Saying goodbye is never easy

No one LIKES to say goodbye.  It's not easy.....it plain SUCKS.  Saying goodbye to a friend, a family member, a pet......it all just plain sucks. 

Knowing you won't hug that loved one again, it tears your heart out.  The pain is sometimes overwhelming, and grief....well, that sucks too. 

Over the last 5+ years, I've said goodbye to more loved ones than I would have imagined I would.  It all started with my husband, my son's father.  We lost Chris in March of 2009 to a snowmobile accident, and since then, it's been loss after loss.  

Last year was the most difficult for us, by far.  My "little brother" CJ passed away, unexpectedly, out of the blue, just like that.  Poof.  Gone.

Brent, my beautiful Brent.  He was next.  Even though we knew it was coming, it was more painful than I ever expected it to be.  Ouch.

The day after Brent, "Whitey".  Mike's Dad....the amazing, happy, playful man that we loved.....Whitey was gone.

Then Ed.  Eddie-skeddy......Ed was after that.  His year anniversary is this weekend, and I sit, still in shock that he's not here.  I miss Ed....that guy always had a wise-ass remark to throw at me.  Shit.  I miss him so much.  

So, over the last year alone, it's been a nightmare.  I've watched people die, and watched people I love, have THEIR loved-ones die.  People that are much too young.  People who don't get to LIVE, and they should be able to!  It's not okay.  I'm angry.  

Now, fast forward to a month or so ago.  Diagnosed with thyroid cancer.  Cancer.  The "C" word.  FUCK.  My entire life flashed....I've heard about it, but it did happen to me.  I saw MY ENTIRE LIFE flash before my eyes.  Started dissecting everything I've done, choices I've made, stupid, idiotic choices. Did I CAUSE this?  No.  It just happens sometimes, and I know this.  It doesn't HELP to know this.  I'll be honest.  It all happened so quickly, and for that I'm grateful.  Treatment is done, and hopefully it won't happen again, fingers crossed!  I won't know for a while if I'm "cancer free", but I will BELIEVE I am.....and that will make it so.  I'm still recovering from treatment, I'm tired.  Super tired.  I am starting to function better though, and that is a plus.  

Yesterday.  Sucked.  

Mike's dog, Maggie.  She's awesome.  I've loved her since the second I laid eyes on her, ten years ago.  Even though I TRIED to tell myself that I wouldn't fall in love with her.  (I had just had to put my pet bunny to sleep, and in my mind, refused to love another fur-baby in fear of that kind of pain again)  Those eyes, and when I came into the house, she smiled at me.  It melted my heart.  Seriously.  MELTED.  
Wouldn't YOU?  I mean LOOK......

Isn't she just the sweetest? 
She is.  Take my word for it.
Later today, we have to say goodbye for the last time, to Maggie.  We will miss her more than words can describe.  She will take a piece of ALL of our hearts with her, forever.  We love you Mags. 

Love, hugs, and belly rubs,

Mike
Jilly
Linda
Jack
Tyler
....your family....<3 <3 <3

Things that make me giggle.....

So it isn't often enough that I get to just sit and chat and giggle.....I mean, it's not that I wouldn't LOVE to just be able to sit and chat.  We would ALL love to do that, but clearly it's just not in the "responsibility" cards.  However, yesterday I did that. Not all day.....but the last few hours of the day, while I was winding down from a day filled with cutting butterflies, making diaper cakes, and running errands, all in between working, doing a training, talking to customers and taking orders for Scentsy, I got to just be ME.

One of the most amazing parts of my Scentsy business, is the people.  Cool, right!?  I mean, most people HATE their jobs, hate the people they work with, or have a douchenozzle of a boss.  Not me.  I have some seriously AMAZING people to work with, all over the world!

So last night, on Facebook (I know, I know!) a small bunch of us were totally cracking each other up......having a blast, being US.  Some people just "click".....and holy crap it was FUNNY.  We have about 18 days until our yearly convention.  We don't call it a "convention" because....well, we are family, so ours is called, "Scentsy FAMILY Reunion" and it's better than any fun-filled-crazy-family-holiday EVER!!  Seriously, there aren't words to describe how much fun we have.  No way can I describe the amount of FEELING of power we walk away with, and excitement we have instilled in us.  Nope.  Can't describe it for you.  Get over it.  If you wanna FEEL it, just come WITH us.

I won't get into the details of the conversation.  I mean, why would I?  However.....know there was a LOT of talking smack, swearing like truck drivers, and honest-to-God-belly laughs.  Best.  Job.  EVER!!

**Don't forget to comment after you read this!  If you're gonna be mean, just skip it!**

What the HECK are you waiting for!?  Join us, will ya!?  CLICK HERE to join us!

Until next time........LIVE GRATEFULLY!!  

XO

Jilly

Into a new love for life...

It's been SO long since my last post...New Year, new YOU, right!?

So many people try and improve themselves day after day....as do I.....I try and become someone I want to be, someone who is more patient, more tolerant, more loving.  Learning as much as I can from others who inspire me, and more about things I don't know about, (which is a LOT, it seems!) and that's what I have been doing.....learning, educating, and trying to spend more time with myself.  It hasn't been easy, not knowing why I need to do this, or why I WANT to, so I have just BEEN doing it, having faith in myself, knowing that it's necessary.

2013 was the TOUGHEST year yet....no lie.  Started the year with a HUGE HUGE blow to my family, and ended with so many deaths of my close friends......it really sent me into a tailspin.  Depression, sadness, anger.....and not understanding why so many amazing people had to leave our lives.  It was literally one after another.......one beautiful soul left this Earth after another.....people who taught me so many lessons, listened, talked and understood ME.  The REAL me.  Not the person I USED to be, but the person I have become.  The person who wants to be the best ME I can be.  The emotional, loving woman, that I have chosen to be.
I chose to be HAPPY this year.  No matter WHAT happens, what life throws into my path, no matter what issues get in the way.......I CHOOSE HAPPINESS.  Period.

I can feel the Universe pushing me to where I want to be in the future, the near future......traveling to live someplace not HERE, someplace warm, inviting, and loving.  Someplace where I can breathe.....live my life, and love WHERE I am.  I don't know where that place is YET, but it's coming, and very soon.

As far as my career, I'm staying with Scentsy.  I choose Scentsy, choose for this amazing company to be where I stay.....I love what I do, and don't want that part to change in my life, however, that part is changing too......I'm struggling in that aspect.....it's been tougher to make a living, and bring the money in to pay bills.  In sales, that is normal, however, I can't rely on it anymore.  SO, I've changed my view on it......I'm GOING to make this work for ME.....somehow (and I haven't gotten that far yet.....) I will find a way to book parties, bring my love of Scentsy into other's lives, and share the beautiful products with them!  For now, I've hit a wall, and am breaking it down......brick by brick.  I won't stop now.



I'm not a quitter, and never have been.  I'm a fighter.....I've fought my way through life so far, and I'm not weak......so I won't stop now!  I have amazing friends who I call FAMILY, and have the amazing support and love of the extraordinary people I work with.  Disappointing them, and myself, won't happen.

SO this is where my year starts.......choosing HAPPINESS......choosing MOVEMENT........choosing EDUCATION........choosing LOVE in my world, that will come from all around me.

How will you CHOSE to live this year.....and for years to come?  Will you CHOOSE to live, or just "go with the flow" and let LIFE choose your path?
Give me your feedback.....leave a comment.....find me on Facebook.....do whatever it takes.......just DON'T GIVE UP!  WE got this!

Peace~Love~Success,

Jilly

Gearing up......and SO pumped up, I could just PEE!

 Being totally serious....(okay, I'm trying my HARDEST to say that with a straight face) I'm getting ALL geared up to head to Indianapolis, Indiana for our Scentsy Family Reunion!  OH EMMMM GEEEEE!  I can't WAIT to get there!  Thousands of Scentsy Family Consultants are heading there too.  From ALL over the country and beyond, to ALL be together and CELEBRATE, LEARN and INSPIRE each other for our businesses.  Shit.  That reminds me.  I need to get my laundry done.  Dammit.  I hate laundry.

Anyways, packing my stuff (after I wash it, of course!) and preparing to see my mostest favoritest people in the world (besides Tyler, Mike and Jack!) and spend the week with them!!  EEEEKKKK!  I seriously am gonna EXPLODE with excitement!

So here's what the plan is.......

Day one (Tuesday)--Arrive in INDY!  My Jenny (that's what her nickname is)--Jenny Cottrell is picking me up at the airport in Ohio....why?  Because it's our plan, geesh, don't be picking me apart YET!  We will head into Indy, and get settled and ready to REGISTER on Tuesday night.  After registration, I am heading over to The Hard Rock Cafe to meet our group for a TEAM DINNER!  WOOT!  I always look forward to seeing everyone, and laughing my ASS off with them!  Our group is pretty freaking amazing, if I do say so myself!  We have the rest of the night free, and I'm hoping to see some others after that.

Day Two (Wednesday)--Scentsy 5k--okay, before you get some unreasonable vision of me, I won't be running the 5k.  I WILL however, be WALKING it, MAYBE.  That begins at 8am.  Yikes!

The day, after the 5K I have free.  Everyone other than Directors, Star Directors, and SuperStar Directors have to register on Wednesday.  THEN.....THEN.......Wait for it.......wait forrrrr ittt.....HEIDI'S BIRTHDAY BASH!!!  Heidi Thompson, the Co-CEO of Scentsy Family, Inc, is having her birthday celebration, and is SHARING the fun with US!  Not with EVERYONE, although, I'm sure she would LIKE to share it with everyone, there are only a few thousand of us who are going.....by a few thousand, I mean only a portion of the THOUSANDS of consultants going.  Okay, here's the kicker.......make sure you're sitting down for this one....hold on tight.......it's awesome.....KELLY CLARKSON is playing a concert to celebrate Heidi's BIRTHDAY BASH!!  OMG OMG OMG!!  I love Kelly!!  She's an amazing inspiration and example of the saying, "DREAMS DO COME TRUE!"  She had a dream, and she WENT FOR IT!!  That is what it's all about!  So we get to see her play!  I haven't been so excited about a concert since.....since......ha!  Since I saw Pat Benatar play a few years ago!  So, as you can imagine, I'm extremely freaking excited about this!!  So we all get to celebrate Heidi's birthday until around 9:30 pm.  After that, who knows, I'm SURE we can all find SOMETHING to do.  (Insert evil laugh here).

  

Day Three (Thursday)--Heading over to Lucas Memorial Stadium for General Session 1. This is when we get some MIND BLOWING TRAINING to help with our businesses. Not just our businesses, ourselves too. Dr. Brené Brown will be speaking to us! Don't know who SHE is? Well, go find out, cuz I just don't have TIME to explain how FREAKING AWESOME she is!



Then LUNCH, then another General Session (2) then FREE NIGHT! WOOT!

Day Four (Friday)--is always SUPER magical! General Session (3) and more education, learning, laughter and FUN!! We have another AMAZING guest speaker!! Daniel H. Pink is a KICK ASS author! How crazy is it that we get to learn from ALL of these amazing people!? EEEEEKKKKK!!!
Then LUNCH and then General Session (4) which is where, LAST YEAR, we heard from Orville Thompson, Heidi Thompson, Chuck Thompson, some wonderful people from Corporate, and some AWESOME consultants! After that, we have time to head back to our hotels, shower, eat, and head back to Lucas Stadium for AWARDS NIGHT! This year, I get to attend the AWARDS RECEPTION after Awards night and I AM FREAKING ECSTATIC about it!!!

Oh, waitttttttttt a minute.......back the TRUCK UP!!  I forgot the BESTEST part!  MARY CHRISTENSEN is going to be there too, to teach us some AMAZING things!  Holy CRAP I'm excited about that one too!!! 

So, when we first started making plans for Reunion, CLEARLY one of the first things you think of is...."Who am I going to room with?"  I mean, you don't wanna room with someone you don't get along with.  Duh.  You don't wanna room with someone who never sleeps, because then you are SCREWED!  You want to room with someone who is FUN, RESPECTFUL, and LIKE-MINDED, right!?  Well, I got lucky and have TWO of those people.....actually FOUR people who are "roomies".  Edie Anne and I decided a LONG time ago that we would bunk together at the JW MARRIOTT.  She had already reserved a few rooms, and we both decided that we would room together.  Shawnie and her hubby are taking one of the rooms, and Edie and I in the other.  Well, then things got down to the wire, and we added Karen, and Holly to our room list.  We had to, THEY ARE FUN, and SWEET, and AMAZING women, and why not!?  I mean, we, selfishly decided in the beginning that it would just be US.  Her and I.  Period.  Then, we thought twice.  Two more?  ABSOLUTELY!!  Give more than you take.  That's what it's all about.  We want them to have a great time, and we want to make SURE they do.  It will be amazing, and fun, and I'm SURE a bucket FULL of laughs.  SO that's the plan.  

I know that, knowing Edie, we will be posting videos, and blogs and photos while we are at Scentsy Family Reunion 2013.....so keep an eye out. Only 18 days until all of the FUN STARTS! WOOT! Hang on tight.......we are beginning to gear up for the RACE TO INDY!!!!

What does "Friend" mean to you......is everyone's definition different?

F.R.I.E.N.D.S.
Fight for you
Respect you
Include you
Encourage you
Need you
Deserve you
Stand by you.

Tonight this is something that CLEARLY I need to blog about.......oh don't you get me wrong here, it's not just so-called "Friends" who need to KNOW and understand what the word means......and HOW to respect boundaries.

Listen, when you have friends, HEAR what they say to you.  Listen when they tell you something.  Respect what they need, and want from you, don't listen, and then do what YOU want to, because you want to.  How is that being a friend?  

When you have a friend who NEEDS you......you know, because they are fighting a fight, or feeling alone, lost or just plain SAD, be there for them.  Without having to be asked......just because you know, if that's how YOU felt, you would want a friend there with you.  If you have friends, you are LOYAL to those friends.  You don't pick a situation and decide you won't stick up for your friend, just because it makes you feel uncomfortable.  Loyalty.....ask yourself, are you a loyal friend?  Are your friends LOYAL to you?  Can you stick up for someone you care about, to someone else that you care about, and know that you are doing the right thing, even if it makes you feel like you are in the middle?  I know, without a doubt, that I can.  I stick up for people, friends or not, because right is right.  Period.  

Now apparently there aren't a lot of people around my area, who know what this all means.  No, I'm so not kidding here......sad, isn't it?  Sad that these people....are calling themselves "Friends" to SOMEONE........someplace, but you know they can never really BE a friend....I mean, how COULD they be someone's friend if they can't even listen when you tell them what you need and expect from them?  When they are SO self-centered that they only care about what is good for THEM at that very moment in time?

I don't want people around me like that.  I don't allow people in my life like that.  I NEED people around me who are GOOD people, who RESPECT each other, and who LISTEN to what their friends need......even if it's not convenient at that very moment.  Is that too much to ASK for??

I do have people around me who love me, and respect me.  I have a LOT of friends who do.  Some who live near, and some who live far, and believe me, I am SUPER blessed to have them ALL in my life.  

BEING a friend to someone, know that you are DESERVING of friendship also.....if they are a TRUE friend, it won't be HARD to do this for them.

I'm an adult here, and I know what I want out of life.  I know what I need to do to get there, and even with life's twists and turns, mistakes and screw-ups, I have goals, I won't stop until I reach them.  Never. However, I will NOT stomp on ANYONE along the way.  Not a friend, not family, not ANYONE, as long as I know they are a FRIEND.  

I love enjoying time outside...

    I haven't written in a few days.....not because I didn't have TIME, but because when things bother me, I tend to say......um.....not so NICE things.....so instead, I am practicing patience and trying to learn how to vent properly.  Why are you laughing?  I'm serious.  I know who I am.  I know how I react.  I don't have patience for stupid people, or mean people, or entitled people.  I try and surround myself with positive, motivated, happy people.  Not vindictive, unhappy, mean, untrustworthy folks.  It won't work for me.  I don't want it to.  SO, instead of writing about how some people are liars, and false friends, I refrained from writing totally for a few days.  I'm proud of me.  *Smile*

    Today was a new day......as it always is.  Today my goal was to spend time outdoors, and take in the sun.  Especially since it's been raining for days on end.  I love vitamin D.  I truly love being in the sun.  You could go so far as to say that I actually worship the sun, in some silly way.  So that's exactly what I did.  Mike and I took a ride on his motorcycle and went to the airport on Plum Island, in Newburyport, MA.  They had a remote control airplane show.....ya, it sounds really lame, right?  Nope.  You're wrong, just like I was.  It was really cool actually!  The remotes are HUGE!  I mean MUCKA HUGE!  I took a few pictures...

How COOL is this!?

CLEARLY this is my FAVORITE!

    They SOUNDED like jets......they all had smokers, so they left trails, and they were just really fun to watch! Why did I not KNOW about how FAST some of these things move?  Some of them can go up to 200 MPH!  No lie!  Amazing!  It was my magical part of the daytime hours.....and then...

    Nighttime came......and it's HOCKEY NIGHT!  Bruins are in the series with the Blackhawks.  Tonight we WON!  THAT was CLEARLY my MAGICAL moment tonight.  Yup.  All around good day.  Even in the worst times of our lives, we can find something NEW and FUN, and magical moments happen, if you allow them to!

XO Jilly

My "WHY"...

So I've already told you what I do for work, besides being a single Mom.....which is CLEARLY more challenging than any job.  EVER.  Especially if you have a teenager.  A boy teenager.  Things can get a little stressful, however, I take that all in stride and have the up most confidence in how I raised my son, so I'm not truly WORRIED.

Let's get down to business, Scentsy Family.  Direct Sales.  It's a business.  It's NOT some sort of pyramid scheme, it's NOT something that you have to dish out money for, it's NOT one of those things that you have to be at the top of the ladder to MAKE MONEY.  No lie.  Believe me, as you get to know me through this blog, you will understand that I don't lie.  I'm just to capable of it, plus it pisses me off.  So when I say "No lie", I mean it.

I joined Scentsy in the spur of the moment....no research (except for what I read on the website) and honestly had never even laid eyes on one.

I knew it was a "Wickless Candle" however, I didn't know what that meant.  I was, at that point, a "Yankee" addict, and had over 30 candles in my VERY small condo.  Yup.  Addict.  So I wasn't "Sold" on the whole "Scentsy" thing.  Until......the UPS guy showed up.....I opened the box.....put the light bulb in, put the dish on top, broke off one cube of wax, and plugged it in.....THEN I was sold.  In love.  That was IT for me.  I threw away 30 candles.  JUST LIKE THAT!  Dumped those UGLY, dangerous ickky things right into the trash.  They had marked my walls FULL of soot, my ceiling looked NASTY, and I don't want to even IMAGINE what the inside of my lungs looked like after washing and re-painting everything.  Yuck.  The Scentsy warmer, was SO different.  It was BEAUTIFUL to look at.....it wasn't HOT, it wasn't going to make nasty marks on my walls or ceilings, it was just what I was looking for, without knowing I was looking.

From there, it's been an amazing experience for me.  I mean, I had worked for other DS companies before, for years, but NEVER had as much fun, and unbelievable experiences as I have had with Scentsy.  I have an amazing team, who you have heard me mention before.  I mean, there really isn't a way to put into words how inspiring they ALL are.  Everyone has a story, and some are truly heartbreaking.  Some are "normal" and just want to own their own businesses, but every single one of them, has a "WHY".  Your "WHY" is why you joined, why you want to keep going with your business, and WHY you will become successful!  You will, in the future, hear me talk about their whys.....but I truly only know MINE.

My "why" started when I ordered my "starter kit"......and when I opened that box.....smelled all of the wax samples that come with the kit, and started thinking about HOW I would do this.  HOW could I become successful at selling a product that I love, and help others to understand how awesome it truly is.

The only way, as far as I'm concerned, is to show people my passion for Scentsy.  MY why comes into play, yes, however, I don't tell my story, to everyone I meet.  Although I do tell my story on my website, and I do periodically update it....but I always ask myself, "Why do I stay with Scentsy?  Why do I love it SO much?"  I could sit here and tell you all of my reasons, but ONE is a huge thing to me.  One reason is why I stay, and one of the most important reasons why I stay.  Family.  I could go into all of the reasons why I need a sense of "Family" in my life.  Or why I don't have a big family.  It's Tyler, my Dad, his wife, Donna, my boyfriend, Mike, and his son Jack.  That's my family.  BUT, now that I have Scentsy, I have extended family ALL over the world.  Yes, I said WORLD!  When stuff happens, and I'm soooooo stressed out, like I want to punch something, my Scentsy family is ALWAYS there to help lift me up, and make things seem so much easier.  I can pick up the phone, call ANY of them, and know that no matter what, they will listen, or offer advice, if that's what I need.  I do the same for them too, that's what family IS.  Unconditional.  Love.  AMAZING people, HUGE opportunities.  I can't, nor will I EVER turn my back on Scentsy.  Ever.  I am where I'm supposed to be.  I love what I do, and love who I do it WITH.  Scentsy rocks....and so do all of the people within Scentsy.  If there was ever any doubt.....on if YOU could become successful doing Scentsy, now you know.....the answer to that is NO.  :)

Okay, I could go ON AND ON AND ON about Scensty and why I love it SO much, but I will save that for another day......today, I am grateful for my life, my job, and my Scentsy Family.  <3

Read a little about my story here......