Meet Shelly Henley

Women’s Life Link would like to introduce, Shelley Henley.  A mom, business owner, and woman of wisdom, she is a new friend and someone whom we feel you should get to know better.  We met via the web when I requested a trial sample of some of her wonderful, organic personal care products.  See the review and giveaway I posted on Joyful Girl Naturals.  Read on to get a glimpe into the life of this extraordinary, “beautiful woman”.

WLL – Who is Shelly Henley?

Shelly – I’m a mother of five and a Nanna to two. I have a passion and desire to bring Joy, Encouragement and Peace to those who feel broken as I once did. I am a woman who is driven everyday to make a difference in the lives of other women. I am a woman who has lived most of her life in abuse. I found the courage and strength to conquer my fears and become healthy and happy. 

I enjoy gardening, being crafty, creating something healing, eating peanut butter, sipping a delicious cup of coffee , baking from scratch, and being silly. I am mindful each day about who I am as a woman, mother and a wife.

My mantra is Peace. Focusing on this word or symbol has helped me to conquer many obstacles. I have jewelry, accessories, mugs, journals, you name it, I have it with the peace symbol or word on it.  I believe we are all put here on Earth with a purpose, intention, a gift. We are all created equal. I believe  if we as women take time to be introspective we can learn what that gift, purpose, or intention is. Then not being fearful to live that life, to share your gift, can result in only positive reinforcement for one self and the people we encounter.

You know that song “ This little Light Of Mine”? Well, I used to sing this to my kids when they were little, now I sing it to myself. This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine! That is what I wish for, that every woman discovers their inner flame and lets it shine!

WLL – What is your life focus right now?

Shelly – My focus is to ensure my youngest daughter, who is the only child I have left at home, grows into a self-confident, compassionate, well rounded young women.

I’m also focused on a few other adventures. One being educating women on the importance of living a toxic free life and how to heal naturally. I’m also in the process of writing a book, “The Joyful Girl’s Guide to Green Living”. So much to do – so little time!

WLL – What inspired you to start Joyful Girl Naturals?

Shelly – It was a compilation of many events that brought me to the birth of Joyful Girl.  I had come to a point in my life where I was taking roughly 12 different medications. I had been diagnosed with many stress related disorders. Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Chronic Migraines, Insomnia, as well as Depression, Anxiety and panic disorders. In the middle of all that, I had herniated a disc in my back and neck and was living with chronic pain. I was also in the middle of finding my way thru an abusive marriage.

So the journey began for me to take charge of my life and to choose to heal. I read about aromatherapy, took courses, researched, studied, and then incorporated that knowledge into my daily life. I started to heal. I discovered during the course of the next several years that incorporating my aromatherapy into my skin care products ensured that I would receive the benefits I desired. I started creating products for women I knew, who raved about the benefits they were receiving.  I was teaching at the time, going thru a divorce, trying to raise four teenagers on my own, and continuing to work on getting to know myself.

Joyful Girl Natural Products was born from the desire and passion to help women to heal as I did – thru natural resources. Somewhere during all the chaos I met a wonderful, nurturing, compassionate man whom I married.

It was my husband who encouraged me to quit my day job and focus on Joyful Girl. That is what I did. In the last five years it has grown to be so much more. As now I make products for men, children, and animals as well as women.  I named my company Joyful Girl after all the women who experience hardships and yet persevere; for all those women who are going thru domestic violence, cancer, divorce, emotional traumas, tragedies, etc. and yet put a smile on their faces. These women get out of bed in the morning and make the best of their situations, work hard to heal and to be a positive source. These are Joyful Girls.

WLL – What is your best beauty advice?

Shelly – Eat organic, drink your water, and feed your skin natural and organic products. Eliminating as many toxins as you have control over will have your skin glowing from head to toe. The average person puts over 100 chemicals on their body a day. This includes laundry soap, fabric softener, perfumes, lotions, make up, shampoo, hair styling products, deodorant, and clothing – the list goes on. Being Green is the best beauty advice I would give.

WLL – What is your best health advice?

Shelly – Being Green. Health and beauty really go hand and hand. When a person is healthy they feel beautiful, their skin glows, their hair shines. Eliminating chemicals from your daily life can aide in achieving a healthier you.

WLL – Describe a perfect day.

Shelly – A day filled with simplicity and peace, joyful people and the feeling that all is right in the world. Realistically, a perfect day would be me sitting in my sister’s backyard in sunny California. My sister’s backyard is full of beautiful flowers, bamboo, flowing water fountains, humming birds, and a sense of calm. Sitting, relaxing sipping our coffee drinks or even one of her scrumptious martinis with no worries would be a perfect day for me.

WLL – How do you deal with stress?

Shelly– Deep breathing and patchouli. LOL.  Breathing alone, when done right is a great stress reliever. For really stressful days, I use all my patchouli sweet orange products. I have patchouli and sweet orange in my face wash, moisturizer, shampoo, body spray, deodorant, and in my cleaning products. Using both the deep breathing and patchouli helps me get thru those really stressful days.  Aromatherapy to the extreme.

WLL – Tell us about a future goal.

Shelly – My future goal is to open a store. I have this vision of a store where women can come to buy their organic skin care and also participate. . .a place they can come to receive emotional support, participate in workshops, relax and just be. Women are always on the go, doing for their families, friends, community, husbands, etc. I want to offer a place to sip herbal tea, drink coffee, smell herbs, learn about natural skin care, converse with other women, and learn to make their own skin care products or natural cleaning products. I have so many ideas!

WLL – What was the best piece of advice you ever received from your mom?

Shelly – I honestly cannot say my mom ever gave me advice. My childhood was one spent in fear, abuse, and really just trying to survive. I give her kudos for raising the four of us and doing the best she knew how. My sister was more my rock and the one who made me feel like I could conquer my worst fears and be OK.

WLL – Any regrets?

Shelly – No regrets. Every choice I have made, every painful adventure, has played a role in who I have become. I learned that the would haves, could haves, should haves can eat you alive. Hardships are revelations. We learn about ourselves. We learn our limitations, our fears, our weaknesses and then if we are mindful, we can make the necessary changes within. Learning to love myself, learning to accept my weaknesses, learning to feel the fear and do it anyway, being mindful of who I am, who I want to become, are all products of my past. Getting to this place of no regrets was the hardest task I have undergone. My mind and spirit are at peace and so the work was well worth it.

Please give Shelly some love by leaving a comment or dropping her a note.  We certainly look forward to getting to know her better.  Maybe we can talk her into writing some articles for Women’s Life Link soon. =)  Be well-be beautiful.