#givepresence

Recently, Lululemon released a video entitled #givepresence. I personally loved the message, and was a little shocked to read some of the comments that were typed below the video on YouTube.

What I personally took from the video was that we lack eye contact. We are a disconnected culture in which our devices help us escape ourselves and the presence of others. When Danielle LaPorte say’s “Do not check your email when I am telling you intimate things. Fuck you,” I agree - it’s not a word we want our kids hearing in an advertisement. But let’s face it kids will hear it eventually. I never heard it from my parents - it was at school. But that statement she makes is powerful. It always bothers me when I am trying to talk to a friend and they are staring at their iPhone and laughing or smiling at the screen. Guess what I just told you that a family member is sick or that I got dumped? And you are sitting there laughing? I’m pretty sure Fuck you pops up in my mind too.

A suggestion from the video was to find your breath when you feel disconnected or feel that hunger to check an email, find that expansive and deep breath, soaking up that energy of being present. Find that balance. Slow down. Search for the connection, become close to finding divinity. Show up and be present. Grow together. That is powerful and so impactful to me.

Some people had an issue with these statements:

“Everything that is on your plate is there because you said yes to it.”

“Were all busy out of habit. Somebody told us that we should go to work Monday to Friday, 9 to 5.”

Look, everyone is busy. Trust me I know this. I work part-time (about 20-30 hours a week), attend university full-time (20 hours a week of class, not to mention study time), I have a hyperactive shepherd cross named Bandit, and a ton of other responsibilities. Yes, I have to work. But I choose to go to school. I chose to buy a dog. We choose these things. I don’t have to work a 9 to 5 job to make money, there are so many things and ways to make money and make sure you can sustain yourself and your family. We all make choices, it’s just harder to accept when our choices are usually because we feel a sense of duty or because we feel forced. It’s not okay for us to get upset at something because the person saying the words has lots of money. It doesn’t make the statement any less true.

I think we all need to stop being so gosh darn sensitive. Get over it. Money doesn’t make you who you are. You can be an asshole whether you are poor or rich. Let’s all just accept the fact that the video made some good points - it doesn’t mean you have to buy the product or like the brand.

If you haven’t watched the video, take a peek and let me know what you think.

xo, Jedrah