"It doesn’t interest me what you do for a living. I want to know what you ache for, and if you dare to dream of meeting your heart’s
longing. It doesn’t interest me how old you are. I want to know if you will risk looking like a fool for love, for your dream,  for the adventure of being alive.

It doesn’t interest me what planets are squaring your moon. I want to know if you have touched the center of your own sorrow, if you have been opened by life’s betrayals or have become shriveled and closed from fear of further pain! I want to know if you can sit with pain, mine or your own, without moving to hide it or fade it, or fix it.

I want to know if you can be with joy, mine or your own, if you can dance with wildness and let the ecstasy fill you to the tips of your fingers and toes without cautioning us to be careful, to be realistic, to remember the limitations of being human..."

- The Invitation by Oriah Mountain Dreamer

Last week, I was sitting with the ache of disappointing others and a dear friend read this poem to me.

It helped me realize that, when you dare to remove the mask of conformity and answer your heart's call to create your own reality...disappointment, confusion, and judgement of others can be an unfortunate byproduct.

And as a recovering people-pleasing-perfectionist, this can burn a bit. To accept that not everyone will like, understand, or approve of your actions is a bitter but necessary pill to swallow. We are all precious human beings with our own tales of joy and woe. What I've come to realize is that I am responsible for what is real and true for me.

The journey from conformity to the realm of conscious self-approval and creative freedom certainly isn't an easy one to travel. But to live life as a fully-expressed, love-filled, free human being? Well-worth a little ache and pain.

I love this video from Jason Silva where he riffs beautifully on this quote:

Those who were seen dancing were called insane by those who couldn't hear the music. - Nietzsche

~

I have to be honest, I was drawn initially drawn to this face toning method because of how beautiful it is. Rose petals in ice cubes? Swoon-worthy.

But there actually is something to the rose + ice combination for the skin. It helps to tone and tighten the skin by increasing blood flow to facial muscles. It's traditionally an Icelandic beauty practice - incorporating the skin healing and soothing properties of rose and rose water.

Rose Ice Facial Treatment

• Ice cube mold (I like this one)
• 1/8c. Rosewater (like this one)
• 1/8c. Filtered water
• 1 handful dried rose petals or rosebuds (I love these)

Pour the rosewater into each of the ice molds, then add in rose petals, and finish with water. Place molds in freezer and freeze until solid. When ready for your facial treatment, boil some water and pour into a large bowl. Place your face over the steaming bowl with a towel over your head for 1-2 minutes. Next, grab one of your rose ice blocks and gently roll the ice all over your face and neck. Finish off with a spritz of rosewater.