Creative Leisure News - "Benny Da Buyer"

A view of the industry through the eyes of independent and chain retailers.

Be The Change You Wish To See

Do it for the grieving families.

by Lisa Rose, A Bead of Roses (May 6, 2013)

(Note: Lisa operates A Bead of Roses, the bead shop in Newtown, CT. Like most retailers, she writes an email newsletter. The latest edition, however, includes far more than a listing of new classes and products. Lisa's store, as CLN has reported, offers the grieving citizens of Newtown, especially the children, opportunities to heal from the Sandy Hook massacre. Here is an edited portion of her newsletter.)

Greetings!

Spring has sprung at A Bead of Roses and that means we are busy creating new designs and weeding through several new design ideas for new classes. We have also been busy qualifying new vendors to complete our new inventory goal with offering more unique artisan findings, while increasing our selection of semi-precious stones; all of this to keep everyone inspired and motivated in 2013.

We also praying for every family that is grieving through their loss and suffering from the Boston bombings and the Texas plant explosion. Our hearts are heavy, once again, praying for families in need.

I can't think of a better time than today to announce the two winning quotes that have been selected by our local community to be engraved into our Sandy Hook Memorial bench which is located at our shop at 274 South Main Street in Newtown. The quotes are:

"Be the change you wish to see in this world" -- Gandhi

"Be kind to others, it's all that really matters." -- Dawn Hochsprung

Over the past few months, through all of these heart-breaking tragedies, I am still left confused, powerless, and angry, and I know that I am not alone. My faith has certainly been challenged, and with the events in Boston, I concur that these events are too commonplace, which is not acceptable.

While growing up, I learned from a wise business philosopher, who used to say "When you feel confused, be excited, because it means you are about to learn something, but only if you ask the right question."

So the question I am asking myself today is, "What can I do to be a better person for my community and my family? By asking this question to myself, and listening to my answer, I feel a flicker of hope that this is the direction I am supposed to follow. I can only hope that others will do the same to help them feel less confused and more motivated to make a difference.

So why not join me? All you have to do is identify what your "gift" is that you can contribute to your community, then share it with your community. If you have signed up for this newsletter, then I know you have a lot of love in your heart for crafting, life, nature, and all things positive.

Are you a painter? Then offer to paint something inspiring for your community for free; if you sing, then write a beautiful song and sing it to someone you love. Maybe you are inspired to create an event that will give your community a magic moment; if so, then go and fill out the application with the town to start that process. If you have a business and you are motivated to bring it to another level, go for it.

Be the change you wish to see in this world! Do it for the grieving families who need to see change in this world! Do it for your community so you can inspire others to do the same. Bottom line, whatever it is that you are great at, share it with your community; be great at whatever it is that you do, and the world will be a better place because of it.

Thank you for even reading this and please feel free to pass this along to your friends and family if it has moved you in any way. We all need to do something great to help this world become a better place.

(Note: Lisa's email is lisa@abeadofroses.com and you can sign up for her email at the website, www.abeadofroses.com.)

xxx