As a child, I loved my stuffed animals so much that I’d go to great lengths to make sure each one knew it was loved and wanted. My favorite (don’t tell the others) was a little white bear named Snow Bear. I always gave her tons of hugs and attention, because after looking closely at her face, I had discovered that her little yarn mouth wasn’t curved into a smile. One night after going to bed, I was hugging her, but then I realized that the other stuffed animals might see and get their feelings hurt. So, one by one, I placed nearly every stuffed animal I owned near me on my pillow. “Ah, there we go—all nice and cozy!” It was a sight to see, I’m sure!
I got to thinking about this scene from childhood because the other day I came across a pin on Pinterest that kept me glued to the screen with sheer happiness. It showed a velvet, earth-brown plush rabbit. I clicked on the link and it brought me to an interview with Abbey, the owner of Seen & Known. And do you know what Abbey creates and sells at Seen & Known? That’s right—stuffed animals—handmade, velvety, ready-to-be-loved stuffed animals! And it spoke right to my heart because…well, for lots of reasons! For one, the colors she uses are beautiful. But even more, the name Seen & Known speaks right to the heart of why I run my business the way I do. I want every person to feel important, and to know their value. And Abbey runs her business that way in an incredibly tangible way. Five percent of the proceeds from a purchase from her shop goes to the organization International China Concern. The whole mission of International China Concern is to make sure children in China who have been abandoned experience care and love...basically, to make sure they are seen and known! (You have GOT to check out their story here.) And all this got me thinking—isn’t that what every person longs for deep down: to be seen and known? And (this is where it gets a bit philosophical) aren’t we all Someone’s work of art? Just as my childhood stuffed animals found themselves on a pillow, we find ourselves on the earth—placed here with the purpose of being seen and known. And like Abbey’s creations, we are vessels to be used for the purpose of letting others know that they, too, have value, and are seen and known. You are a work of art. You have value, and your life can be used to show others that they have value too. Need a little extra encouragement? Download your Affirmation Bookmark Bundle from my online gift shop here! Comments are closed.
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AuthorHi, I’m Kendall! I'm a freelance proofreader and social media graphics creator. I started this blog to highlight the lives of women in business to inspire others, but now I also use it to share business tips and resources for women who want to build their business in a heart-centered way. Archives
February 2023
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