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Today I am writing about Love.

Not the usual "Hollywood" style love but a love that is far more rare and elusive.

Love and jewellery seem to partner well - a lot like flowers and love. So, for that reason, I am delving briefly into the mysteries of love. And what could be more mysterious than the love of oneself. When I was growing up if someone asked me if I "love myself" it was seen as an insult - for to love oneself deemed you vain, conceited and self centred.  It was superficial and highly undesirable, so I grew up believing that it was the worst thing ever to love myself. 

Thankfully today when asked if you "love yourself" people now at least understand that the question is deeper than the skin. Do you love yourself? The words echoing into the silence as you consider the question. Do you love yourself? Many would answer flippantly "of course" but really, on a deep level they couldn't possibly when they place everyone else's needs before their own, when they forsake their health and wellbeing to keep up with social appearances.

SO, it is an interesting time to reflect on self-love as we near the craziness of Christmas. This Christmas gift yourself with what your body mind and spirit really crave and need - be it rest and peace, slowing down - or whether it be endless laughter and connecting deeply to those around you. Ask yourself honestly "what do you really need and want this Christmas?" and maybe you might just be surprised by the answer - but you have to slow down enough and be still enough to hear it.

PS: there is 20% off all "Ready to ship" items listed online until the 5th December.

Sending blessings and love to you all. Love Tonya

The "Pursuit of Excellence" to me is one of the most sacred ways to pray.

I am not religious, but I do feel deeply spiritual and what I have come to realise is that there are many ways to offer praise and gratitude for this life. One very precious way to offer praise is to "Pursue Excellence" in your chosen field, to honour your gifts and to dedicate yourself to set the intention to always be learning and growing in your performance of those gifts. 

The Pursuit of Excellence is a phrase that came to me the other day and it really resonated with me. As a creative there is a constant pressure and comparison to others. It takes a lot of discipline and focus to remain consistently on your own path and not be influenced by the path of others. Sure, a healthy dose of inspiration from each other is great but at the end of the day what you have to offer is utterly unique to you! No one can do what you do and offer what you offer!

I have always been in awe of the Japanese focus on perfection in all that they do, but the word "perfectionism" also carries a negative energy around striving for the impossible and for me carries a feeling of anxiety and failure even before I have begun. However, the phrase "Pursuit of Excellence" is so much more beautiful and feels clearer to me. It feels achievable, it feels sacred, and it feels peaceful and Zen, and it has the sense of no Final Destination to mark the fact you have been successful. But rather success comes in the everyday "doing" and "pursuing of excellence". Maybe this is what the Japanese really mean by "Kaizen" one of the principles of Wabi Sabi. Maybe what they really mean by the word Kaizen is not the pursuit of perfectionism, but rather the pursuit of excellence.

So, today I urge you to look at what really matters to you, and to think about how you can continue to grow and expand to pursue YOUR excellence in what you are doing. It could be Motherhood, it could be cooking, cleaning, your work whatever that may be, or it could be your garden. Chose 1-2 things in your life that REALLY matter to you and make a decision that you will promise to pursue Excellence in your performance of that task. And I promise you, by doing that you will bring more grace, beauty and peace into your life.