June marks PRIDE month and this past weekend in particular we celebrated all colors of humanity with PRIDE.
There is nothing more in this world that calls for self-expression, compassion, acceptance and truth when it comes to being everything LGBTQAI+.
Life is a fluid, colourful experience with infinite ways of expression. Who defined what is to be perceived as normative, as the norm? Of what is to be seen and understood as beautiful, ugly, skinny, fat, black, white, feminine, masculine, poor, rich? There is no shame in the multitudes of expression that make our human experience human.
And yet, driven by fear and judgement this is exactly what we do - we shame others, we reject while simultaneously longing to be seen and met in depth to achieve a sense of belonging, to ensure we get to have a place in this world.
We are living in a time where values are a saving grace we cling to, hold on to and ask for. Respect, mutual understanding, trust, loyalty, honesty, acceptance, integrity and so many more.
STUDIO K & ANANDA SOUL
As a brand that uses its platform to speak up for the less privileged, the gentle outsiders, the repulsed, the struggling ones, for Mother Nature, for communities, after all for all of humanity, it is our greatest wish to see everyone equally take up their space in this world and to not shy away from their deepest and most truthful expression of self - and for everyone to be respected for that. What if from today on we could be enthralled by the presence, the power and the radiance of a person rather than the story that surrounds them? Instead of seeing gender, skin color, body shape, sexual identity, religion and wealth and all the other things we so strongly believe that define and validate a human, what if we were to meet them for their light, their, presence, their soul, their heart, their compassion, their power?
In light of Pride month we joined forces with one of our favorite sustainable labels Studio K Yogawear that pursue the same way of seeing and perceiving humans as we do. Together we want to open up the conversation around what it means to stand in your own truth, to be who you truly are. Together we challenge the way how mainstream media and certain communities define the features that seem to make a human more or less a human. Blueprints and concepts that are clearly a disgrace to humanity.
Together we co-created a photoshoot with the wonderful Michan that so beautifully represented both our brands in her unique way bringing in her presence, grace and elegance - and because of that it felt natural, organic and easy to go with.
It is time. It is time to have open and honest conversations with each other. To understand each other a little bit better. To co-create a society whose key values are compassion and consideration.
HOW TO ENTER
To initiate this we are asking our communities these important questions - what does it mean for you to stand in your truth? How do you live in integrity with your own values? What are your values?
Amongst all entries Ananda Soul and Studio K are giving away a gift of US$300 (US$150 for Ananda Soul, US$150 for Studio K).
Send us your answer here, sign up for our newsletters and follow us on Instagram at @anandasoulcreations and @studio.k.yogawear.
The winner will be determined via lucky draw and notified via email and social media.
With every entry each participant will be joining the newsletter communities of both brands.
This give away is running until July 9th 2021, 11.59 pm PST. The winner will be announced and notified on July 10th. Good luck!
Comments
to stand in my truth is to live authentically.
I’d rather not be in this world if I can’t be my true self.
My most important values are honesty, sincerity, think positive, humble, love & happiness.
I always walk away from bad vibes cause this is my life
I want to have a good life.& be happy.
For me to stand in my truth is to listen to my inner intuition, trust it and follow it. To live in integrity of my values means to follow that and what I believe in, rather than what we are told we should do/be. For that, I believe that all our actions come from a place of love and that should benefit lives of all human beings, and not being just a source of accumulating wealth. Thank you Ananda and Studio K for being part of what I believe is a bigger source of energy.
The meaning of standing on my truth is knowing the truth of what I believed in the first place. I live my beliefs as well as my values, by stating that without fear and explaining them when people ask about that. I believe that we must humanize humans, regardless of their gender and background.