my one political statement

I don’t consider myself a very political person, yet I find that I am mesmerized by this year’s election. The candidates feel symbolic of an energetic fork in the road that the citizens of America, and even the world, are feeling. It comes down to two choices for me: LOVE or FEAR. I guess if you look at any moment in life the same two choices exist. I think at this fork in the road, we are being given an opportunity to understand our worldwide interdependence with one another. When one economy suffers, it ripples throughout world markets – when one country cleans up the environment the whole planet benefits. I recently sent two Connection Bracelets to the campaign headquarters of Obama/Biden, because I believe they are both symbols of the energy of unity. I am posting the letter below, in hopes that no matter how the election turns out, that each one of us is inspired to choose love as often as possible. 

 

Dear Barack and Joe (not the plumber!) –

 

I am writing to send you both a gift and tell you why I will be voting for you on November 4^th.

 

Enclosed are two bracelets that I designed and had produced. I am a small business owner with a gift and accessory line called Soul’s Calling. The line features creations with a positive message on them and positive energy in them. The company’s mission is to make the world a more positive and joyful place.

The whole idea got started after a very difficult, but ultimately positive life-changing event. 

While living here in Dallas, I survived a rape in 1997 and was able to put my attacker behind bars for life with the semen I saved in my mouth and spit into a plastic baggie for police. I believe all things happen for a reason, and started to look for the purpose in this painful event. 

While the story is definitely dramatic, it was certainly only a small part of what the experience has turned out to mean to me. The story was covered in The Dallas Morning News by a reporter interested in my healing process and unique viewpoint. The story won an award and was put out on the AP wire. As a result, I wound up on Oprah, Sally Jessy, Montel, CNN, Crier Live and as the subject of an article in Glamour Magazine. 

As the story became more public, I realized how many people were affected by this one man’s negative actions. It gave me a great idea. I reasoned that one person could also have a huge effect with positive actions. And so, the idea of designing and selling fashion and everyday objects as a vehicle for positive effects came into being. 

 

I am sending these Connection Bracelets because I believe you both represent a spirit and energy whose time has come. When I hear words like diplomacy, cooperation, education and hope, I know where my vote belongs.

 

As we are witnessing, we are all truly connected. This is the truth of our economies, peoples and our planet.

 

So I hope you both feel the love I have put into this product, because I feel the love you both have for the people of the US and the world.

 

I’ll be supporting you in November. And when I make 250K a year, I will be HAPPY to pay a little extra to help the rest of the world who isn’t.

 

With hope,

 

Gina Cotroneo

President and Optimist

Soul’s Calling, Inc.

Ecospiration

Being kind to the earth is on everyone’s lips these days. Soul’s Calling has this in mind too. Sole Seekers Recycled flip flips were recently featured on this TV Guide Channel Fashion Team piece. Adrian Grenier owns a pair – hope they show up on his new show, Alter Eco!  They’re made of  20% recycled plastic and 10% recycled rubber soles, with straps of 100% natural renewable rubber. There are more earth-friendly creations planned – as part of Soul’s Calling’s mission of positivity. Be patient though – bioplastics are not quite yet maninstream raw materials for the gifts and accessory world. Where there’s a demand there eventually be a supply though. Kinda works that way in the Universe too. When we put out a strong intention, the Universe definitely responds. In the meantime, I will be taking my glass bottles to the recycling center.

surrender dorothy!

Ever have one of those days, or weeks when you know you are fighting the tide of the universe, and surprise – nothing’s going your way? Dunno about you, but I continue to be stubborn about working my will, despite repeated evidence of the inefficiency of it. This last round went a bit longer than most, as the (perceived) stakes were high: my heart. Like many of you, I have been longing for my soulmate, life partner, guy who makes my heart go pitter-pat – the one that stays around for a long time. Despite various signs from the Universe that true love WILL indeed be on my list of life experiences, I got really mad that it hasn’t already happened. Like mad for WEEKS. It didn’t bring him to me any faster (surprise) and all I got was an upset stomach. I worked myself up into such a froth, indeed I was the mad dog I appeared to be. I finally just plumb wore myself out. When I pictured that scene in The Wizard of Oz where the witch skywrites “surrender Dorothy” with her broom, I had to laugh – and the spell was broken. But hey baby, if you see this, email will ya? LOL  Oh, and just for creative exploration, a great new link to an online think tank called Ted. Listen, view and be inspired.

the perfection of imprfekshun

hello perfect beings -I just wanted to share an epiphany I had last week that might be helpful to us all. I have been working on a business plan for Soul’s Calling, as the time is coming to look for financing to help the company grow to the next level. I have enlisted the fabulous volunteer (the right price for this entrepreneur right now!) group called SCORE. It is a national organization of retired business people dedicated to helping entrepreneurs. I dunno about you, but spreadsheets give me palpitations, so I had my first meeting to get some help. I got all tangled up in the exact details of all the info and the dreaded program XL – my mentor, exasperated with me, finally exclaimed “Look, it doesn’t have to be perfect, it’s just a place to start and work from!” EUREKA. I realized that I had missed opportunities and had been getting in the way of my own business by trying not to make a mistake. I then realized I had been doing it in a whole lot of areas in my life, and that guess what – LIFE is not perfect. After my sexual assault in 1997, I spent a good amount of time in that wonderful space where you KNOW how short life can be, and you quit being paralyzed waiting for the perfect time to fall in love, take Samba lessons, sing in public or tell your friends and family you love them. I realized that I had forgotten how to be that girl, and live each day fully and consciously. Well, I am back – and I encourage you to take a chance, go for it and LIVE NOW. If you haven’t had the benefit of a near-death experience and need a guide on how to do this, I humbly recommend Eckhart Tolle’s Power of Now. 

What is Soul’s Calling and why blog about it?

Soul’s Calling is a line of gifts and accessories that all have a positive message on them, and positive energy in them. Aside from that, it is a lifestyle credo and social movement. In English – the products are created especially to make people happy. They do this two ways – first through the inspirational/happy words on the products, and then through the actual energy put into the product. I believe that all things hold the energy of those who make and distribute them. The difference is that I am consciously directing this energy to be as positive or “high frequency” as possible. Since all of us humans are made of energy too, (think quantum physics or the movie “what the bleep do we know“.) I consider the products to be the vehicles for this Positive Energy Transfer (or PET for short). I has also been brainstorming ways that the products can be used in public demonstrations to spread more happiness and raise more frequencies in the world. The why is simple. The world needs more love. And love (very high frequency energy) is a true, actual, real way to make changes in our physical world. So, get on the mailing list to join club happy – or start your own wave of love today by doing or saying one nice thing to another human. And thanks in advance.

Artsy fartsy ideas

Good morning everyone! Went to a fashion show last night called Social Fabrics. Using technology, the idea of interconnectivity and wearbles was explored. Some pieces included a set of  two pendants. Each pendant has a wireless signal and LED display. When the wearers are within a certain vicinity, the LED lights alert each person as their signals are picked up. Could be great for finding your significant other in a crowd – or avoiding them. lol In any event, it made me think a lot about how technology can both connect and isolate us. Ironic, considering I am connecting with you through a blog right now… Speaking of new ideas, there are two great trend websites that I check at least a couple times a week. Springwise and PSFK - check them out. There are some truly amazing things happening all over the world, and thanks to the Internet we can all share them. One last share – have a wonderful and sunny day. My suggestion is to set a timer and take 10 minutes to just let your imagination wander.: )

hello happy people!

Welcome to the very first posting of the Soul’s Calling blog.  I hope it to be fun, inspirational and useful. Today’s topic is integrity.  Staying true to your word is important, as it shows the respect you have for yourself as well as others. We all make mistakes, or overextend ourselves once in awhile, but let’s for this rest of this week – c’mon it’s already Thursday – you can do this! – make integrity at the top of our to have lists. Oh hey, and here’s a good source for good news.