Earth Day Has an Especially Important Meaning For Me
For those of you who don’t know, Earth Day holds a few dear places in my heart. As a steward of the earth, it signifies a day of gratitude to the planet that is so good to us. It also represents rebirth for me personally and a day to celebrate my second chance at life. It was the day I woke up from surgery to the rest of my life. (for those of you who are new to my journey, learn the full story here)
So I sit here in my office trying to figure out how I can possibly articulate what today means to me. Every year I’m filled with joy and appreciation for my second chance at life and the opportunity to create a platform for education and empowerment. But this year feels different. I can’t help but sit back and reflect on all that has changed over the past decade.
What started out in my kitchen and being sold at local stores is now a global brand. The community we’ve created together is more than I could have imagined. I’ve always said this brand is not just about putting products on a shelf. It’s about empowering others to live their healthiest life. And to have had the opportunity to do that for the last 10 years is something for which I am truly grateful.
All of the beautiful direct messages, handwritten notes, comments and emails I’ve received over the last decade mean the world to me. I do read each and every one. In fact, when I have a bad day (it happens), I pull out a few and reread them to lift my spirits. Knowing I’ve enriched your life in some way means I’m leaving the legacy of change I sought to create.
When I walked into surgery, I had both a bucket list and vision board created for the brand that I wanted to build. The bucket list is being checked off, most recently with my speaking event at SXSW (still can’t believe that happened) and a trip to launch in Australia and Singapore. Today, I’m proud to say every retailer that was on that vision board now carries Indie Lee. The platform I dreamed of creating is now alive and still growing thanks to the power of people - my incredible team and you all of you.
Thank you again for joining me on this journey - I couldn’t have done it without you. I look forward to seeing what we can create together over the next ten years.
XOXO, Indie