Today we’d like to introduce you to Heather Cleaves.
Heather, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I am a San Diego native! I was born and raised in Encinitas, CA and I am an only child. I was raised by my mom and dad who showered me with love, support, and encouragement, always ensuring me that I could do anything that I set my mind to, and they still continue to do that till this day. Adolescence proved to be a tough time for me, starting around twelve when I had to undergo heart surgery. When I returned I was ostracized and bullied having lost all of the friends I had, and gaining a new sense of what it felt like to be unwanted. I learned very quickly back then about the power of writing about what I was feeling so I began to document what it was like in this new world I was in through poetry. I began talking to others about it as well and writing about their pain realizing that it made me feel purpose when I used my voice and my words to help encourage others, it made my heart feel healed when I was using the love in my heart to let others know they weren’t alone, and so began what would be a lifetime of longing within my soul to help encourage others to talk about what they were feeling, reminding them of their value and worth and that they weren’t alone. At 17, I became the youngest person to graduate Oceanside College of Beauty while obtaining my GED within the same month, and by 18 I was managing my first salon. While I loved the artistic expression and getting the opportunity to create beautiful hair, getting the honor to spend time with people and hear their stories, to be trusted with their fears and their joys, their triumphs and failures, and sitting with them through pain to healing, always has been the highlight of my career. The part I value the most. The beauty from ashes. It’s humbling to be entrusted with people’s outward appearance and their inner beauty as well. Through this career I have continued to grow and become more and more inspired knowing that my purpose has always been in service to others. Seven years into my career, shortly after the birth of my son, a single mom and at a point in my life where I was fearing what was next in this uncharted territory, I heard a song called One Day, by an artist named Matisyahu. It became my anthem and I knew in that moment that one day I could impact the world and help change its trajectory, by reminding people that they are here for a reason, and to understand that in their pain there lies their purpose, and that today could be the day that we make one movement towards that which betters ourself and the greater good. That was the idea I had then, and now, twelve years later and many experiences in the books, my son is almost 13, my daughter is 5, and The One Day Movement has launched. I am living in the midst of this project, realizing that the only reason why I ever look back now on many of things I have gone through, is to see how far I’ve come. Helping people to understand their self worth and seeing their eyes light up with hope for themselves and their world, that is a huge part of my why. Looking into the eyes my children inspires me everyday. They deserve to know that no matter how young they are, they can make a difference and are a capable of doing great things in this world. I hope to some way lead by example for them, today and everyday.
Has it been a smooth road?
There have many stretches of road on my journey that have felt completely smooth. Those moments are crucial to store up within your heart, so that when its not, you have them as a reminder to keep on going. Many roads have felt like they were paved by a speed bump specialist! But without knowing both, the understanding of their importance would be lost. I would say that fear is one of the largest struggles that I have battled along the way. Fear of not being good enough or smart enough, the fear of disappointment, fear of falling short, fear of being disliked. When I’m faced with those very real and present thoughts, I’m reminded of what I know freedom feels like. Freedom to me is when I allow myself to be released from whatever it is that’s holding me back from something greater. Pushing through fear and extreme levels of uncomfort have only ever proven to me my strength, especially in times when my mind told me I didn’t have any left. Every time I have stepped outside of the comfort, any time I have ever struggled, anytime I have ever been challenged and stretched to limits I thought I couldn’t bare, the outcome has always been the same, growth. Because in movement there is action, and in action there is change, in change there is uncomfortable growth, but in growth there is possibility and it is in that possibility that we find hope. By definition, hope is the belief that what is wanted can be had. So know that your journey will always be comprised of many stepping stones, with each day that comes, step forward, know that those steps will sometimes be long strides and other times the step will be to pause and reflect on where to step next, but a journey can’t begin if you wait for that one day that may never come. Today is that one day, and no movement is too small to begin to do what you know needs to be done because you’re here for a reason and you’re worth it. Struggles are inevitable, its knowing their purpose and finding the gratitude within them that makes the journey itself exponentially more interesting.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into The One Day Movement story. Tell us more about the business.
The One Day Movement is a passion project of mine, that came from my own place of needing more than motivation, I needed drive to go forward. It’s a call to action where I am challenging people to do at least one thing every day that positions you for purpose and change, for both yourself and the greater good. Simply, when you find yourself saying you’ll do whatever that is one day, do one thing that will get you closer to it today. I want to see people’s story change, from “maybe one day I will become something greater,” to, “one day I became who I knew I deserved to be,” As grown ups, we don’t often have a level of accountability present in our daily lives for our own self growth. So by setting a daily goal, for me it was on a large calendar in my bedroom and tons of post it notes, I began making progress towards this life that I thought could maybe happen one day, to all of sudden living in the midst of it, today. I woke up one morning after succumbing to a pretty heavy state of depression that I had been in for about a year, and wrote a speech entitled, “The One Day Movement Speech,” encouraging the would be listener to know that they are here for a reason and to realize that today was that one day to start doing in your life what you know needs to be done! I read that speech over and over daily, I became the speech. The speech would lead me to seeking out and meeting the artist who wrote the song One Day, to then having him endorse my idea on video encouraging the world to hashtag #theonedaymovement, which then lead me to meeting a community of other women who also had hopes of making our world a better place and sharing the idea with them, which then lead me to meeting my now leadership coach who would inspire me to host a launch party and fundraiser to help me see this movement to its next level and fullest potential. By trade, I am a hairstylist. I own a beautiful studio in Encinitas, CA and get to work on the most incredible human beings every day. The One Day Movement is a huge part of my salon business as it is something I encourage everyone to keep in their pocket as they leave, remembering they are here for a reason, to know the importance and value of their inner beauty, and to be inspired to do, have, and achieve more for themselves and the world around them. This, is what The One Day Movement is all about.
It would be great to hear about any apps, books, podcasts or other resources that you’ve used and would recommend to others.
Simply, I would really recommend the human experience. Eye contact, talking to others that are more successful than you, wiser than you, more at peace than you, getting time in their presence, visit without time constraints, be present with the objective to learn not share, and when they speak…listen. Ask questions, take notes. Most everything that I know, I have learned from those who have come before me who thankfully had the bravery to share their story. I do my best in life when I gauge my actions from of place of authenticity. Surrounding myself with those whom I have a deep level of respect for. Community is key. Coffee and Conversation Podcast is life changing and falls in line with my philosophy as a whole. To your readers I would really like to share this: You may think what you were put on this planet to do has already been done but it hasn’t, because it hasn’t been done by you. No job is too small for you to learn from. Know your worth. See through the eyes of what is needed and do what needs to be done. Be humble and kind. Be bold and self assured. Familiarize yourself with failure and understand how it will serve you. Find purpose within the pain. Ask for help. There is power when you pause. Reflection is crucial for growth. Make time for things you hold sacred. Be vulnerable. Always be early. And the most important, make sure that you are doing what you love.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.theonedaymovement.com
- Email: heather@theonedaymovement.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theonedaymovement/
Image Credit:
Heather Cleaves, Jody Cleaves, Carol Farrar, Kirsten Incorvaia, Cindy Incorvaia, Kim Richards, Starr Culver, Aprill Manriquez, Luna Rascon, Dredyan Rascon
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