New Beginnings

Another new year and another new beginning.  Today I realized that I am doing much better at taking care of myself.  I am actually learning how to relax.  I have not been very good at that in the past.

If I do not make an effort to take care of me first, I won't be of any use to anyone else.  Today I worked on some new items for my shop and they were all recovery related.

Take a look at my newest listing (just click the picture to be taken to my Etsy site):

Step 3 Bracelet

Step 3:  Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood him.

This is a very important step, and a very difficult at that.  The great news is our higher power is very forgiving and patient and waits for us each time we need to "turn it over" to him again.

One day at a time, one moment at a time, one step at a time...we are not alone.

Blessings and peace for a happy and safe new year!

Carol
Sacred Strands

Serenity Prayer - take it with you

Each day at one point or another I have to remind myself to stop...drop...breathe and return...
1. Stop...stop panicking or carrying on about whatever stressor has hold of me at the moment
2. Drop...drop my shoulders, as they are inevitably raised to the level of my earlobes wracked with tension
3. Breathe...Inhale deep, filling my lungs and strong breath out releasing the bad thoughts/feelings/etc.
4. Return...Then as I take another inhalation...I return "here" to this moment...I sometimes even press a finger to the top of my sternum as if to say...we are right here...not in the past and not in the future...we are right here and now.

I started making Serenity Prayer items in my Etsy Shop.

Silver plated double mobius ring with the full version of the Serenity Prayer engraved on all sides.  This is a size 5 ring which I attached to a lobster claw clasp to be used as a zipper pull or add-on to your key ring.

Zipper-pull Serenity Prayer Ring

Serenity Prayer pewter tokens have the three words "Serenity, Courage, Wisdom" engraved on one side and  the serenity prayer engraved on the opposite side.  I attached a large jump ring, small length of chain and a key ring.  

listing for above item can be found at:  Serenity Prayer Key Ring

I made another version with a different type of key chain clasp, which can be found here:

Serenity Prayer Key Chain

Please let me know if you have any questions.  I would so appreciate you "liking" my Facebook page as well, which can be found at:  Sacred Strands Face Book Page

Remember...One Day at a Time...One moment at a time...step by step...we can do this together!

Sacred Strands

I know that in my life, with each advancing step I take I realize I need prayer more and  more and more.  I need the help of the community around me and the help of my higher power.  Lacking self-esteem I was not able to believe that anything I could make with my hands would be worth anything to anyone else.  I had, what I thought were, well-meaning friends trying to be nice complimenting the prayer beads I made.  They said "do you sell these?"  I thought...'what are you CRAZY?'  Then as I continued to work my recovery and take another look, I was very happy with the beads that I was stringing together.  I gave them as gifts or made them for others to give as gifts.  A friend suggested I try ETSY.com and I was skeptical.  I went online 11-11-11 and started my shop.  I have made 30+ sales in the last year, not including things I have sold offline.  I love making the beads and new creations.  I hope you will check my site.

I started making a line of recovery-themed items and those seem to be the best sellers.  Serenity Prayer keychains, bracelets themed after the 12-steps with focal beads flanked by bead caps to signify a specific step.  I include angel, cross, wing, key and dove charms all as symbols of freedom from that which brought us to need of recovery.  We are not alone.

I am so pleased to share my items on my etsy site located at  Sacred Strands

Please come by and visit.  Do let me know what you think.  I am always open to suggestions.

Blessings and peace,

Carol