My Sole Responsibility

I've heard that a few of our Stampin' Up! demonstrators have expressed some concern that I mention religion on my blog and the blog is linked to the Stampin' Up! site and sometimes mentioned in Stampin' Up! material. I'm not sure if people are offended by my mention of religion, or if they're concerned that I'm mixing personal thoughts and feelings with professional, but I thought this was a subject worth bringing up.

I want to make it very clear that this blog is my personal blog, and I am solely responsible for the content of the blog. Stampin' Up! doesn't endorse my blog or any contents on the blog. While some companies do have "official" blogs, soshelli.com is not an official Stampin' Up! blog at all. It's all mine--good or bad!

I hope it's mostly good. If I've offended anyone by mentioning religion, I'm sorry--that is not my intention at all! My religion is at the heart of everything I am. It's what has made me who I am. I can't imagine sharing anything personal without my beliefs and values being brought up fairly frequently because they are so much a part of me. I've tried to be careful about what I've said; I think I've only mentioned the name of the church I belong to once. Most of the time I talk about my church and my beliefs in general.

I don't want people to feel like I'm preaching or teaching or promoting any specific religion or belief. But if I felt like I couldn't mention general thoughts and feelings about what is such a huge part of me and my life, I don't think I could share much.

I hope that clears up my intent behind talking about things of a religious or spiritual nature. I hope most of you aren't bothered when I mention religion. In fact, one of the things I value when I meet demonstrators is our conversations about our shared faith in God.

I also respect diversity and the fact that some of you may be uncomfortable when I mention religion. It won't bother me at all if you choose not to read those postings, or even choose to ignore my blog altogether. I learned long ago that we can't please everyone all of the time, and that diversity is what adds spice to life!

Comments

[Amy]

VERY WELL SAID!!!!! I love coming to this blog for ideas. The thing I love most about going to any SU! event is coming home to be a better person. I come home with so much more than just stamping techniques. I come home feeling like I can be a better wife and mother. I enjoy your blog because it does show how genuine you are about your faith and family. If only more of us were that way. I applaud you for posting this and making it known that it is who you are. I could never seperate anything in my life from God. God is the basis in which it is all built around. It makes me have faith in being an SU! demo knowing that the owners do have that kind of faith and even if business and personal are seperate it is the core of who you are. I look forward to more of your family posts. I shared with my hubby about your hot date night. Is that not the truth?

[Jen]

Well said Shelli = )

Hugs,
Jen

[Erin]

Shelli

I am not a religious person by any means but respect the beliefs of others. While I do not appreciate having the beliefs of others forced on me I do respect freedom of speech and thought. I personally have not been offended by the content of your blog and encourage you to continue in what you believe.

[Dale]

Well said Shelli. Just be You, no one else is better qualified, hmmm sounds like a phrase from a stamp set.
I chose to read blogs that capture my style, interests and my heart...your blog does that for me.

[Debra]

Bravo, Shelli! Thank you for your warmth and truthfulness. I truly enjoy reading your blog. You are definitely an amazing person. God makes us all who we are. Thank God for you!

[Karen]

I appreciate seeing religion and spirituality presented in a manner that is a great example of how we can share what we have in common. So much of what we deal with and hear about makes us think we should fear what is different. I, too, am of a Faith that some view as "different" and if I was afraid or offended to read or listen to what someone else thought, I would have to live a pretty secluded life and miss out on many wonderful things.
I pray that your father continues to make progress, too. Thanks for letting us get to know you!
Karen

[Staci Miserlian]

I am glad that you will not allow some who disapprove to alter the content of your blog - or repress that side of your personality. It IS a big part of what makes you, you, and I love getting to know all of you through your blog! Even though I may not be a member of your particular religion, in my heart I believe we (all of us) are more alike than different in the end and I look forward to finding out some of these "mysteries of life" when it is my turn to meet my maker.
Anyway, great blog and please don't change a thing!

[LisaC]

I ditto Erin's comments. Keep on being yourself!

[Karen Zimbelman]

Here here! Most of us blog in anonymity and are free to say what we like because in reality few people read our blogs. You shouldn't be limited in what you say our who you are just because they don't agree and because well... you're well known. It really is who you are that attracts so many to you and as with any other blog they can choose what they read or choose not to read at all.

[Justine]

That is so true, you can't please everyone. I wish everyone would stop attacking you on certain topics. I've always viewed this as your blog and getting to know who you are on a family/personal level. It's about your life, and Stampin Up! is a part of it. Not the other way around. I sure hope people viewing anybody's posts, not just yours would accept people for who they are and what they choose to share, and if they don't like it they don't have to read it. They also don't have any business complaining about it either. If a televison program comes on you change the channel. You don't waste time complaining about what you didn't watch. I've loved reading your posts and hearing what goes on in the life of such a busy person. Thanks for sharing, I personally don't think you should have even had to explain yourself. :)

[Sam]

Hi Shelli,

Very nicely said! I hope that you won't share less because of the things you have heard. I really enjoy reading your blog BECAUSE we are different people! It is what makes it so interesting to me IYKWIM?

All the best,
Sam.

[connie davis]

I also agree that your thoughts are very well said and I don't think you need to feel badly about speaking of your faith. Not all of us believe the same way and that's okay. God is the basis of all life and without Him, we are nothing. I enjoy coming to your blog and enjoy hearing about the events of your life. My favorite one is the story you told recently of having a date with your husband. Isn't it wonderful to be in love? :-)

[Nancy Arnold]

Way to go Girl! A few years ago I adopted a motto.....I Will NOT be silent anymore. Keep speaking about your faith. Gods blessings to you, Nancy

[Julie K]

You are doing a wonderful job and I enjoy hearing about all aspects of your life. For those who are offended they can stop reading your blog.

[Julie K]

You are doing a wonderful job and I enjoy hearing about all aspects of your life. For those who are offended they can stop reading your blog.

[Misti]

It doesn't bother me in the least. It's too bad not everyone shares the most important aspect of life! God is the core of my being as well. Keep on keeping on!!

[Katy]

Shelli - when you announced at convention that you were starting a blog, I said to my friends that I hoped it wouldn't be a boring corporate blog. I really wanted it to be about you and your inspiration - so I've been thrilled with the blog so far!

I'm not a particularly religious person, but I appreciate how yours has inspired you, as a creative person and business women. Learning more has only made me feel more connected to the Stampin' Up! family. Thanks for sharing!

[Sandra Farrell]

Like the poster Erin wrote below, I am not a religious person, but I am extremely spiritual. I have not felt that you have been preaching when mentioning God in your blog. I have the sense that you are tolerant of everyone, even if their opinions, or religion are different than yours. This comes across through how Stampin' Up! treats its employees and demonstrators. Keep it up Shelli!!

[Leonie Schroder]

Shelli I agree with the other girls in that it is your personal blog and it will reflect the person you are and I'm glad that you are open with your faith. What we believe in makes us who we are and moulds us. You know my story and I'm very sure that if I didnt have my faith in God I would not be around today. I love the openess of your blog and your thoughts and that you so freely share them with us. I thank you for being the woman you are and I thank God for you too and for what you and stampin up have done for me in my life. God's richest blessings to you.

[Leah]

I love reading your blog and even though we do not share the same beliefs I have never been ofended by any of your post. I think that you are so right that we can bot put ourselves into perfectly seperate compartments in life. Work, Faith, Family, etc should always be part of our whole self and this blog would be much less interesting if you shared just a part of yourself.
Thanks for being so open and I hope that will continue.
- Leah

[Linda Jensen]

Shelli,
Thank you for such a great 'Blog". I go to it several times a day, just to see what's new!
I enjoy reading ALL that you post. And if it has anything regarding religion, I enjoy that too. It tells me about YOU and the "inner-workings" of you. I can't be more proud then to be affiliated with a company that stands for what you have founded it upon.....LOVE, SHARING, CARING. We should have more people like you, your company and this "Blog"!
Keep on posting!

[Melanie]

I read your blog regularly, and have not found your posts to be anything other than what you intend them to be: honest expressions of you! Nothing that you have posted has been offensive to me in any way, and I agree that if anyone is offended, that they do not need to visit :) Please continue your lovely blog in your signature style... so shelli!

[Louise]

Shelli, you are just so nice and thoughtful. Who doesn't know a blog is personal? OK, some blogs are not, but reading yours is clear evidence yours is! You don't have to answer to anyone except your own conscience and God, yet you always respond to these things. I am glad you are not backing down, but how gracefully you do that.

I do not share your religion, but I believe you have every right to say what you want on your blog. And the rest of us have every right to ignore it rather than be offended by it.

[Beth Lowery]

Shelli,
Just keep doing what you do and inspiring us every day. Dont lose any sleep over the whiners and complainers...They're free to express their views on their own blogs. I enjoy reading about what makes you you..and how you tick. Please continue to share your life with us. You Rock!
~Beth

[Amy]

I feel it is your blog and company do with as you choose. You do things with such grace and clarity that if you offened anyone I would be surprised.You are a true professioanl and your Religion and Faith in God has made you what you are today. Don't let anyone discourage you in anyway. Everyone has a choice to choose their own calling no one has the right to say what you can or can not do. You have established yourself as a busienss women and owner. You are Stampin' UP! and you establised the comapny based on your values not someone else's. True you run it professiaonly and I give you credit for that. Keep being you!!!!!