Getting it Right
Dear Rose Woman community,
We spent the day yesterday with our production partner, surrounded by drums of dried herbs, extraction machinery, cooking and mixing equipment, filling lines, labeling and sealing and boxing and shipping equipment- and the very kind teammates and colleagues that make your favorite products. We opened jars from different points in our most recent production run and checked consistency and scent (and I was reminded of how much I love the formulas we make!). And then we got to a lot that wasn't quite right. It was a little grainy, a little sugary. It melted into the skin, but still, it was slightly off specification. This change was from a simple change in a temperature protocol: one minor change and the batch had to be rejected. Okay, mistakes... live and learn. Don't do that again.
I've been thinking about what it means to be committed to excellence. In some domains, excellences requires paying attention to details, and doing some thing with absolute specificity and accuracy, In other domains, excellence comes through the complete abandonment of structure, from delving into imaginary realms and creative cauldrons and inviting something utterly emergent and new.
I notice around me in these days that there is a confusion between commitment to excellence and commitment to having it your (most excellent, surely) way!
We might become judgmental rather than discerning, or become more separated rather than connected. We might become obsessive or intolerant, which leads to living in a prison of our preferences. We might then internalize that oppressive opinionated perfectionist, and turn that critical voice onto ourselves.
That is not fun.
Today, I commit to putting love and connection first. To advocating for precision and care from love and connection, not from judgement, fear, blame or shame. May I hold myself, my opinions and my preferences lightly, and be curious about the meaning, values and motivations behind others' opinions and preferences. May I keep learning and growing through each experience, and not retreat into sameness, comfort or safety.
An invitation to TalkShop this week
Before I sign off for this week, I want to invite you to join me this Wednesday for Episode 2 of our show on TalkShop.Live, where I'll be taking on the topic of Happy Intimate Skin Your Whole Life Long. In the episode, we're talking about optimizing intimate skin. Join me to talk about the impact of the big hormone changes on the skin of the vulva, vagina and the rest of the body. Whether its from perimenopause or menopause; during or after pregnancy; or as a result of certain common medications or cancer treatments, our intimate skin changes throughout our life. We will talk about natural ways to increase blood flow, activate the pelvic floor, avoiding pain and more.
Body Love Collection and a Little Holiday Nudge
If you haven't ordered the body brush, a soap, the anoint oil and the body gua sha, I've put them together in a body collection, and we will be using this set for the December episode. This is a nice place to get some early holiday shopping done, also. Our soaps and travel kits make great stocking stuffers; the journals, books, body care products and candles are lovely for anyone; the full size sets are for that very special person on your list. Michelle will be sending out some more suggestions here in the coming weeks, but I encourage you to use your points, and share the body love.
XO,
CMM
Christine Marie Mason
Founder, Rosebud Woman
Host The Rose Woman Podcast on Love and Liberation
P.S. If you missed this week's podcast on helping first responders and veterans overcome trauma, please have a listen. Psychedelic therapies are changing lives. We can support that work.