Today’s blog is a product review and a philosophy lesson.  A two-fer!

First off, I am loving greatly the new line of aromatherapy stuff from Bath and Body Works.  A few weeks ago I went into the local shopping center for a haircut and, since I was on my time, I wandered down to the local BBW where they were having this big sale because of their recent line revision and packaging change.  I loaded up on some room sprays (Cherry Blossom – in my car, some linen or cotton thing for my office, and Moonlight Path for the bedroom if you’re curious) and some miscellaneous washes and lotions because it was all dirt cheap – like $3 or $5.00 each.  I was a little ashamed though because apparently I hadn’t been there in a while and my former favorite – Juniper Breeze – was no longer available.  Don’t get me wrong, I love Moonlight Path but I’m sort of funny about work-friendly smells and that is a little too sweet for the office.  Not having been to BBW in a while means, to me, that I’ve been neglecting myself even in the smallest of ways and that is sad.

Anyway, at the checkout stand there were $2.00 samples of Optimism from their new aromatherapy line.  I picked up a body lotion and a body wash sample to give it a try.  I am working so hard on focus and priorities and managing stress in spite of it all that I figured aromatherapy would be worth investigating.  Let me tell you that this is $4.00 happily spent.  Optimism smells like Clinique’s Happy to me.   It’s very citrusy and a little sultry and just a wonderful wake-up smell in the morning.  In fact, last weekend, because I am now determined to allow myself the small luxuries now and then, I went back.  Got my hair cut shorter (like I had wanted in the first place) and loaded up on Optimism.  That way, when I can’t channel it from within, I can shower in it, right? I even bought this little roller thing to keep in my bag because I am finding that putting it on my wrists, rubbing them together and inhaling that scent very deeply does improve my mood.  Maybe it is that aroma does cheer me up or perhaps it takes me back to the morning shower which is always (well most always) the most awesome part of the day because nothing has gotten fucked up yet.  Either way, the product line gets 5-stars from me.  Do try it.  If you’re my one of my token male blog readers, get some for your mom – especially you Crunchy.  After that escapade, if you care, I went and picked out a new hair color.  Now my drivers’ license needs to say Preference 5 1/2 AM in the Hair block but it doesn’ t fit.  I guess it’s Auburn but a dark, coppery one.   Love. It.

So back to Optimism as a concept.  As much shit many books as I have read on personal development, leadership, etc. it seems that lately I have forgotten that we choose our response to our environment.  Whatever happens externally is modified by how we respond internally to that force.  I am choosing – as best I can – to stay optimistic and try to be positive.  Insight is a beautiful thing and I am finding that when I avoid the knee-jerk, negative response it is right there for me to use.  Avoiding the negative is hard as hell but so far, so good.  Give it a try.