I had a lot of great conversations this week, as I do most weeks, regarding the growth of Fashletics. I spoke with gym owners, marketing firms, resellers, designers, bloggers, and more. I love this. I love that running a business has created so many opportunities for new relationships. People, generally speaking, are awesome. Especially people who are passionate about spreading the message of health and well being.

However, it is entirely possible that the most important conversation I had this week was with... my mom. This is because in the midst of all of these amazing conversations, and while building new relationships with these incredible people that will help grow Fashletics - my son got sick. I am still a new enough mom that when my little guy gets sick, I have the insatiable urge to stop the world from spinning until he is better. But I can't do that. I need to take care of him and accept that the clock keeps running, which means I also need to remain attentive to my business, to my own health, and to my household.

My inability to stop time is what prompted the call to my mom. I was overwhelmed (not the first time) so I called her on my way home from an abbreviated day at work where many tasks were left undone. "Who can do this? Who can do all of this?" I asked. I avoid the words "I can't." I don't want to hear them leave my mouth. I don't even want to be thinking them. So instead I ask  "Who can?" How is this done? Tell me how to do it all and I will.

I've been designing jewelry for over 10 years now, and it has been really interesting to see which products rise and fall in and out of popularity. Long before I started Fashletics, and even before I started CrossFit, I made myself what I now refer to as a "Pep Talk Charm". I had just moved, my family was going through a tough time, and I missed my old life.

But guess what, nobody wants to attend a pity party. I took out my frustration on a piece of metal, whacked the heck out of it with a hammer, inscribed it with the word STRENGTH, and hung it on my key chain.

Many years later the charm is still there, more worn and more full of meaning than ever. I designed a version of the STRENGTH charm for Fashletics, and based on its popularity I can only assume that this word means as much to my customers as it does to me. It is a daily reminder of where we've been and what we are capable of. 

In moments of doubt we look at this word for inspiration, and in moments of victory we look at it in celebration. It has a thousand different meanings and I know that each STRENGTH charm that leaves our studio will be a part of someone's unique story.

I am proud to "wear my strength", and especially proud that so many others are wearing it with me.

It's unfortunate that in 2014 most magazines and advertisements still have a pretty limited definition of what makes a woman beautiful. The so called "health" magazines are no better than the high fashion magazines. There is little variety of body type and a huge emphasis on skinny. It's no wonder that when we announced there would be a weigh-in for the deadlift competition at the Heraean Games (an all women's fitness competition) we were met with some adversity and a lot of anxiety... even though we were dealing with a group of competitive CrossFit women who know deep down that function trumps form. 

I can't change mainstream media (at least not overnight). What I can control both as a business and as an individual, is the types of images that I choose to put out into the world. Magazines and advertisers may not be showing us what we want to see, but social media gives us all the power to flood the world with images of what we think is beautiful.