Where?
~flirt~ fine jewellery mainstore ONLY
When?
Saturday 7th November thro’ Sunday 29th November
What?
- ALL ~flirt~ jewellery will be on sale with at least 50% off regular prices. Single items start at L$50, sets from L$200, plus catch up on any ~flirt~ gifts you missed! In-world ~flirt~ group members can also get 10% off ~flirt~ storecards.
- GIFTS – I’ve put out all the non-exclusive gifts I’ve given out in hunts, events and so forth over the last 2 years, so if you missed anything now is the time to grab them! You’ll find them on the East wall of the store, downstairs.
- GROUP GIFT – There is also a new group gift, on the desk in the mainstore.
Why?
Short version – to say a big “Thank you” to all my customers.
Read on for the tl:dr version :p
Long version:
Some of you may have noticed that I’ve been around AWOL for the last couple of months. Firstly, to those of you with outstanding customer service issues due to my absence, my sincere apologies – I have the details and will aim to get to you all over the next week.
Secondly, the reason for my absence is, indirectly, due to Second Life, and is the reason I want to say a big THANK YOU to you all. You guys have changed my life, quite literally. Yes, that includes you! How so? Well, it’s a long-ish story…
When I joined SL, back in February 2007, I was in a strange place in my life. My daughter was 2 years old and I was a full-time stay-at-home Mum. I’d also been sober and in recovery from alcoholism for just over 18 months, but was physically still not brilliantly well, and had major self-esteem issues. It had become clear to me over those 18 months that stress was majorly bad for my health in a number of ways, which left me in a quandry as the profession I had trained in is inherantly stress filled.
As I found and joined Second Life my life goals were to remain clean and sober a day at a time, but further than that I was pretty much clueless. I really wasn’t expecting my experiences in SL to change my life in any way, but they did, almost right from the start. I found the Alcoholics Anonymous group within a few days and met some amazing recovering alcoholics from around the world. I got a job hosting in a club, and soon found myself in the position of manager, my self confidence majorly boosted as people believed in me. Then one day I met Random Calliope and we quickly became close friends.
I’m not sure he was aware at the time, but Random lay down the gauntlet that ultimately led to me making jewellery. As we were chatting about his amazing jewellery designs, I commented how I wished I was as skilled as him at torturing prims. He replied, in my mind’s eye with a wickedly cheeky glint in his eye, that my skill was at flirting. (Me?! A flirt?! Surely not :-O ). It was a bit of fun, but my crazy brain heard “you don’t have a skill in SL other than flirting” and for me, competitive and determined as I am, the gauntlet was laid down – if it was the last thing I did I was going to show I had other skills, and to boot, was going to learn to torture prims like a pro! That was in November 2007, almost exactly two years ago, and a few months later ~flirt~ opened.
Cut to summer this year. With my daughter due to start school in September I started thinking about what I would do once she wasn’t at home all day. After speaking to the career advisor at my local college I had narrowed my thoughts down to two things. Either I could take a short part-time course and become a counsellor, which was related to my previous professional experience but would be more self-paced/less stressful. Or, I could do something absolutely completely different, totally unrelated to my education, training and experience to date, but something I really wanted to do: properly learn a 3D graphics program and become a 3D artist. The first would get me back in the work market (and earning) the quickest, the second would be at least 2 years full time study. And start the following week.
Well, as you probably know, I chose the latter, and went back to college in September, 20 years after I went to university. The course is full time and way more demanding than I ever considered. Juggling homework, school runs and family commitments with basic functions like eating and sleeping is fun, not. Some strange things have had me totally flumoxed – like…. not being expected to research/write stuff to a professional standard (it takes me 3 hours to do homework the 18 year olds get done in 30 minutes because I’m used to having to do things perfectly or better). But… I’m LOVING it. I’ve learnt that I can draw! Seriously well! And that 3DSMax isn’t as scary as it looks (almost, but not quite). I actually look forward to getting up in the morning and going to college. But better than all of that is that for the first time in over 5 years I actually have an idea what I want to do with my life – something I enjoy doing and that makes me happy.
So I’m left feeling very grateful. Grateful that Second Life exists and that I found it. Grateful to the anonymous members of AA in SL who have accepted and loved me warts and all. Grateful to Random Calliope for unknowingly laying down the gauntlet that led me to discover 3D design and reawaken my artistic talent, and just for being a true and dear friend. Grateful to those people that have given their time, energy, friendship and love to help me with ~flirt~, most notably Peter Stindberg and Lorrie Jefferson. And lastly but not least, to you, the people who have bought the stuff I’ve made – without your support and encouragement I’d have given up.
This sale is my small way of saying thank you for all of that. Second Life rocks 
Oh Skinkie! I commend you for going back to school. As always, I wish you all the best!
Many of us are broken or bruised at some point in our lives.
Finding ANYTHING that compells us and motivates us is like finding a winning lottery ticket.
I applaud you on your sobriety.
But more importantly, I applaud you in your efforts to be happy with yourself.
Children, family and friends are all great motivators and reasons to BE, but we can only give
them what they deserve after we take very special and tender care of ourselves.
Be Well……and TY for posting a VERY raw and personal account of your trials.
How inspiring!! I’m too in recovery, and actually since this summer started a degree in Human Services in Alcohol & Drug Counseling. I completely understand your path in some ways, through SL I’ve gained so much knowledge of myself as a person. Good for you!! Keep going one day at a time and you know it’s wonderful to go for your dreams! Thank you for the honest post, the long version was much better than the short!
Thank you all for your kind comments. I really wasn’t expecting the response I’ve recieved (I’m not sure if I was expecting anything, tbh) and it’s both humbling and warming to read.
Wow Skinkie ~ So good to hear from you! It sounds like you have really had your hands full, and you really have been traveling a long road. (( hugs ))
One thing you said really hit home…. I remember all too well the first time I opened 3DStudioMax. I recoiled in horror… A huge lump formed in my throat… and all I could think of was that huge credit card bill that was soon to arrive.
Staying at the PC after opening Max took courage and determination – but not half as much as it took to go from stay-at-home Mom to college student – Congrats to you on that, not many have what it takes to do that. (( more hugs ))
Skinkie, i’m just glad you’re okay. I was a bit worried. Thank you for your generousity with your time and your gorgeous prims. And I’m so excited for you going back to school! *hugs you tight* Love you Skinks!
Dear Skinkie,
I’ve never known you personally and was pointed at this post by Peter. I’m touched by your words. It shows me once again how huge the impact of Second Life can be. Unfortunately newspapers and TV stations typically only focus on the bad consequences of online communities, but your story shows the other side. And you’re not alone.
I think many people join SL in a time of their life that they’re on search for something – consciously or not. Experiences in SL give us self confidence and the closeness of online friendships give us the possibility to have (very) personal conversations and make up our minds.
In the first months that I was in SL I lost my job – close to burn out – and found myself at home with two little kids and no clue what to do with my life. Second Life gave me the inspiration for my current job. One year and a half ago I’ve started a one woman business as a storyteller and my most faithful supporters (on both personal and practical level) are two of my SL friends.
It’s not an easy road to go, but I’m growing and the joy of my work and the fact that it was my own deliberate choice keep me going. Despite many worries I feel happier than ever before in my life.
You probably will understand that I can relate very much to your words. I’m proud of your decision and sincerely hope that you will reach your goals. You’ve taken you life in your own hands, now go for it!
Zippora
Hoppin by to say hello! Have a wonderful day ! Greetings from Germany
Thank you.