At Uppercase Living, the Honey Badger has become a symbol of strength against adversity. Our Honey Badger charm was an instant favorite of the Blume jewelry line. Inscribed "Stand Strong" on the back, we like to think he brings an extra dose of toughness to the person who's wearing it, especially during those tough times in life. Recently, one of our owners, Jeff Wilson, shared a touching story of how the Honey Badger became a source of strength for one of his sweet young daughters. Here's the story, as Jeff told it to us:
Stand Strong: a message from Jeff Wilson
As
many of you know, I am a man in living in a woman’s world. The vast
majority of our Demonstrators are women. I have four daughters and a
wife and presumably all of our pets are female, including the fish.
So
what do I do when something goes awry with one of my female
counterparts? I do what every man should not do; I offer advice.
Fortunately, the following is a story of when my advice actually helped.
In
December, my 11-year-old, Hannah, came home from a particularly rough
day at school. A few kids were saying “mean things” behind her back and
it really upset her. Being the questionable parent that I am, I
invited Hannah on a Daddy Daughter date to Walmart. During the drive we
were able to talk about life, school, and Hannah’s concerns. It was
apparent that Hannah’s feelings were really hurt. I wasn’t quite sure
what to say to help. In a stroke of genius I said the first thing that
came to my mind, “Hannah you need to be strong.” I continued, “you need
live your life in such a way that everyone who knows you will know that
the mean things are not true. And because they know you, they’ll never
believe the lies.” I told her how wonderful she is and that sometimes,
boys are dumb (I couldn’t admit that we’re dumb most of the time). I
told her that I loved her and I think the world of her.
Later
that week, I was working late in the warehouse and I was thinking about
Hannah. I was bothered that she was hurt and I wanted to help in some
way. Christmas was fast approaching and I thought of the perfect
present to help out, the Honey Badger charm. The Honey Badger’s call
to action of “Stand Strong” was exactly what Hannah needed.
Christmas
morning arrived and she opened my poorly wrapped present and she
gleefully exclaimed that she had, “always wanted a beaver.” I
explained the meaning behind the badger and how she can clip it on a
necklace or on her backpack as a reminder that she is beautiful and
strong in her Dad’s eye.
During
the Christmas break, Hannah built a fort. Typically, we have several
feet of snow in Utah around Christmas, so it was rare that she built a
fort instead of an igloo or a snowman. While she enjoyed her break from
school, she kept herself occupied building and stylizing the fort to
perfection. She added protection from the wind and rain. She
accessorized with an iPod holder made out of a burnt log. She fortified
the structure with ribbon. She was ecstatic to show me the fort during
daylight hours. I rearranged my morning work schedule and stayed home
so I could get the tour during the day.
Hannah
surprised me with her teepee building skills. I was impressed with her
craftsmanship and her attention to the little details. But the part
that surprised me the most was the message that she inscribed on a
rock. Hannah bravely declared on her little rock the unequivocal decree
of, “Stand Strong.” It is her war cry. It was her message to the
bullies at school. It was her way of reversing the teacher/student
relationship and teaching her dad a lesson.
Hannah
reinforced the power of our products. That inspiration is
inspiration. She can gather inspiration, confidence, and comfort from a
Honey Badger/Beaver. That inspiration can be worn around her neck or
declared on a rock in a fort. Whether it’s UL Blume or our vinyl, our
products and the messages they carry, can shape and mold peoples’ lives
for the better. Oh, how I feel blessed to be a part of Uppercase
Living, to be Hannah’s dad, and for all of the women in my life. Stand
Strong!
