Author:
My story – “Finding my own worth within” – Brett
Posted by – October 21, 2011
Hi friends,
The past few months, I’ve been on a personal journey where I have felt connected to the underlying reason why I started this company. It has been a time of growth and one where I’ve peered inwardly to find my worth.
Growing up, I was always the child who would work extra hard on that paper or project and shoot to get an ‘A’. If I performed well that meant I was important and valuable.
This summer, I was on the road selling to stores on the west coast, an experience that proved to be full of learning and growth. Through all the phone calls and visits to boutique stores I found my self-worth in jeopardy because for every store owner that loved the meaning behind TMOOH there were ten stores that thought otherwise. All of the rejection, however, left me feeling unimportance and worthless through the process. To compare life to academia, it felt like I was getting a grade of a ‘D’ or ‘F’ in the real wold. I reached a point while in San Francisco where I broke down and could no longer continue on because I believed that all of the “no’s” meant that I was a failure. I know this was an entirely unhealthy form of thought but alas, it was my own.
The irony through the whole experience was that I was selling TMOOH as a brand where people find their worth within. I would recite the quote to buyers by Elisabeth Kübler Ross who says, “People are like stained glass windows, they sparkle and shine when the sun is out but when the darkness sets in true beauty can be revealed only if there is a light from within.” This life lesson couldn’t have come at a more opportune time because it reinforced my personal mission with the company and helped me feel important for reasons other than my performance.
To me, TMOOH is a platform for people to come together and share their life journey with others, instill hope in the lives of others, and reinforce that our beauty and worth in this world begins inwardly. A young woman told me recently that for the first time ever, she looked into a mirror and actually believed it when she told herself she was beautiful. Somehow TMOOH had a part in her discovery of her beauty. There is power in those words. My journey to discover my infinite worth within has been sparked by some unique learning experiences coupled with the inspirational words of people in the TMOOH community. Thank you to all who have helped me see the source of my true worth.
From Within,
Brett
Intern at TMOOH this Fall!
Posted by – September 28, 2011
Hello,
Thanks for taking the time to check out an internship opportunity with our team.
// OUR STORY:
Growing up in a small town and moving to Los Angeles for college opened my eyes to a world where people obsessed over their appearance. Whether they used models in magazines or peers as their benchmark, I found it heartbreaking to see friends lose a part of themselves when they became absolutely absorbed in appearing a certain way. I could see they were creating a never-ending cycle of self-defeating behavior. It wasn’t until I saw some of my friends suffer from eating disorders and other body image related issues that I understood this problem stemmed farther than just my friend base. During one of my classes in my last year of college I noticed an unhealthily skinny girl who continually showcased a rotation of stick-thin models on her computer backdrop. Her struggle to attain a physical ideal was plainly obvious, as was watching her lose herself in a spiral of self-loathing. I desperately wanted to tell her that what made her special was found within herself.
During all of this, I started brainstorming how I could help people that were dealing with these issues. An amateur artist, I experimented with hand painting graphics on t-shirts as holiday gifts for my friends including text that read “the monument of our hearts” in the designs. The text was inspired by the idea that our hearts are where our desire to impact the world manifests itself and that my generation can serve as the monument for future generations as an enduring example of changing people’s lives for the better.
// INTERNSHIP DETAILS:
We extend our interns a great level of responsibility because we know you are smart, creative and passionate about helping others. As an intern with our team, we promise to take you on as an active partner in developing our brand and leading our movement. We are looking for people who are inspired to help others find their beauty from within. Below are a few possibilities of the areas you can be involved in while working with our team.
// MARKETING INTERNSHIP:
-Social media
-Retail marketing planning and implementation
-Strategic partnership development with non-profit organizations
-eCommerce
-Email marketing
-PR & press releases
-Photo shoot coordination
-Blogging
// DESIGN INTERNSHIP:
-Fashion trend analysis
-Design conceptualization
-Graphic design (i.e. screen-printed garments, hangtags, web content)
-Print layout–literature, email marketing, online content and blogs
-Merchandising assortment
-Create line sheets and presentation materials for buyers & editors
// ACTION:
If you are interested in pursuing an opportunity with our team please send us an email with your resume. In the email let us know what inspires you and why you want to help people find their beauty within. Feel free to email me at brett@tmooh.com.
Thanks,
Brett
Notes: This is an unpaid internship for school credit only. Work hours approximately 10 hours/week. Home office is based in Los Angeles, CA. Remote working is a possibility but would prefer local candidates. Thanks!
Lesli’s Story – “Mommy, we’re beautiful no matter what we wear!”
Posted by – September 21, 2011
“Mommy, we’re beautiful no matter what we wear!”
“We all look different, Mommy!”
These are two sentences that are music to my ears as they come out of the mouths of my little girls, Brin, 5, and Teagan, 4.
I have been struggling with my weight and my body image my entire life. I have always had weight to lose, sometimes 40 lbs, more often, 60 lbs, and at one time, 100lbs. I have numerous little snipits of memories that make me cringe. Being weighed in front of my class in kindergarten, having my doctor tell me, at age seven, that I would be so pretty if I just lost some weight, crying as I flipped through the pages of plus-sized clothes in the clothing catalog-secretly turning to the “normal” sized clothes and imagining what I would choose if were “normal,” crying as I had to go up another size, embarrassed as I went to the warehouse store to buy my wedding dress because they had my size, full of shame when the doctor’s office scale would only accommodate me for another 2 pounds during my pregnancy, and horrified as I was wheeled out in the double-wide wheelchair after the birth of my second daughter.
My entire life, my wonderful mother would plead with me, “Lesli, people don’t see you like that!” as she watched me standing in front of the mirror berating myself. My husband of ten years, has been with me since I was eighteen years old. He can’t tell me enough how beautiful I am. But I would only listen to the awful thoughts running through my head.
After Teagan was born, I lost 95 lbs. I felt fantastic, but never “done” because I didn’t hit that 100lb mark. So, for two years, instead of looking at my healthy achievement, I beat myself up for having “10 more pounds to lose.”
Life and stress got in the way, and I gained back 60 of those pounds. And so we begin again. This time, however, with two little pairs of perfect eyes watching my every move, I don’t allow myself to to talk negatively about my achievements or my body. To my amazement, without this negative self-talk, I’m slowly beginning to see how beautiful I am, regardless of what I see in the mirror.
With two entirely differently shaped daughters, I realize how important it is to emphasize healthy eating for a healthy body on the inside, not only for a beautiful body on the outside. I keep my daughters active because it’s the healthy thing to do, not because it keeps them in, or out of, a certain size. They are told that what they do, their achievements, are what make them beautiful. My daughters are healthy and beautiful, and they know it.
It is my new mission in life. It is not about me anymore. It’s about teaching my children – teaching all children, about loving themselves.
I would absolutely love to be a part of The Monument of Our Hearts. I can be a speaker, I can be a teacher, I can sew tags on shirts!! Use me – because your mission is now my mission!
Love,
Lesli
New designs!
Posted by – May 14, 2011
Hola amigos! It’s been awhile since we’ve released a new line for TMOOH. I am very excited about the next wave of designs that we are currently in development. Stay tuned for sneak peeks of the product and a contest to get a TMOOH shirt before the rest.
-Brett
Coachella Artists to Catch
Posted by – April 13, 2011
As Coachella unleashes its new music and old on us in a few days, we are looking forward to a few of the acts. Here are a few of those that I’m getting excited to see. Enjoy!
// CUTCOPY // Sweet 80s synth to delight your little ears
// ELLIEGOULDING // This strong Brit-Pop vocalist has been a big part of the soundtrack to my life this past year and I’m personally excited to get some face time with Miss Goulding 
// WARPAINT // These ladies have a tasty sound that is undoubtedly full of rock and an indie roll
// EMPIREOFTHESUN // This band gives a tip of the hat to everyones favorite season, Summer
// RATATAT // Ratatat is my pump of the jamz (with a “z”, yes) artist whom lays the beats while I dance awkwardly in busy public places
I’m a sucker for new music, so let me know what you’re diggin’!
- Brett
Present > Future
Posted by – November 23, 2010
Morning shadow of Mt. Baker on the skyline – Mt. Baker, WA
The desire to climb a mountain is a bit silly if you think about it; You exhaust your muscles entirely, suffer through biting cold temperatures, and accept the risk that if something goes wrong you may not come down the mountain alive. In theory it sounds entirely irrational to put yourself up to such an endeavor. However, I see it as an insatiable challenge and opportunity to absorb myself into the beauty of the wilderness.
Group photo of the team at the top: (from left – Me, Matt, & Mark) – Mt. Baker, WA
This summer when I spent a week in Washington training in alpine climbing I had time to learn, time to channel and contest my desire to someday take on Everest. As an avid adventure aficionado, one of my goals for this past year was to learn the essentials of mountaineering which led me on a week long trip to N. Washington in the Cascade Mountains (the pic below sums this range up pretty nicely).
Summit of Mt. Baker (3,286 M) – Mt. Baker, WA
Over the course of my time in the mountains I endured a personal paradigm shift. The beginning of the climb I meditated on the American philosophy of efficiency climbing with little care or awareness of the beauty that was around. As the sun rose a remarkable thing happened, I saw the beauty of the sun gleaning in the crevasses, beautifully strong rock formations chiseled by centuries of harsh winds, and most importantly, the determination and joy in the faces of my fellow climbers. It was at that point in time when I realized why I was there.
Alpine Flowers – Mt. Baker, WA
Rather than focusing on defeating one of earths most intimidating natural formations or efficiently navigating the mountain terrain, I wanted to simply be; exist and observe the beauty found in the outdoors. Over the past few months, it has led me to think about how I chose to live my life shifting my focus on the future to the present. Thank you mountains for your continual lessons and beauty. Below is a quote by John Muir, whom I look up to, who had a zest for the outdoors more than any other of the 20th century.
“In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks” – John Muir
Sexy beard isn’t it ladies?!
Laura’s Story – “Whenever my passport is stamped, I’ll think of her.”
Posted by – November 18, 2010
I met Laura when I was a freshman in college. I was a student worker and her dad worked in the office I assisted. She walked in the office with a glowing smile, spiky blonde hair and a bounce in her step. However, the one thing I couldn’t help but notice was her size. She was small—very small.
The first time we were introduced, she leaned in for a hug. Everyone loves a good hug and it is one I will always remember. She had her dad’s smile. After this meeting, I looked forward to Laura visiting the office. We talked about travel, which we both had a passion for and the things we wanted to do.
I knew Laura was sick. Her dad, one of my mentors, talked to me about the struggles she was facing and how serious the situation had become. A seasoned athlete in high school, her workouts soon took the place of eating. At her worst she weighed 58 pounds, compared to her normal weight of 95 pounds.
There were times when it would seem things were getting better. She would bound in the office to see her dad. His jolly laugh boomed from down the hall as they talked. Then there were times when I wouldn’t see her. It was a constant worry for a lot of people, especially her family. I worried about them all, short in stature but big in heart.
Things changed when Laura became engaged. She was ecstatic, as were her loved ones. He grin was ever present as she talked about her wedding and the exciting move to Paris, France where her fiancé was lived.
Her wedding day came. It was wonderful, performed in both English and French. I sat among friends as I pushed positive and hopeful energy her way. We all wanted her to be happy. The reception was a blast. We danced to English songs, we danced to French songs, we danced to everything. It was such a memorable evening and one that I will always be honored to have been a part of. Before the close of the evening, I was able to get this quick photo with Laura after she had changed out of her wedding gown. This was the last time I would ever see her.
On Saturday, May 2, 2009, Laura passed away in Paris France. She was 31. Her 13-year battle with anorexia nervosa had ended. When I learned the news, my heart sank. Tears filled my eyes as I thought about her mother and father and the family she left behind. I thought about all the places she wanted to visit and the passport that would no longer be stamped.
I began to evaluate my own body image. I’ve always been on the “husky” side as my grandmother calls it. I’ve tried fad diets, but have always gained the weight back. Laura’s battle made me consider the reasons for my ambitions of weight loss. It made me look in the mirror and consider my reflection. What I saw was a person that was attempting to sculpt their body to please others. On that day, I realized I was doing everything for the wrong reasons. If I wanted to lose weight I needed to do it for myself.
I think about Laura often, her smile mostly. It’s a pleasant memory that I pull from time to time. I would like to think I’m on a positive path towards a healthy lifestyle. These things take time. I know that dreaming of the physique on a magazine cover is unrealistic. If Laura has taught me anything it is to be grateful for the time you have and to grasp life by the horns and never let go. I hope she knows how beautiful she was, inside and out.
An excerpt from the poem, “The Summer Day” by Mary Oliver reads:
Tell me, what else should I have done?
Doesn’t everything die at last, and too soon?
Tell me, what is it you plan to do
With your one wild and precious life?
Today I promise, I’m trying to live my one wild and precious life with a whole heart and a smile, just as Laura would have wanted me to and whenever my passport is stamped, I’ll think of her.
By Ryan Murray
http://ryconic.blogspot.com
