I used to look for connections, ways in which I could get to know strangers more quickly, building familiarity and a sense of understanding. When I was younger it felt like a scavenger hunt, a game of one hundred questions, hoping to unearth commonality before the sun set and the day was done. I’ve been sitting down with strangers over coffee for a large part of my life, only recently taking it one step further and sharing their story. This morning was different. I raced over the mountain to Cape Neddick as not to be late for my first meeting with Alison Morales. I felt an excitement to be meeting with a fellow entrepreneur.
Alison is the same age as my oldest child. She is a professional ballerina. She smiled as she asked me what toe shoes were my favorite when I told her I used to dance en pointe. I looked down at my feet. I didn’t know there were more than one kind. I described my pink ballet shoes with the flat hard toes and long satin ribbons that I would wind around my ankles up my calves and back again. I described the sheepskins I pulled over my toes to protect them from bleeding when I stood on them for long period of times. She nodded and told me what kind I had. She shared how she was born in Massachusetts but spent weeks in Maine at her Aunt’s house, scavenging tide pools with her older brother for crabs and such. I asked her how she ended up in Arizona. She smiled as she explained, ballet of course. She dances professionally for a company in the city while of course building a side business born from necessity.
Her voice grew quiet as she spoke about her skin, although it looked flawless to me, I could feel the after effects of it not always having had such a wonderful glow. She drew her fingers through her hair describing how it once grew thin from an ailment she was battling. All the while I tried to imagine her being anything but perfect. She’s the type of human that exudes kindness and a quiet confidence. She seems much younger than her actual age, not in maturity but in physicality. If I were going to sort her into a school at Hogwarts it would be a difficult decision between Gryffindor and Hufflepuff.
Alison is the kind of artist whose humility steps out front and makes space for others to shine. She was slow to claim her achievements and even more so to acknowledge what she has accomplished at such a young age. I learned of Alison through the products she has created, packaged, and offered at The Shops at Cape Neddick. She developed the formulas out of necessity. Her frustration with her eczema, thinning hair, and tiresome muscle aches from being a professional ballerina ignited her insatiable DIY can do attitude and sent her on a deep dive into natural care remedies and ways in which to treat our bodies without harmful toxins or chemicals. She developed the formulas for her own personal use and before long her fellow dancers were noticing differences and asking her what she was doing and could she show them.
This is how the best ideas are born, out of necessity. When you develop something new that serves a purposes and fills an existing vacuum, it’s like striking a vein of gold. Life has a way of rewarding those who don’t except less and strive to find better, healthier ways of living a great life. As I examined her packaging, reading through the ingredients I asked her questions about who had designed the labels and which company she was using to bottle her product. She smiled and looked down at her feet. She told me that she is a one man show. I asked her if there was anything that she couldn’t do. She laughed and let me in on a secret that she also loves power tools.
I sat back, not me I thought. Moving blades scare me to death. She described how she replaced a garden window from her parent’s kitchen. She told me the hardest part was taking out the old glass that was leaking and developing mold. I imagined her wanting to make sure her parent’s health wasn’t in danger from the mold. I could picture her researching the best steps of practice in removing the window and then watching youtube videos to learn how to put in the new one.
The hour I usually sit with strangers to get to know them so I can tell their story flew by. I felt as though I was sitting with the next generation born to get things done and bring humanity to a better place than where they found it. I thanked her for taking the time to talk with me and I assured her that I would do everything I could to help spread the story of her skin and haircare line, Belén, Nature’s Beauty. Excitement was coursing my veins as I understood how much work she had already done and the opportunities that await her just around the corner if she keeps doing what she’s doing.
We all have a story. Each of us make thousands of choices everyday determining what our story is going to become. Alison seems to be making the very best choices for herself and family in living a great life.
Of course her products are available at The Shops at Cape Neddick in Maine. I would be overjoyed to show them to you myself. If you don’t find yourself in southern Maine her full line is available on her website. I’m sure she will be more than happy to have you visit her there.
Remember, age is only a number. Necessity is the best motivator ww can have when reaching for a better way to live. Living a great life is subjective, it’s your choice to determine what that may be.
So, live a great life and if you feel inclined to share your story, I’d love to have a cup of coffee with YOU!
