57 Christmases Ago

What would you say to your younger self if you could?
It's a common question now, and I think it never loses its significance.
At different times in our lives, we might have different answers, but there are no wrong answers.

You may have seen me talk about a Christmas picture of my 5-year-old self in a reel on our website.

Well, that image popped up again recently as we were preparing our holiday email blasts.

I am 5 years old, Christmas 1966.
I received this white vanity makeup table from Santa.
A lightweight styrofoam chair that tipped over when I sat on it,
but it was the little plastic red lipstick that came with it that had me over the moon.

It was all pretend, but it felt so real to me.
The excitement and hours I spent playing with that lipstick at that makeup table...
I knew that was my happy place.

I wish I could have whispered in my little girl's ear, "All will be well.
You already know what brings you joy; stick with that.
The little things that make you happy... keep doing those.
It's really not more complicated than that."

We all have moments of reflection and redirection in our lives.
Maybe it's this time of year... we think of times gone by,
the people, and the impact they’ve had.

Life is full of stops and starts.
There will always be ups, downs, and midway points.
A new baby? Just married? Restarting your business?
We're all at different spots, but one thing I know for sure is we never stand still.
Thank goodness.
Even if you think you're standing still, someone else is creating movement
and having an impact on your life.
That's the beauty of it all—we all keep moving.

Ultimately, what I would say to that little girl at the makeup table is this:
Your compass will help you find your joy.
Deep down, we know if we're on the right track.
If we're with the right people, or doing the right thing, it helps us feel whole.
It's quiet, like a whisper... but it's there for each of us—listen and pay attention.

I’m not sure if that makeup table and lipstick guided me to work in the cosmetic industry all my life,
but I don't think it was an accident.
Well, maybe an "accident on purpose."

Thank you for allowing me to craft products so that we’re connected in some way
and have become part of each other's life journey.

I wish for you, this holiday season, the time to reflect and to find the joy and peace we're meant to experience.