Hands down, one of the most incredible opportunities this blog has opened has been the ability to meet some incredibly inspiring women. Not gonna lie, it felt a little weird at first saying “oh, yeah I’m gonna meet up with my friend from the internet” but since I got over that (silly) initial hangup I’m all-in when it comes to bridging my online and in-person relationships.

One of the amazing women, I’ve had the good fortune to spend an afternoon in Boston with is Lindsey Pelissier aka @LindseyPelissier on Insta. After a series of back and forth interactions we both realized we were in Boston and knew that we had to meet. I had a gut feeling Lindsey and I would get along, we shared similar stories and have evolved into similar philosophies when it comes to health and wellness. But meeting in person confirmed that hunch 1000 times over.

That afternoon she shared with me a piece of her newest endeavor: Pelistones. These beautiful handmade bracelets are designed with intention to help reflect & connect us to our inner needs. They’re a physical reminder of our intentions. The rest of the afternoon was spent shooting imagery for her site and social channels and chatting about our big hairy audacious goals for the future. In fact, yesterday Lindsey packed up her belongings to road trip across the country to move to LA. Seriously. If that doesn’t inspire you to follow your gut then I’m not sure what will.

Even though I could gush about these bracelets all day, I wanted to share an interview with Lindsey so you could get to know the badass behind the business.

The word “balance” get’s thrown around so much in the healthy living space and it means so many things to so many different people but what’s the Lindsey Pelissier definition of balance?

I couldn’t agree more G. My answer lies in your question, “it means so many different things to so many different people”. Every one of us is unique, and our own definition of balance beautiful in its own way. I don’t sugarcoat anything. Balance is something I struggle with. I’m a black and white / all-or-nothing / type A human at default, so balance doesn’t come naturally to me. One of my tattoos is even there for this much needed daily reminder, “Live to find beauty in strength and balance.” It’s something we all need, something we all crave and strive for, and something I have to incorporate. After living an imbalanced life with disordered eating and awful body image issues, that still pop their head in to say hi once in awhile, balance has been my medicine. My own personal cure to living and loving this life we are gifted with.

For me, balance is everything. It’s eating greasy never-would-order-sober pizza at 4am because you’re out late with your friends and that means it’s pretty much required. It’s absolutely killing a weighted workout at the gym one day and then taking the next day off because you’re too sore to sit down to pee. It’s sleeping in when you need it and getting up before the sun to tackle you a productive day ahead. Its managing three different careers that are centered around other people and still finding that essential personal down time. It’s getting on the mat in the morning with my hot lemon water, boyfriend at my side, and then going to a mimosa brunch. It’s accepting that bad days will be scattered in with the good, the times of failure in with the successes, the insecure moments in with the confident ones; making sure the latter scenarios occur a majority of the time because I know I am the only one who can control and illicit that positive response? That’s happiness. And to me, cultivating happiness in the midst of all the shit is what it means to have balance.

How has your attitude towards health and fitness changed over the years?

As with my last response, incorporating balance has changed my health and fitness routine over the past 5 years. I eat what I want, when I want to eat it. I know what makes my body feel good, and what doesn’t. I can finally have a cookie or 2 or 3 or 4 without feeling guilty. I can take a rest day without finding some excuse to work out. I try to keep the focus on me. I do yoga in a room filled with mixed leveled yogis without straining my body to copy the person next to me because I’m in tune with myself. Who cares if you’re the only one in the room eating a  fucking donut. Eat the damn donut and secretly smile to your donut loving self while doing so because you know that you are maintaining your sense of self in the midst of all the body-shaming orthorexic shit.

I know mantras can change, so what’s one that you’ve been drawn to right now?

Right again my love! That’s the best thing about that word. Change. Mantras should both evolve and remain constant. I find myself most drawn to the (quite literal) personal mantra of the self. Maintaining your sense of self. Staying true to yourself. Respecting your sense of self as well as the person next to you and the way they go about doing that. Keeping the focus on yourself. At the end of the day, we often forget that it is our own choice how we want to live the rest of our lives and I don’t aim to do it by anyone else’s definition of my future other than my own. Like right now I’m sitting in a robe, drinking a beer, and probably writing too much but I could basically scream IDGAF because well, you asked the questions so you literally asked for it.

 

What’s one piece of advice you’d give to anyone who felt “stuck” or “uninspired” ?

Alright lady you are one talented piece of work because goddamn! Again I refer back to my last answer. If you feel stuck or uninspired it’s because you have lost your sense of self. You have lost what you stand for and what you want to portray. You have lost your ambition, your goals and what you actually picture for your life. The next time you feel stuck, do something for me. Close your eyes. Then envision exactly how you want your life to be. Envision your dream life (yes, Oprah and I are pals).

Then begin to back track to how exactly you are going to get there. No-one is going to give that dream life to you. You can’t expect a hand out or to get “lucky”, damn do I hate that word. Yes blah blah fate blah blah destiny but, fuck, people wake up! If you don’t put the work in how do you plan on actually obtaining that dream future? There is no reason in this world why you cannot. There is no-one stopping you other than YOU. So close your eyes, backtrack, envision, and then go out there and DO IT. What’s the worst thing that can happen? You get told no? Woop-dee-fucking-doo. Build a cutesy little bridge and get over that river of failure and embarrassment and negativity because you know that a two letter word DOES NOT define you and you are too smart to let it hold you from being the life you imagine.

Why did you start Pelistones?

Because I needed another project to spend my limited amount of free time on…I kid. I started this brand because I believe in it. I believe in the metaphysical realm and the meaning behind the beads. I want the wearer to get down to the nitty gritty of what they might be lacking, and make a purchase accordingly. I started Pelistones because I want each of its wearers to look down at their wrists and smile. Smile because they made a connection to what they are wearing. Smile because they know their Onyx bracelet is taking the negative energy out of them, or that their Howlite piece is a good reminder of personal awareness.

I want them to be mindful in all that they do, even down to a jewelry purchase. It’s such an overlooked yet vital aspect of our lives. To be mindful is to think; to actually stop and put thought into something before you do it, or to be mentally awake in body and mind and IN the moment as it’s actually happening. It all dials back to my personal brand of Be lavie. Don’t just be alive, coasting through life just to get through the day or the next challenge ahead. Be lavie, be the life you imagine. And wear from within damnit, you’ll look and feel good while doing so.

[Tweet “Why mindfulness matters: a conversation with the creator of Pelistones”]

I know asking if you have a favorite piece is like asking if you have a favorite child, but…. do you have a favorite piece ;)?

You couldn’t be more correct. It’s certainly hard to pick just one piece, so I’d have to say that my favorite varies depending on how I’m feeling. One day the Bronzite | Buddha helps with inspiration and the next I find myself favoring the Rose Quartz | Lotus for the reminder that I cultivate my own happiness. There are 7 pieces in the collection and I love all of them. I chose the gemstones and centerpieces (bead or a charm) specifically and with intention, so I really can’t choose just one. Not to mention they all look gorgeous stacked together with one another as well as other jewelry pieces.

If your customers could know just one thing about you what would you want it to be?

That I started this company in my parents basement right before I road-tripped across the United States. No seriously I did. Lived at home to save money in a small town an hour south of Boston, walked into a jewelry store one day and said “hey, I should do this”, did my research and mindfully put the meaning behind the beads, and set up shop in my parents basement 3 weeks before leaving for Los Angeles. It’s been a crazy whirlwind the past month or so but I wouldn’t have it any other way. I love getting customer feedback that says more than just “I love it”. My goal, what I am “going for” with Pelistones is that review that says “I smile every time I look at it” or the “it’s such a good reminder to live with intention, and to be mindful” and the “I actually do wear from within.” That’s what makes me feel like I’m getting my point across, and that’s why I’m doing this.

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You’ll definitely want to check out the Pelistones website and Instagram (featuring some shots from yours truly)

*Lindsey was kind enough to give me two pieces from her collection, it’s my joy and pleasure to share her story and would do so regardless. I was also so excited to purchase the Bronzite Buddha for my sister, who’s loved the reminder to find her inner strength. 

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