There is a phrase that keeps coming back to me at the moment:
“Do small things with great love.”
I don’t know why it’s resonating so strongly with me right now… perhaps it’s the emphasis on the small.
In a world that celebrates achievement, productivity and accumulation - bigger and better - the subtle aspects of life can sometimes go unnoticed. In a noisy world, small acts of kindness or words and actions offered with pure intention can easily be missed. We can become distracted by the allure of the material world and the acquisition of things (power, money, success...) which can lead us down a rabbit hole of promises that ultimately leave us feeling disconnected and unfulfilled. And yet, even when we've experienced this for ourselves, we can still find ourselves seduced by it all.
Why I created Sati
This is what inspired me to set up Sati in the first place: to do my (very) small bit in building a better world. We all have opportunities to make choices that benefit both the world and ourselves and recognising when those opportunities arise is part of the journey.
I wanted to create beautiful, lovingly made meditation cushions that support you on your journey through life, helping you cultivate a little more balance and bring a sense of peace into your everyday.
I’ve always believed that the things we surround ourselves with can become more than just objects when we infuse them with meaning and intention. They can be little reminders to reconnect with what matters.
And this brings me to some good news.
Our meditation cushions are finally on their way!
So, where have the cushions been?
You may have noticed that many of our cushions have been sold out for months and I wanted to share some of the story behind that because it’s been quite a journey (literally and metaphorically).
Back in February, while visiting my suppliers in India, I knew I was running low on stock and needed to place another order. I gathered quotes for production and shipping, placed my order, and my suppliers got to work.
Just three days after I returned home to the UK in March, war broke out in the Middle East.
When my cushions were finally ready in May, I requested an updated shipping quote. The cost had doubled. On the advice of my agent, I decided to wait a bit, hoping prices would settle. But they kept rising and eventually I had to make the decision to ship the cushions regardless.
By that point, the shipping cost had reached three times the original quote.
Initially I thought this would be an insurmountable challenge for my small business but I knew I needed to find a way forward.
So, despite the odds, the cushions are finally on their way. They're due to arrive at the end of November, ready to be sent out from the beginning of December.
The irony of a war delaying the arrival of meditation cushions is not lost on me. At a time when the world feels so unsettled, something created to support stillness and peace has been caught up in the very things we might sit down to meditate on.
And yet, here we are, still finding a way forward.
Staying true to what matters
I wanted to share this story partly to offer a little bit of hope. Good things are still happening, even when the world feels dark. Small businesses are still making things with care and believing in the value of what they do. If there was ever a time when we needed moments of stillness, reflection and connection, surely it is now.
This experience has also brought me back to something that matters deeply to me: the importance of integrity.
Running a small business means making difficult decisions. The increased shipping costs have been a real challenge and I've had to find a way to make things work while staying true to the intentions behind Sati. I want to continue offering thoughtfully made products that support your wellbeing and practice, without losing sight of the values that inspired the business in the first place.
Of course, a business needs to be financially sustainable to survive but I believe there's a way to balance that with honesty and a genuine commitment to what you're putting into the world.
I also wanted to give you a little insight into the reality of running a small business. Operating with around half my usual stock for the past few months has had an impact and the increased shipping costs mean I've had to raise the prices of our cushions a little. It's not an easy decision and I know rising prices affect everyone but I wanted to be transparent about why.
Pre-orders are now open
If you've been waiting for a cushion, I'm delighted to say that pre-orders are now open for our floor cushions and rectangular cushions.
You can reserve yours now, with orders being dispatched from the beginning of December. I will inform of you of any delays but at this stage we're confident they will be with us by the end of November.
It's been a long wait, and I'm so looking forward to having these cushions back in stock. Thank you for your patience, understanding and support of this little business. Every order and kind message helps me continue doing what I believe in.
One thing this experience is teaching me is that we can't always control the circumstances we find ourselves in (or the bigger forces at play) but we can choose how we respond. We can keep making things with care, act with integrity and do the small things that make life better for someone else.
One cushion at a time… because the small things matter 🤍
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