Sliding into Home

I was in a little gift shop with my kids last week, browsing through some funny cards, scanning the shelves, wondering where we’d go next, when I suddenly found myself in an altered state of consciousness. 

I set down the card I was holding and looked very closely at the wooden box it came from and the table it rested on. I noticed the windows, the walls, the paint, the scuffs, the nail holes. . . I’m in someone’s space, I thought. Someone chose everything around me. 

It’s hard to explain the experience, but the crux of it was a poignant recognition that I was standing in a space that someone knows intimately and has given substantial energy and attention. I move through such spaces all the time, rarely registering this. When I stop and notice I feel awe and gratitude. 

Then I thought of our spas and wondered if anyone has had a similar experience while in them. I hope so. 

This month marks 18 years since we opened our doors, and Briana and I know these spaces like our own home. We’ve painted, cleaned, and repaired them. We’ve chosen all the lights and furniture. Our kids have grown up in them, and we’ve taken more than a few naps in them. 

We even feel a similar kind of intimacy around our books, courses, and wellness products. We know them so well and chose everything about them, too. In a way, sharing them with others is like giving someone a homemade present. You hope they’ll see that it’s as well made as something from a big store, but that it also has a personal quality and is infused with love.

To be honest, I didn’t know if we’d make it to this anniversary. The past year was our hardest by far. We had to lay off almost all our employees and had several mandatory shutdowns. We had to make the sad decision to permanently close our Portland Airport location. But we adapted and persevered, and I’m happy to report that we’ve pulled through.

So, from the bottom of our hearts, we want to extend the deepest thanks and gratitude to everyone who has continued to support us through this unprecedented time. I wouldn’t have asked for it, but I believe we’re stronger because of it. 

Thank you and take care, 

Peter, Briana, and everyone at The Dragontree

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