When someone told me I had 'birthed' Life Beading, I admit that I chuckled. But now I sort of see it. The journey of creating Life Beading, a technique that blends philosophy, spirituality, and personal development with the creativity of beading, can - at a push - be likened to that marvellous thing called birth.
Just for fun, let's see how far we can take the analogy...
1. Dating: The Courtship of Ideas
Just as two people might explore compatibility through conversations and shared experiences, the early stages of Life Beading involved flirting with various concepts:
Day-dreaming and wondering about possibilities
Engaging in thought-provoking conversations
Immersing myself in books and diverse philosophies
Sighing with the weight of potential and anticipation
Sighing with frustration at obstacles to overcome
2. Conception: The Spark of Creation
When sperm meets egg. Or in this case, when disparate ideas suddenly connected for a "Eureka!"moment:
Looking at my Buddhist malas and Christian rosaries
Learning about a geologist's use of a cosmala
Spending time with Unitarians, expanding my spiritual horizons
Casual conversations with friends that unexpectedly sparked inspiration (proving that pub chats can be productive)
BINGO! In that moment, the seed of Life Beading was planted, ready to grow into something that I hoped would be beautiful and transformative.
3. Growth: Nurturing the Idea
Just as a foetus develops from a tiny cluster of cells into a complex being, Life Beading evolved from a nascent concept into a fully-formed practice:
Buying beads, first tentatively, then with growing excitement
Crafting the first Life Beads strings.
Incorporating meditation, allowing the practice to deepen
Researching, writing, and developing the foundational script
Creating a visual identity with a logo and slogan
4. Birth: Bringing Life Beading into the World!
The culmination of this journey was the first Life Beading event - the true 'birth' of the practice. It, like many a birth, wasn't all fanfares - it was at the kitchen table. Also, like a normal birth:
Anxiety and doubt in the lead-up, wondering if it was too late to back out
The exhilarating, terrifying moment of beginning
Joy and relief as the event unfolded successfully
5. Beyond Birth: The Growth of Life Beading
Now, Life Beading continues to grow and evolve:
Offering various journeys: for flourishing, courage, bereavement, and more
Incorporating NLP techniques, philosophical insights, spiritual wisdom and physical intelligence.
Resonating particularly with women seeking time for reflection and growth
Expanding into new areas and touching more lives
Life Beading is finding its place in the world, making a difference in people's lives, and continuing to develop in exciting new ways. It's been met with warmth, curiosity and genuine praise.
6. The Plot Twist: Unexpected Responsibility
I've developed a sense of responsibility for Life Beading that I never saw coming. The beaded offspring is an entity in its own right, it requires care, nurture and time. I feel guilty when I've not spent enough time posting, blogging, researching, marketing, developing... It's like a toddler tugging on my sleeve.
The journey of Life Beading - from a spark of an idea to a registered trademark and flourishing practice - doesn't mirror the birth of a human of course. There are some things that do deserve the word 'miraculous' and though I love my beads, Life Beading isn't one of them.
But it's a reminder that bringing any new idea into the world is a challenge and a joy.
I would love to know about ideas you've incubated and hatched! Let me know.
Finally, there were a lot of people who helped along the way. Kate, Vicki, Kate, Denise, Oliver, Debs, Cherie and Rosemary - thank you.
You're all honorary midwives in this slightly stretched analogy.
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