Gratitude in Retrospect

Thanksgiving is coming so I want to share a little bit about something I am thankful for.  I think it is safe to say that most people who know me know I use essential oils. What most people don’t know is why I use them and why I am so grateful for them. 

Looking back on my childhood, I see now that I had a lot of anxiety. I often felt like I needed to be perfect – to make everyone happy. It was my job; my role. In fact, I was literally sick quite often.  Over time, I learned how to deal with this anxiety because I am a person who can adapt well and handle things so this challenge was no different. I grew used to being sick and anxious.

When I moved to Utah and met Joanie, I knew she used essential oils. She would talk about them and sometimes offer them to me but in my head I thought they were BS, plain and simple. There was no way an oil could help in the ways she was suggesting.  I am going to bet I was not alone in this thinking.  Maybe even you wonder about the efficacy of essential oils too.

Fast forward to now.  I use essential oils almost every day. What changed? I had an experience — and I saw that they actually worked and I was wrong about them.  At that time, I was going through a lot emotionally. I wasn’t getting along with my family and things were weighing down on me quite heavily. I did my best to ignore my problems, to not let them “bother me”, including not showing any emotions about what was going on in my life. One night, enough was enough and I broke down. I’ve never broken down like this in the past and never have since. It was awful. I was crying, hyperventilating, my chest was tight, I couldn’t breath. I was in full melt down.

Joanie was with me and became worried that I would pass out.  This went on for a while but I didn’t care though because I couldn’t control it, and if I passed out at least I wouldn’t feel the stress and the heart ache I was feeling in that moment. That’s when Joanie left the room, and returned with her little bag of oils and  in my hysterical moment, she start putting oils on my neck, chest, back and had me inhale them. I don’t remember everything she used but I know she had Balance oil, which is a grounding blend, Wild Orange, a mood lifter and Melissa – an emotional support oil. The minute she put those oils on me and had me inhale, I was asleep within one minute, no lie.

Those oils supported me that night in a way I thought was not possible and in a way I can’t deny. I’m grateful I had that experience for multiple reasons. First, I got to learn the power of these “BS” essential oils; everyone has to have their own experience in order to understand their benefits. Second, I “woke up” to the fact that anxiety is a problem in my life and it is not healthy for me to hold my emotions in or feel like I have to make anyone happy except myself. Third, I now have a business that is so close to being able to fully provide for my family and we can do it together, with the kids and all.  

I share this because not many people know my full story, plus – it is Thanksgiving week and doTERRA does a fun version of Black Friday, except it is all week long.  During BOGO week, doTERRA offers a Buy One – Get One free each day beginning on Monday (tomorrow) and ending on Friday.  It is a great way to stock up on oils you love but also, a great way to begin using oils you never have in the past.  

If you are still unsure about oils, I encourage you to give them a try.  We have a fun Facebook Group you can join where you can learn a little about the oils as well as make new friends.  I am very grateful I had my experience because now I have another tool in my ‘life tool box’ and everyone needs more of those!

~Amaris