COURAGE

The last time I wrote was early July. It is two months later and my last blog was all about not missing the summer…remembering to take moments to pay attention, take a breath, be grateful. I am practicing at this, and with this practice, I am getting better at it…but WOWIE! Summer is gone, but we certainly took advantage when we could to participate in this lovely area we call home; through bike rides, sailing, gardening, and being with family and friends. (A few photos at the end of the blog to prove it and my favorite above on South Manitou looking back at Leland at Sunset…a bit of a different view!)

September is the month I was born, which seems to be the time I feel like I reset, reflect on the year, and focus on a rebirth of sorts. I embrace the transition and switch from summer to fall. Aaron and the kids start school, I begin coaching volleyball, summer guests and family leave, the sun winds down earlier as do free flowing schedules. It seems to be the time of reconnecting to goals and desires for myself, which usually begins with making better choices about what I eat, how much rest and sleep I get, what kind of exercise I am choosing, what time I am making to read, write, and play music. What kind of talk am I filling my head with and how are my intentions affecting my present and future?

I am settling into my Traverse City work routine. Katie worked with us again for the summer and she is just such a joy. She is greatly competent, assertive, precise and loves the music up as loud as I do and sings along too! Craig and Jessica are wonderful people to connect with on a personal level and I feel extremely blessed to have such hard working and efficient people with whom to work. We are a great team. We are focused on sales (which, of course, we always are but have some serious goals to meet:) for the rest of this year, and are learning how to further develop our brand identity, increase our marketing skills, in addition to widening our distribution range- smartly. We will also be launching a capital raise on a crowd funding platform (so exciting!) with in the next month that will allow us to rebrand/redesign some of our packaging, hire help to extend our marketing effectiveness, consolidate debt, buy ingredients at larger volume/better price, and move The Redheads to the next level. We have the infrastructure. We have the team. We have the brand. We have the recipes. We have the experience. We have the passion and the purpose. We have the courage.

And that is where I am at today, liking everything about the word courage. It is the choice and willingness to confront the unknown, or the confidence to act in accordance to your core beliefs. And even more than acting on your belief, to me, it is about standing strong in your knowings. Beliefs have other attachments pinned to them, like others peoples support as well as other peoples doubts. Knowing is yours- deep inside and it holds only your truth, no doubt, expectations, nor judgements. I am not defined by my successes and failures (what ever either of those may really be!)…nor am I defined by others or their ideas of what I should be. I hold huge regard and value in being brave, showing up and being courageous.

I will allow the word courage to be reborn in me during my birth month. Glad to be here, glad to be alive! And I am glad to have a connection to you. Thanks for inspiring me. Keep it up ’cause I ain’t done yet!

Always,

Sarah Felicity

Live Free or Die!

Ps…I suppose I should mention that we have been lots of fun marinading calamari with our NEW Creamy Tahini dressing as well as have soaked our cucumbers from the garden in it! The NEW Red Wine Vinaigrette is superb on white fish, salmon or trout and my fav on pasta (gf for me of course), diced peppers, onion, and any other veggie in the fridge! Marinate your chicken or tempeh in the RWV and you will have that flavorful taste of summer in your mouth!