Passion, Purpose, & Period Poverty.

I came across a quote this week that said “Follow your passion; it will lead you to your purpose.” I thought this was brilliant, as just the night before I had gotten so passionate about something, I could not stop talking about it. My mind was going a million miles an hour and I kept realising there was more and more that could be done, and I realised that it was something I felt was my purpose.

I don’t know about you, but there are times I just know that I was put on this Earth for a purpose. I know that I’m supposed to achieve something, and I get frustrated when I think that I am just letting the universe down by doing nothing. I’m not talking about great or famous measures. I certainly would not have done well marrying Price William & raising a future great monarch. Nor am I destined to be a noble politician (are there any left in the world?), or scientist who makes a world changing breakthrough. But, you don’t need to be any of those things to make a difference, or to change the world. All of us have the potential to make a positive impact, and leave the world better than when we found it.

So, what got me so excited, and how did I realise (or remember) my purpose?

One of my friends is going to Zimbabwe in the summer. Her teenage daughter has decided that instead of just going on holiday, she would like to help others at the same time. She would like to take sanitary products out there to help other girls out there who can’t afford it. Period poverty is a thing that is getting more attention, but as with most things, awareness is only the beginning. Growing up and having your body do weird stuff is bad enough. I have personally never been a fan of periods, and it’s never been on my “must discuss” list. But, I live in a place where I can choose how to “deal with it” from a very wide range of different options. Tampons and pads are readily available in almost every store. Whether you are a teenager awkwardly “smuggling” them through the self scan hoping no one sees, or a multi-tasking Mum who chucks a pack in the trolley in one hand while collecting the peels from the free fruit for kids in the other hand, it’s easy & inexpensive. I admit there are times I’ve stood calculating the cost between a known brand and store brand panty liner trying to save pennies, but I’ve never had to go without. Not only that, but there is a wide range of re-usable products out there, if you are able to make the upfront investment. (Totally worth it, by the way!!). I can use my pads over and over again because I have a way to get them hygienically clean. It’s a few extra steps, but I have clean water to use, I have essential oils to put in the soaking water, and I have a washing machine and sewerage system that can remove the water so it does not contaminate the water I bath in, cook with or drink. As much as it’s a pain, I have nothing to complain about. It’s actually easy. �

Kendra has seen a need, and is using her own initiative to fill it. I love that. In all the “what would you do if you won the lottery” conversations, it would always include some sort of project to help poorer communities. Not donating to a charity (I may have ranted about them before), but actually going out there, seeing what is actually needed, and helping out in a meaningful way. I’m also big on solving route causes, and not just patching things up. I was looking in to set up a funding link so that people who wanted to help the cause could donate, and more sanitary products could be bought out there. It turns out all of them charge a fee for withdrawing the money –AND a transaction fee per donation! Crazy talk. They do offer free services, but they are only when the money goes direct to a big well known charity, not when you want to see with your own eyes where the money is going.

Going down this rabbit hole reminded me of the doTERRA Healing Hands Foundation. It’s a non-profit organisation that is financed by doTERRA. It’s all about allowing people to give back, serve, and make a difference. They have two ways you can do it. The first I think is a new initiative, I did not know about it until I went on to their site last night. You can set up a fundraiser for an event or occasion (like you see people do on facebook), and it works like the other crowd sourcing links do. However, not only do they cover the fees, at this point they are matching donations. They aim to give $1 million US$ in 2019 – $500,000 raised, and $500,000 matched. There are certain criteria that need to be met though. I will be submitting a request for this particular project, and I will certainly let you all know the link if (when 😉 ) it’s approved.

There is, however, another way – and this, my friends, is part of my purpose. It’s a long term thing, which will take planning, but can make an even bigger impact – Wellness Advocate Projects. People like me who share doTERRA are called Wellness Advocates. If there is a particular cause that is close to your heart, you can partner with doTERRA to actually action it. If you go to the Healing Hands website, you will find so many example of the good that is being done right now. Wheelchairs for children in Rwanda, helping women & girls start their own businesses in Guatemala, helping students in Cambodia, emergency in Ohio – the list goes on! To do a project, you need to align with a non-profit organisation, and have a doTERRA sponsor a particular rank or above (Diamond). What you get from doTERRA, is up to US$10,000 matched funds, *and* up to US$2,000 in matched doTERRA products donated. Imagine the difference you would make with all that! But the best bit is not the money, it’s that you get to do it yourself, and see the impact personally. My upline Diamond have done a project, which involved building a hospital in Uganda. They raised the funds, go it matched, and went out and did it. I believe they still go out there to help and support, and one or two of their children have gone out with them. I could find a diamond to sponsor a cause, but I want to BE the Diamond! At that rank I would be able to fund the trips out there, there would be time freedom to go serve someone for a few weeks and not have to worry about not working during that time. I know I’m just a piece of coal, and there’s a lot of pressure still to overcome, but I am ready to shine! THAT is why doTERRA found me, and it chose me. In the short term I improve my health and the wellbeing of my family, and then help others do the same. I can see the improvement in the lives of those around me. In the medium term I might start to earn some money, to help my family financially. But in the long term, there is a chance to go out and do something for a whole community I have not even met you. I can find a need that I am so passionate about that it becomes my purpose, and fill it. I don’t have to win the lottery to serve others. I have a road map of real ways it can be achieved. I just have to work at it!

If you would like to learn more about the Healing Hands Foundation, visit their website here. They already partner with the Days for Girls charity, “empowering girls in developing countries with the support they need to attend school and work consistently – resulting in more opportunities to grow, thrive and contribute to society”.

If you would like to join me in the quest to make a difference (one drop at a time), email me at nickygoesnatural@gmail.com or find me on facebook. Alternatively, you can go to www.mydoterra.com/nicolastanton . Click on the contact page if you would like to get in touch, or click “join and save” if you are ready to roll. There’s always room or another like minded person like you on our team x

Once I have a link set up for this particular project (Kendra taking sanitary products to a childrens’ home in Harare, I know I’ve said a lot since I mentioned that) I will add it here. I will also post it on my Facebook page. If I do not manage to get a link set up but you would like to make a donation (no fees or cuts taken!), get in touch and I will let you know papal or bank details.