Tag: Beauty Expert

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My sweet aroma

I must admit, Mandela Day is a surprise to me every year. I have never planned to do anything & I often wonder if the people so eager to post about their 67minutes do it for “clout” (as the youth say), is it budgeted into philanthropy or charity in companies? Does it really have the impact intended?

I’m not coming for Madiba, I’m just wondering if our hearts have forgotten what charity really is, does anyone check their heart posture in these areas or is it just a task checked off?

There are so many great men and women in our story who gave their lives to a cause, fought and stayed gracious, and will stay alive forever in hearts and history books. Have you ever thought about the kind of legacy you would leave behind? I think about it more than is healthy I’m sure… What do people see and feel when they are around you? How do you leave people feeling?

Do you think your presence is a sweet aroma, or if you’re really honest, could you be more like a thorn caught deep in soft skin, or perhaps that unknown something we can’t see stuck in the eye- distorting vision.

It disturbs me that thorn like people can throw some money around on Mandela Day, & since our world now thinks that money is more valuable than good character, they get the praise they’ve paid for.

 

This month I want to hold myself to a higher standard – don’t get it twisted, I’m a caring someone, I’ve just been through turmoil that knocked me off my feet, & over the past few days I have been reminded that there are beautiful souls all around me & my God sees every tear and swoops in to Romans 8:28 my situation. We just don’t know what people are facing and the smallest act of kindness could be just what someone needs – I want to be the glimmer of hope because that’s what I’ve so desperately needed. So, maybe compliment a stranger, buy a coffee at DC Coffee for a mystery person, reach out to someone, pray for your loved ones, decide to smile & let it go instead of holding onto something that won’t make you any sweeter. Perhaps?

Laurien ❤️

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What soothes you?

Hi, I’m Laurien and I’m a procrastinator. 🤦🏽‍♀️I have a growing talent for leaving things to the very last minute, and the May blog has been a prime example.

Putting my head in the sand when I don’t feel like facing a task is fast becoming a hobby, when I should in fact, be getting more task orientated!

May really isn’t a favourite month to write my thoughts to be honest. May = Mothers’ day, &  is a tricky one for me – the past few years have been interesting to navigate. A word for the younger generation, don’t be so keen to declare that you don’t want kids; one day you wake up 35 & fall in love with some lil people & discover you had all the maternal bones all along 🫢

April is our birthday month (the shop & I ) & just as I’m getting settled into the new age, May peeps her motherly head around the corner to remind me of my womb that no-one has called home yet. – RUDE-

I was relaxing, walking, eating, dancing & drinking on a wine farm in Cpt for a few days, & I didn’t feel the urge to rush back from the beach to write this blog – It’s the honesty for me!

The past few days I’ve sat with some thoughts; are we experiencing more of the same in different ways? I took another bash at a dating site recently, I’ve always known my S.O wouldn’t be found there, but I was admittedly without entertainment… until I saw my (not single) cousin’s profile & proceeded to delete it, yet again! As I stared at the familiar pictures, I couldn’t help but wonder… am I existing in a time not meant for me?
Fam! Carrie Bradshaw lifts my spirits- even in the 90s, things were much the same with the exception of fake profiles & way too much social media, what is it about relatability that settles the spirit?

 

When all the frozen yoghurt & SATC reruns fail to hit the spot, my next best is my Good mood in jars, conveniently found in my bathroom cabinet.

The slight sagging of cheeks (& heart) are made well with the floating fingers over my face, the aroma that behaves like I’d imagine the balm of Gilead did. The meticulously crafted texture has a way of softening my mind. Bliss!

Look, it won’t change things around me, but it somehow changes me, slightly shifting my view, my mood; it sings me a lullaby with the promise of of a better tomorrow.

 

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Just checking in

Driving to work this morning I listened to a podcast, Erwin McManus said “anyone can create art but not many can create beauty” this on the heel of the notion that hate is easy, but hope, forgiveness & love are hard; that the human condition means more effort is attached to higher emotions.

I find this analogy truly beautiful. So often our strength is measured by how little emotion we display, how nonchalant we come across, perhaps even how little things, situations & people phase us. I think this misrepresentation of strength is what makes us weaker.

During the wars, the men, strong, tough, manly men, were strong enough to write love letters to the woman who held their hearts captive. Serenades in the rain and having the pleasure of her company weren’t something to be ashamed of, what happened to the beauty and wonder of those emotions?

After taking this in I suddenly wondered how everyone feels their year is going. We’re always getting to the end of the year & complaining about how bad, or slow, or disappointing it was, maybe we could “check-in” with each other here, at the end of Q1, to share some love, do something special for someone, or just tell a friend how wonderful they are. Just maybe we can throw caution to the wind & be reckless with how much we choose to love, because that’s what it is right? A choice.

 Galatians 5:22

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness

Reflecting on my year so far, I’m so proud of the changes I’ve made, proud of my heart & the new things about myself I’ve fallen in love with. I’m slowly, yet ever surely becoming the best version of myself, I used to beat myself up for loving & caring so much, now I’m just so thankful. ❤️🙏🏽

I can’t wait for the next chapter in my story & the empathetic, loving people I’m still going to meet (husband, I’m ready 😉)

A Thank -you to you,

“On the 1st of April 2015 I never could have imagined the road that lay ahead. Thank God I didn’t, because there’s no way I would’ve chosen to still take that first leap.
As each year goes by, I’m more & more in awe of God’s hand over my life, more in love with myself, and no longer scared of being proud of where I am.
A warm, heartfelt THANK-YOU to each & every client & friend who chooses Matis Fourways every time. To my gorgeous mommy, my life’s companions, my hype team & my amazing staff, I love you all so dearly!”

 

With love,

Laurien