Honest By celebrates 1 year of Gratitude and Passion and Love

THE MAKING OF ME.
Written by Bruno Pieters

Today we celebrate one year of Honest by. What a fascinating journey it has been so far. How much we have learned as a company and how much I have grown as a person in just twelve months. I have received so much from all of you. Letting go of an old story gave me more then I could ever have imagined. I would like to thank you for making this new dream a possibility.

Many of us are aware or are becoming conscious of our unlimited power as individuals. We have created a world where money or the economy is a number one concern. A priority which is making us, the consumers, the masters of the universe. The unconsciousness and insatiable greed of some has put us all in an unprecedented position of control. Through the purchases we make today we are able to shape the world of tomorrow. But what are the other consequences of this material world we currently live in?

Has our obsession with money made our lives as toxic as some of the products we buy? When I'm interviewed or when I meet with friends the first question I'm asked is almost always about Honest by's finances. "How is it going with the business? Are you able to live off it? Is it profitable?" And to this I think, "Why wouldn't it be?"

Is it so hard to believe an honest business can survive? Can success only be achieved through questionable practices? What is success? Does an impressive bank account make us successful? Has making money become the purpose of our lives? Money seems to have become more important than our own lives. Are we aware that it might be preventing us from having a life? Do we know that if we go on like this, it might prevent us from living any kind of life? There has been much written about conscious consumerism and conscious living. What does it mean to be unconscious? For me it meant not knowing who I was, not being aware of my Universality. Not being conscious of it, and not caring about it.

How could I have cared about anything or anyone else if I wasn't even curious about who I was. Was it fear? Did someone tell me there was nothing there worth discovering? Why don't we value the invaluable? Did someone devalue us? Do we still believe that, that is our truth today? There are a lot of books out there that can help us answer these questions. But sometimes a simple reminder of what is written about us in our dictionary is all the enlightenment I need. Human Being: A human being is a kind,  compassionate and loving entity. That is officially who we are. That is who I am. That is what I believe to be my truth. And that is what I think is my purpose in life. And I want to respect myself enough to stand up for those beliefs.

When I realized that my mission on earth was as simple as being that which I already am, I wanted my whole life to be in harmony with that awareness. I would treat others with the same respect I would treat myself. I would work, love, eat, dress, talk and live as a humane being. On some days more than others it takes courage to be me. I recently read this quote by American author Marianne Williamson that I thought to be very inspiring and of great help in those moments of unconsciousness.

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."