Thursday 30 August 2012

Family!

The old saying goes - "You can choose your friends, but your family is thrown at you!" In 2012, family as an entity is as wide and varied as one can imagine.  I do not believe any group that identifies as family is any better or worse than the traditional family that identifies as Dad, Mum and the however many kids.  The most important thing with any family is that it is a unit that is loving and nuturing, whether it be a traditional family, a single Mum doing her best for her brood, Mum and Mum bringing their kids up in a happy well adjusted home or Dad and Dad doing the same thing.

Unfortunately, in a world where political correctness dictates everything that is said and done, this same treatment is not afforded to partners or siblings when families get into squabbles and relationships break down.  The saying that blood is thicker than water is simply NOT true and no rules apply.  We often treat complete strangers with more kindness than we treat members of our own families. Why is this so?  Rivalry, jealousy, greed and a 'no holds barred' approach to family members seems to be accepted.  This is not a new phenomenon and while past generations ran away and joined the circus, today family members relocate and begin a new group that they consider family.  A group that does not judge, that is loving and nuturing, can be a far better thing than the blood relationship that holds a fractured family together.

The human race depended upon the family unit for its survival. Families bonded together to form tribes that lived as a group which protected each other, hunted together and ultimately survived together. The extended family, that looked after the elderly, reared the young, played together, stayed together through good times and bad is a thing of the past. This is not necessarily a good or bad thing, it is simply different and like so many other aspects of society it is simply a quiet evolution.

What needs to be a revolution in amongst this evolution is the way we treat each other as family.  There needs to be respect that can only come from the treatment that is metered out to each and every family member. We need to respect each others differences, embrace these and not try to make everyone conform. The family unit has been part of humankind since the beginning, and will continue in one form or another until the end of time.  How well we survive within that unit is up to each and every one of us. No matter what form that family unit takes,every individual deserves to be nurtured in the bosom of a warm and loving family that they can trust and love with every ounce of their being. Any thing less, is a betrayal of the love that comes with being family.

At WinC Wrap in Cotton we have a product range that encompasses the whole family.  From the newborn taking its first breath to the Grandparents setting off as grey nomads there is a giftwrap suitable for every occasion. If we simply take the time to show our family members that they do have a place held very dear in our hearts then the family unit would flourish. Tell your family that you love them and give the gift that keeps on giving, wrap your gifts in cotton.

 “The bond that links your true family is not one of blood, but of respect and joy in each other's life.” -Richard Bach





Wednesday 29 August 2012

Those we have loved!


Today marks the anniversary of the passing of a good friend of mine.  I miss him.  I often think of him and wonder what my life would have been like without his influence.  He certainly left his mark on my life.  I am definitely a better person for having known him.  His was a life cut short for no reason, other than being in the wrong place at the wrong time.  Why do I share this with you?  It is so you will appreciate those you love every minute they are here.  With the blink of an eye they could be gone. It is too late when they have passed to live with regrets, to wonder what could have been, to think ‘only if’. Life is busy and we are all guilty of saying ‘I don’t have time’ but stop and make time for those you love.  

In life there are times when we are filled with insecurities and petty jealousies and, these cloud our judgement – do not let these spoil your relationship with those you love.  Sometimes those we love have different opinions to our own – value their judgement, and hold dear, that from diversity the world becomes a better place.  Sometimes those we love are different – difference should be embraced and celebrated as, what a boring world it would be if we were all the same.  Sometimes circumstances change and we are quick to judge – but do not judge until you walk a mile in their shoes. Wouldn’t the world be a much better place, a much kinder place, if we truly valued those we hold dear and made sure that they knew they were valued every single day. 


One of our missions at WinC Wrap in Cotton is to make the world a better place.  We want to do business differently.  We want our customers to feel valued, to feel part of our movement to make the world a better place.  The philosophy of ‘pay it forward’ is entrenched in the foundation of WinC and any community that embraces such philosophy can only move forward through the world becoming more tolerant, more appreciative, more giving and more loving.  Pay forward your gift wrap, just as you pay forward your love and good deeds  - wrap your gifts in cotton.
 


'When you're lost and there's no where to go
And your heart bears a heavy load
Don't give up 'cos you are not alone
'Cos I am always here to bring you home
'
 Ronan Keating

Sunday 26 August 2012

Those in whom we Trust


Trust is necessary at all levels in our lives. It is crucial that we can trust those that we elect to run our country.  We trust them to listen to the people. We trust them to look after those who are unfortunate enough not to be able to look after themselves.  We trust them to make decisions for the good of the country and the good of the people! We must also be able to trust on a corporate level, where we trust business to make decisions that are not only good for their business, but their customers and their suppliers. We must be able to place trust in those that we deliver our children to every day in the course of their education. We trust that they will always act in the best interests of the child, not harming them in any way. In a relationship, we must be able to trust our partner with all our life secrets, trust them with our heart, trust them to look after us, trust them with our future. Our children must be able to trust us as parents that we will always love them, that we will always nurture them, that we will always do the right thing by them.  Sadly, in the real world this trust is sometimes betrayed.


Life without trust is not really a life at all.  The innocence of a child is irrevocably intertwined with trust. The same appies to the unconditional love of an animal. Without trust the innocence is gone forever and the damage is almost irreversible. We as human beings owe it to the world to be trust worthy at all levels. Those who betray that trust deserve to be punished. In years gone by trust was betrayed in part by the church, by governments, by teachers, by parents.  Have we as a society got any better - I hope so.  There are more checks and balances in place, we appear to give more resources to these checks and balances but, on a daily basis there would still be breaches of trust at all levels of society.  We need to do better. Each and every one of us can do better.

We at WinC  are a company that wants our clients to take a journey with us.  We want to make the world a better place. We want a better world for our children - one where they are nurtured and grow like weeds, without fear or prejudice.  We want a world where trust is a given. One where lifestyle is entwined with sustainabilty.  We want a world where the word 'environment' does not just apply to the physical surroundings but emotional surroundings as well. We want you as our customers to look after both the physical and emotional wellbeing of those around you, to build a world based on trust. We believe in our product to build a more sustainable world and a more giving world based on the concept of 'paying it forward' and we want you, our customers, to share this belief. Give your gifts wrapped in cotton.


“No soul is desolate as long as there is a human being for whom it can feel trust and reverence.” George Eliot [Mary Ann Evans] (1819-1880);

Sunday 19 August 2012

When is Enough, Enough?

In a world of extremes, I wonder when we as a nation, as a community, and as an individual decide enough is enough?  We all come into this world with nothing and we leave the same way.  What happens in between makes a huge difference to society, to communities and to the individual.  We all have a responsibility to be the best citizens that we can possibly be.  This is at all levels of our life. We must be good citizens for the good of our country.  This means we look after our environment, ensuring that our country is in the best possible physical shape that it can possibly be. We must be good corporate citizens being financially responsible for ourselves, thus limiting our reliance on governments and others for financial support.  We must also be good community citizens looking out for members of our neighbourhoods. We must also be good personal citizens looking out for individuals - not only those who are dear to us but the vulnerable! Unfortunately, in a world of ego and greed there are many who on the surface appear to be good citizens but fail the test miserably.  So they must ask themselves when enough is enough.

Everything on this earth deserves to be treated with respect. We should treat our surroundings with respect, preserving our natural environment and our resources, making the very best use that we can of them to ensure that they are preserved for future generations.  It simply is not good enough to lay to waste such precious commodities. Enough is enough and every single person can make a difference by wrapping in cotton.  This will save tons of wood pulp being turned into paper which lots of the time ends up in land fill.

Everyone on this earth deserves to be treated equally and with dignity.  None of us is any better than anyone else and we should celebrate difference instead of trying to make everyone the same as ourselves.  What a boring world it would be if we were all the same. Enough is enough, and instead of treading the path to the destruction of your relationship or the person themselves, try giving someone in your family a hug and perhaps a gift wrapped in cotton. It will certainly help your fractured relationship. Perhaps the strength of the cotton wrap could be symbolic of the new relationship, as it is not nearly as fragile as a paper gift wrap.


At WinC we want everyone to look inside and ask 'When is it enough?'  I believe that the world would be a much better place if the three simple words - Enough is enough' became the catch phrase for everyone in every country.  Then we would be on our way to truly sustainable relationships, and a sustainable future for the natural environment.


Wednesday 15 August 2012

How Worthy Are we?

What is it that makes one worthy?  Why is it that some feel their worth (rightly or wrongly) and others feel that they are never worthy?  I cannot answer either question but as a small child I used to watch my mother who was a very kind and generous person and intuitively know that she never felt worthy.  I vowed with the brashness of the young that I would never be like my mother - but here I am. I do not know when the change occurred, but it was not a sudden thing, there was no iconic event but just a slow realization that I had become my mother.  Now this is not a bad thing by any stretch as my Mum was an intelligent, hardworking, forward thinking, generous woman but she always put herself last.  Did she fee she was worthy - definitely not! Was she? Absolutely!  I tell myself this every day but really it does not make any difference as I simply feel the way I feel..

This is not necessarily a bad thing, as most people do not know and the others do not realize.  If they do they do not discuss it as it makes people really uncomfortable and so it is something that is very private.  To live for the moment, not to anticipate, not to look to the future makes it easier to get by. You have no expectation which can be taken from you to give that damn unworthiness something to feed on. Not to feel worthy makes you vulnerable. You are easily hurt and so live your life wrapped in a protective cocoon. Some become recluse, others the comedian, others find comfort in a bottle!  No matter how people deal with such feelings is an individual thing but others can make a difference.

In a world where the focus is increasingly on 'moi' take time to take notice of those around you. Be kind to them no matter their difference.  If you can make just one person feel that they do matter, that they are worthy, then you have made a difference.


At WinC Wrap in Cotton we want to make a difference. We want to prove that the world is not just about 'moi'.  We want to show that people do have a moral compass and want to do the right thing by preserving our resources and our environment. We want you to show those around you that you do care about them, that they do matter.  We want you to give a gift wrapped in cotton - the gift that keeps on giving.

Cherokee Blessing

Oh Great Spirit grant that I may never find fault
with my neighbour until I have walked
the trail of life in his moccasins.

Friday 10 August 2012

One True Love

Is the saying of "happily ever after" just that - a saying?  Is it a fairytale, an urban myth or reality? When we view our life through the eyes of a child where innocence and purity are the essence of their being - love is simple, love is kind, love is warmth and love is security.  As we grow up and we fall in love for the first time, it is a heady, all encompassing love it like no other that we will experience in our lifetime.  It sweeps us off our feet, occupies our mind, catches the breath in our throat, and envelopes our heart. In the throes of first love, it is difficult to imagine that it will not last forever. And long after this first puppy loves has died it still has a special place in our heart, simply because it is our first love.

My Mum used to tell me when I was young that when you meet the one that you want to spend the rest of your life with that you will simply know.  This is a love that is not only sweeps us off our feet, it is a love that deepens and grows until you morph into one being. This is a love that we believe will last forever and for some that is true. That is not to say that this love will not change as a relationship progresses and grows, for a love that is static cannot last.  Life experience dictates that love must change with that experience, until we wear that love like a pair of old comfy slippers.  For those that find such enduring love, that survives all that life throws at them, they are indeed truly blessed. They are not lucky, cos luck has nothing to do with it! They have worked at their love, they believe in the one they are with, they are forgiving, they are generous, and they are living the "happily ever after"even when times are tough.  They have simply found their one true love.

My Aunty and Uncle were fortunate to celebrate their 71st wedding anniversary before my Uncles passing last year.  While their latter years were worried by the woes of growing old, their relationship was as strong to the end as it was in the beginning when they married during war time.  They faced many hurdles during their 71years together but their love endured and they were blessed! May everyone be blessed to find such love in their lifetime.


 When you want to tell your one true love how you feel with a gift, give them a gift of endurance. Give them a gift wrapped in cotton.  I cannot think of a more beautiful way to tell the one you love just how you feel about them.  Pay forward your feelings with a gift that will keep on giving.

Cherokee Prayer Blessing

May the Warm Winds of Heaven
Blow softly upon your house.
May the Great Spirit
Bless all who enter there.
May your Mocassins
Make happy tracks
in many snows,
and may the Rainbow
Always touch your shoulder.



Saturday 4 August 2012

The Space We Are In!

Life is fickle! It takes many twists and turns. Just as we are sitting in the driver's seat, settling in for the ride it can take a right hand turn, throw a U turn or come to a grinding halt.  How we deal with these life changes begins with our childhood. Our resilience, our ability to cope, our problem solving skills are set down in our formative years and whether we like it or not, our childhood experiences map our reactions in our future years.  Each generation has worked hard to provide their children with a 'better' life than the generation before. Does this guarantee our children a life free from disappointment, free from broken love, free from setbacks?  Unfortunately NO! Their ability to adapt, to change and to accept, determines the outcome.


Today, life is more comfortable than it has ever been for past generations and just as we settled in for a life of comfort and opulence along came the global financial crisis and climate change.  Our time of being a disposable society has to change.  The way we treat the resources of this precious planet also has to change.  That is why at WinC Wrap in Cotton, we believe that by wrapping our gifts in cotton we are contributing to the sustainability of the planet.  We not only save countless trees and fossil fuel, we also save carbon pollution as a result of paper that is discarded into land fill. Wrapping in cotton is a win for everyone - It creates exquisite gifts that can be created again and again and again as the gift wrap is paid forward and, it creates a sustainable future for the planet. Adapt to a new way of giving gifts - Wrap in Cotton!

What are your choices?  Whom are your choices for? Not just for yourself.  Chose now whom you will serve, and that choice is going to affect the next generation, and the next generation, and the next. Choice never affects just one person alone.  It goes on and on and the effect goes out into geography and history.  You are part of history and your choices become part of history.
-Edith Schaeffer 

Wednesday 1 August 2012

Friendships!

Throughout our life journey we cross paths with countless lives. Some of these meetings are fleeting, not really registering long enough to be forgotten.  Some of these friendships endure for a while when one's life is in the same space in time, only to fade as circumstances change and people move on. Others are indelibly embossed on our soul, through some inexplicable process where two people 'click' when their journeys become entwined.  These endure for all time, soul mates that travel together in this world and that beyond. Such a friendship means one is truly blessed as this soul mate is an extension of self, giving an unconditional love, understanding, compassion,and support.



In a world where friendship is synonymous with give and take, we at WinC ask you to wrap in cotton when you give to your loved ones.  This gift will not only afford you lots of 'brownie points' in your best friend's eyes but lots of 'greenie' points in the environment's eyes.   These beautiful sustainable wraps will help to save hundreds of thousands of trees, reducing the carbon footprint of man in a world teetering on the precipice of climate change.  Your friendships  with others empowers you to take on the world, to make a difference.  

                " Individually, we are one drop. Together, we are an ocean.- Ryunosuke Satoro"