getting started?
Everything! Ha!
Actually, I wish I was better at learning from others. I’m a pretty experiential learner and I need to knock my head against the wall or reinvent the wheel in almost everything I’ve tried. Not the fastest way to make a business work, but entrepreneurs are usually rebels anyway.
There are so many people that have done well and can teach you about shortcuts and systems. It’s good to learn from them. On the flip side however don’t get caught up in buying the next course or going back to school as a way to put your dreams on hold. It’s a fine line between being a good student and being paralyzed with procrastination and perfectionism.
Q: How do give back to your community?
Giving in general is an important piece of my business model. I donate my inspirational calendars to a few non profits every year. Last year I upped my game and was able to donate 400 calendars to the volunteers and the Crisis Text Line and 450 to the Immigrant and Refugee Community here in Portland, OR. I love to give the daily inspiration to people that might not have access to art or messages of hope like that.
I also have free art nights in my studio for friends. That we can all express ourselves and learn from each other.
I donate money to a handful of environmental organizations too and do lots of research before I make any products. I have a no plastic policy with my product line and print everything locally. There’s always more I want to do for people and the Earth. It never stops being a priority for me.
Q: What’s your favorite part about being a wild entrepreneur?
The first words that come to mind are freedom and risk. It’s fun to solve problems, make my own schedule, have busy times and slow times.
It’s exciting to follow the flow of creative energy where it wants to go.
I LOVE NOT being in traffic everyday!
Q: Describe your perfect day as a wild entrepreneur.
After rising for the best nights sleep, I do 15-20 minutes of yoga to wake up. followed by 30 minutes of meditation. Make some delicious tea and breakfast and write in my journal for a bit. Then I head out to the studio for a meeting with my sweet little team of women and discuss our goals for the day/week.
I start in with some creative time, painting, making something, anything, then record an interview for a popular podcast. There are lots of orders to ship so we get those out easily and efficiently.
I spend some time spreading love and inspiration thru social media and emails then have a yummy lunch. Head back to the studio for more creative time and see all the new orders that are coming in. I end up painting for a few more hours.
I connect with a magical circle of women that are growing their businesses too before wrapping up for the day. We cheer each other on and share new ideas.
In the evening, I may go out to dinner with my love or see some great music.
That’s a really good day!
Q: Anything else you’d like to share?
Thank you! I’m honored to be a part of this great project!
