You all never cease to amaze me, dear reader. While our first Shaker Woods weekend got off to an odd start, it was you all who made what we do worthwhile. On Saturday, the festival closed at 3:30 due to the threat of severe storms and tornadoes. As a small business, we anticipate this show all year. We literally spend the better half of a year prepping, planning, making, and strategizing how we can best serve our soap family for this event. To have a bumpy start to a highly anticipated weekend was a bit disheartening. However, what tiny bits of disappointment we may have felt were wiped away by the wonderful outreach of support, positivity, kindness, and love. For real, you all are rock stars.
Although we had many positive interactions with people at the festival, there were three individuals who stood out in my mind. When I say these women have made my year, that is not an exaggeration. The outpouring of support for our products, what we are doing, and how we are doing it gave me enough affirmation to keep me going even when things feel like they are at a standstill or are going in the wrong direction. It was so good to hear from our soap family that what we do is helping to improve the daily life of someone. Whether it is our products that are helping someone feel better, my writing that brightens someone's day or creates a moment of connection, or pictures/videos of goats and other animals living their best life, you all give us what we need to keep going. When we say, we appreciate you, no truer words are spoken.
Thank you for your encouragement, affirmation, and genuine enthusiasm. If you are reading this, and I think you are (insert a wink and smile), please know you make my world a better, brighter place. The pictures we took will be printed and placed on our wall of fame. I hate having my photo taken, but I will happily leave my comfort zone to accommodate such good, kind people. Thank you to everyone who came out to support us at The Shaker Woods Festival or who support us online or at Ligonier Country Market. When I walk my Heavy-B every morning and have my daily conversation with The Powers That Be, I say thank you for you and your support. We could not do what we do without you. You make our dream possible, and that is never taken for granted.
On this gorgeous late summer day, stay safe, be smart, know you are appreciated, you make a difference in my world, and keep washing your hands.