Intention. Perhaps that will be the word of the year in 2024. I believe the 2023 word of the year was "Authentic". I like that, and I find it inspirational to contemplate words like "Authentic" and "Intention". words we hear used in our culture, and like to toss around. "Live authentically with intention." Sounds good, but what does it mean and how can it be applied to our everyday lives? We live in fast, rapidly changing times. We all have our own personal thoughts, opinions and beliefs. We are not all going to agree on all things, but perhaps the concept of living with intention is a point where we might all agree. There is a belief that if humans work to keep their thoughts positive, then collectively that would improve the vibration of our planet helping us to evolve to a higher level of consiousness. This can happen through prayer, meditation and gratitude. I like the sounds of all this too. I certainly don't have all the answers, but I do know when I am out in nature, it's grounding and these concepts come into my mind and make some sense. I like to walk. It's my therapy. While I walk I think about my "intentions" for the day. As a salon owner, employer and hairstylist, I know I am going to touch a lot of people in a single day. It's a blessing to be in this position, so I have to get MY mind right first! Along with how I have the ability to actually "touch" people I also think about the responsibility that we have to each other ad to the Earth as we are all connected.

When we listen to the news and hear about sadness or hardship, it can make one feel hopeless. What can one person do? Well it starts in our minds. Align ourselves with purpose, patience for one another, and love for our beautiful world. Pick someone from history that you admire. Someone that blazed a trail before us. How can we continue with the good? We must continue to lift each other up and not allow our differences to bring us down. I was inspired by hairstylist Horst Rechelbacher, founder of Aveda. Horst was a pioneer in holistic products, sustainability and our carbon footprint on the planet. Horst was thinking about "Green" begore it was gold. That is intention.

The Aveda mission statement is, "OUR MISSION AT AVEDA IS TO CARE FOR THE WORLD WE LIVE IN, FROM THE PRODUCTS WE MAKE TO THE WAYS IN WHICH WE GIVE BACK TO SOCIETY. AT AVEDA, WE STRIVE TO SET AN EXAMPLE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL LEADERSHIP AND RESPONSIBILITY, NOT JUST IN THE WORLD OF BEAUTY, BUT ALL AROUND THE WORLD." HORST RECHELBACHER, FOUNDER, AVEDA.

All of us at Salon Madeleine are proud to be aligned with Aveda and an incredible visionary like the late Horst Rechelbacher. Aveda corporation continues to carry the torch. In April, which is Earth month, we will celebrate and raise awareness for the awesome organization called Charity Water. This is a beautiful non-profit, and I encourage you to go to charitywater.org and learn about this organization, as well as the story of the founder Scott Harrison. It's a touching story and an example of a man that is living with intention to bring clean water to third world countries. These are the little things we can do. Educate ourselves, align with something that has a purpose and keep our minds and hearts open to each other and all our differences. Oh! and support small businesses that are heart centered and care. I sincerely thank you all in this beautiful 321 community.