Gratitude

Yesterday I made a post in the Lollishops Guild blog about gratitude, but I realize a lot of you don't have access to that, so I thought I would make a similar post here on the same subject. I think that many women who had successful businesses before they moved to the internet feel the same way I did judging by the amount of mail I received over that post.

When I moved the business to the net a year ago I went through an interesting series of emotions. Bear shows has begun to die off due to difficulties and expenses of travel, and the ease of getting what people want at the click of a button. First I thought wow this is going to be great, I can make a website...my customers can find me and it will be so much easier than going to shows. I made my website and nothing happened. I added all the search engines I could and still nothing. I decided to try ebay and bears sold, but for ridiculously low prices. I was tired of giving my work away and I became disgusted with ebay so I quit using them.

I went through some issues with people mentioned in the last post and it really took it's toll on my usual positive attitude. I began to think the internet was my enemy. I looked upon it as something to be conquered and it was a struggle each day. I went through a dark period for a couple months where I couldn't even create much of anything because of all that had happened.

One morning I woke up and I realized the Internet is something to be grateful for. It's filled with lovely creative people, ideas, pictures, words and infinite possibilities. How could those kinds of things be my enemy? I made a shop on etsy, and I applied for Lollishops, I've made Mohair Divas and look what my positive thinking has brought me to.

In the US we have Thanksgiving coming up. It's a time when we should express our gratitude for what we have. But I think we shouldn't wait for one day a year to do that, or have to live in a specific country. I think we should be grateful and positive for the things we are given every day. I know that's hard sometimes and I am not Miss Merry Sunshine every single day, so don't think that. *winks* But I do try to push those feelings aside when something negative arises.

I am grateful this year for so many things, I don't want to wait for November 27th to express that gratitude. I have always been grateful for what I have in this world. I am married to a wonderful man that I wouldn't trade for anything, I have family and friends and pets. A nice house, my health and I don't want for anything. In fact I am rather spoiled. But I am also grateful that the internet has become my friend. I have been pushed outside my comfort zone a few times and taken on challenges I might not have in the past. It has also allowed me to meet so many wonderful people lately, and to share what I have with them the way they have shared with me.