Small Beginnings and a Dream Realized!
I planned for this to be a SHORT post...but I am a woman of many words (just ask my husband!). The brief version: I became a nurse in 1989 and have loved my career, especially the teaching aspect of every job. In 2017 I took part in a webinar about aromatherapy and essential oils, became interested, enrolled in a program, and in 2018 received a diploma in an aromatherapy program. Thus began my dream of owning and running my own business that would include aromatherapy, creating essential oil products, and teaching others about health and wellness. Through the last 5 years I had many "small beginnings", and then late last year the time was right to start "Pink Flamingo Health and Wellness". Last week the final step, opening my online store, happened! Check the store out by clicking the link below! And if you want to read all of the details, they are below!)
Pink Flamingo Health and Wellness – Pink Flamingo Health and Wellness
My dream of becoming a nurse began when I was a little girl; I remember giving my sisters ink pen "shots" and starting their "IVs"--made with taped-together straws. I become a Registered Nurse in 1989, and have worked in many areas of nursing since then. Every job was my "perfect job"--until a "more perfect"
opportunity came along! The jobs were diverse, but I learned something from every patient, long-term care resident, every nurse, every CNA, every student, and every other healthcare worker that I worked with, in every job! And I found that I had a passion for teaching as well (my dad and grandpa were teachers; I'm thankful I inherited those genes, although I could never be a teacher!) I have been so blessed with a career I love!
Another dream began in 2017, when I participated in a webinar about aromatherapy and how essential oils can be used in long-term care, to, among other things, decrease falls and symptoms of dementia in elderly residents. Shortly after the webinar I enrolled in The Institute for Integrative Aromatherapy, a comprehensive (325 hours/CEUs) course in which I learned about aromatherapy and essential oils, their benefits, and how to use them safely. I have always loved to learn new things, and since I knew nothing about aromatherapy, everything was new and exciting! The more I learned, the more I wanted to learn more and use this knowledge to help others. And gradually, another dream was born--to open my own business.
I dreamed of a business in which I could combine my love for teaching, and aromatherapy and essential oils, in helping and encouraging others. My mom and grandpa were my best encouragers, and I've always tried to honor their memories by encouraging others, so that was part of my business model too. I wasn't sure how I'd combine all of these ideas, so I prayed about it, talked about it (again, just ask my husband!), worked on it as I had time, and continued to learn.
One of the requirements for my Aromatherapy program was to do 20 case studies, which meant talking with people about a health issue (discomfort, feelings of anxiety, jittery legs, difficulty sleeping) and developing and using an essential oil blend to treat that issue. I could not help but teach these "patients" about the oils and how they worked, AND other things that they could do to help the issue. I continued to do this for friends and family members after I completed the class, as part of working towards my dream of doing this as a business. I saved all of my essential oil "recipes" and jotted down ideas for different oils to blend for use for various discomforts. I gradually acquired an inventory of items I needed to create different products--balms, creams, inhalers-- so that I could offer people different ways to use the blends. I also had fun creating self-care items--shower melts and face and body scrubs, cuticle balm, lotion bars, lip balm, beard oil--that combined therapeutic benefits with FUN!
Sometimes I became discouraged. I was working full time plus, especially as an Infection Control nurse during COVID. Sometimes weeks would go by when I didn't do anything besides open a few bottles of essential oils and inhale their calming or energizing scent (depending on the time of day). My dream seemed very far away, but I took comfort in the verse at the beginning of this post, knowing that every "small beginning" was a step toward my dream being realized.
Then, suddenly, late last year, through a very unexpected series of events, the opportunity was there and I was blessed to be able to start running my business, Pink Flamingo Health and Wellness, full time! It was scary, but I felt God's peace and guidance the whole way. Thanks to "small beginnings", I had everything I needed to get started--and FINALLY, after years, the time in which to do it. The final piece fell into place last week, when my online store went "live". I am so thankful and thrilled and excited (still a little scared, too!) to invite you to take a look! There is much more to come, so "follow" this blog and our Facebook page to know when another educational post or product comes out. I'll be working on fall products this week (Pumpkin Spice will be among them!) and posts about winter health and wellness are coming soon.
