Rising Stars Keep Blooming

I believe I got lost in the lilacs back in May! Something came over me as I waited for the first fragrant blossoms of spring. I impatiently watched green bushes slowly push out tight buds and finally saw the first hint of 'lavender' color finally pop. There were Facebook posts asking us about our favorite spring flowers. Lilacs were the number one answer, but they weren't blooming yet! Then someone shared a recipe to mimic their scent, and we ended up spending hours at the office playing around with it. I'll share the recipe at the end of the blog, but want to share a few more thoughts in bloom.

There are days that we "love to hate" Social Media and Facebook, then there are days that we really engage and take time to not just LIKE each other, but genuinely exchange great ideas and support. Sometimes the right question or right moment allows us to freely express ourselves in a larger community! Some of us might have been a bit "Minnesotan" in our love for spring and our childish delight at the first signs of color and fragrance, but that means we play a role of deeper appreciation, that milder climates don't experience. I was struck by the different roles that people play, but more so, the comfort we feel to have fun, stay positive, and sprinkle purple sweetness on each other from different parts of the world.

May and June, for the parents of a graduating senior are hectic! Spring sports bring seasonal endings and figure skating requires rehearsals, practice, shows, costumes, props, pictures, driving (a lot of driving) along with tears of joy and sorrow as some things are coming to an end. Graduation doubles the intensity and necessity to organize and manage a busy skating and 'oily' family. We're watching our "little Maddy" get ready for college and leave the nest to be a Rising Star!

June came so fast. It is almost half over now. The lilac bouquets only lasted a week and Tom McDermott tried distilling some oil for us in hope that we could bottle the aroma of spring., He only managed to bottle some "floral water" and said it's not that great. Lilacs don't give up their oil and it is easily tainted by the smallest amount of branch and greenery. If you look it up, you'll find that most lilac oils are "fragrance oils." That means they are created synthetically or as an absolute.

It was a reminder about why I LOVE YOUNG LIVING! We can count on 100% pure essential oils and know that the farms and the distillation processes will never cheat or lie to us to bring us what we want. We all wanted lilac oil to contain the joy of May, but we were forced to make our own, with the sources we already have in Young Living!

If you're building a business, you need to stay tuned to nature's cycles and her truths! I try not to get lost in my own desires so I can watch all the possible Rising Stars continue to bloom.... in their own way and in their own time.

Basic recipe that you can adjust for spritzers, roll-ons or add to a lotion base: 3-4 drops each of bergamot; lavender and ylang ylang. 2 drops of cedar wood or sandalwood. (Depending on your sense of smell, you may like one better than the other.) You can also download the handout on Lilacs: Keeping the Scent of Spring All Summer Long.