Come Back to the Middle
By Wilma Ann Anderson

About a year ago I started a quest to take more time out for myself. I am here to admit that I failed—grossly. Okay, it hasn’t been that gross. I did redo my bathroom to spa-like perfection. I have done a few more facial and pedicures than last year. But…I admit that this isn’t enough. Recently, I was at a mommy and me class and met a woman who is an independent consultant for a company called Warm Spirit. She had some of the products on display and was offering complimentary hand massages. Though I am not a product junky (more of a packaging junkie), I was drawn to her display. The simple elegance of the packaging and her display of scented candles (I LOVE scented candles!) caught my eye. I prodded her for more information on the products and learned that they are herbal-based natural products.

I’m so into “the natural” thing so I was moved to pick up a jar of Warm Spirit’s Juicy Pear Soufflé to read the ingredients. The wellness consultant urged me to try the product and I was blown away—simple blown away. I’m not a person who is easily impressed, but the authentic smell and moisturizing property of this soufflé got me “open.” I started asking more and more questions and learned how easy it was for me to join the Warm Spirit family and either start my own business or simply make a commission off the products that I buy for myself. I was sold—and it is truly amazing to me that the consultant (who later became my sponsor) did NO selling. The products sold themselves.

Well, at that moment I decided I was going to join this community of smart, savvy, empowered women, and I vowed that Warm Spirit was (at the very least) the way I was going to FINALLY pamper myself. The way I look on the outside totally affects the way I feel on the inside when I look in the mirror. No, I don’t have to meet and greet people everyday because I primarily work from home, but that doesn’t mean I have to look like a bear in hibernation. That’s not the way I want to be for myself, my husband nor my children. I shouldn’t “save” my good looks for my meetings or conferences. I should be my own eye candy.

I’m always nurturing my spirit and now I’ve vowed to pamper my body as well. It’s so odd to hear myself say this because I am a licensed cosmetologist who can recommend the latest this or that for someone else, but I often don’t TAKE the time to prescribe myself some rest, relaxation and pampering. Well, it’s time. In fact, I’m already on the road to beauty and wellness. I’ve started my weekly home spa treatments using the Warm Spirit line of products and have even blessed some others with treatments, and received rave reviews on the product line (not to mention, my amazing hand and foot massages).

Will you join me on my self-care and wellness journey? Now you don’t have to use Warm Spirit products, but oooo chile, I DO recommend you at least try them. You won’t be disappointed. Actually I think you’ll be anointed by the whole self-care experience. Take time to get away. Get in the gap—that space in between the lines of your everyday story. Come back to the middle and pamper the person at the center of your world. Nurture yourself.

www.WarmSpirit.org/WilmaAnn

Wilma Ann Anderson is the Editor-in-Chief and Co-founder of Mahogany Baby. She's also an accomplished singer, and works as a model and film executive. This mother of four has freelanced for ESSENCE and Working Mother magazines, enjoys crafting, and is based in New Jersey.