Today we’d like to introduce you to Joscelyne Ginoris.
Hi Joscelyne, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Vulnerability isn’t my strong suit to say the least but I’m sharing a little piece of me. I’ll start by saying that I’ve had a privileged life and that doesn’t mean that we had a lot of money or things, it means I grew up with an abundance of love and support. I was raised by my paternal grandparents because I was born to very young parents. They were great individuals that unfortunately weren’t great together because they were young and foolish and so full of love for each other and especially for me. My 17 yr old mother and 21yr old dad gave me to my dads parents to raise. My mother was still very involved and I spent every weekend with her. She was my best friend. She was raised by my grandma which was an orphan with a 3rd-grade education. I take care of her since my mother’s passing.
At around 8 months, I was to live with my paternal grandparents. I was raised by them with so much love and they gave me everything they possibly could. It was a very disciplined upbringing with a lot of rules. Don’t walk around barefoot, don’t go to bed with wet hair, don’t expose your midriff not even in a bathing suit (yep no bikinis lol) Nothing good happens after midnight…for goodness sake I had to be home by midnight on my senior prom.
They passed away some time ago. They were my parents and they started over to raise me.
My childhood as I remember it was simple yet complicated. As a child, I endured some very grown up situations that are too much to share on this platform. Fast forward to my “adult” life. When I was 20yrs old my mom suffered a brain aneurysm and passed away within that week. It was the most devastating thing to have my mom alive and well and from one minute to the next, not have her.
Four months after my mother’s passing, my father passed away. My father took his life, dealing with depression, this was what he thought was his only way out. I don’t fault him for that. I couldn’t process it at the time and I still can’t but as the years pass I’m forced to think differently because it’s the only thing that helps me continue to heal.
When I lost my parents, I thought to myself, why is this happening to me?! It was a natural thought process. I was always so proud to have two young parents. They were so cool and their energy was intense when they were together no matter how long they had been apart. There was no making sense of this situation at the time.
I found myself feeling very alone although I was surrounded by so many people that love and support me.
This is just a small piece of my story but I share it because it is part of who I am. As I continue to fast forward through my life…I’ve found success throughout the years, my biggest success is motherhood. I have an amazing son that gives me pure joy and purpose in life. He’s a gentle, sensitive, old soul. I’d like to take full credit for the young man he’s become but I’ve had a lot of help from his father, his father’s parents, my partner and his parents. They are amazing human beings and have helped us raise him to be the awesome kid he is.
To most, I’m seen as a strong woman and that’s because I am, I have no problem acknowledging that about myself. I’m proud of myself and where I am today. I have a great partner by my side that loves me no matter how difficult I can be sometimes.
I’ve had many allies through the years. There’s truly something to be said about friends that become family. I never take them for granted and they know who they are.
I have 5 siblings that I love deeply despite of the distance that divides us.
My sister Fatima has been my rock, she has been there to listen, give me advice and unconditional love to this day. She has been my friend and has been a mother figure.
The idea of starting my business flourished during the pandemic. It stemmed from a strong sense of helping people navigate through one of if not the most difficult time in our lives. My thought was to give others a sense of hope and inspiration through the ritual of lighting candles. I encourage everyone to embrace their story as I have embraced mine. We all have a story to tell. I shared my very condensed version but it’s important to me and it’s part of who I am but it doesn’t define who I am nor should your story define you.
I hope that by sharing this, I can encourage others to tell their story and try to see others through their lens instead of your own. We all get labeled according to what others think about us. We in turn label others according to what we think about them instead of trying to understand people and hear their story and what they’ve been through. We have all been through something that inevitably causes us to be a certain way. Be kind to others and love one another even when you have an opinion of the person before you. Find moments to LOVE, INSPIRE & TOUCH the lives of anyone you meet. You never know how you’re interaction will impact someone else.
BE YOU. BE HAPPY. ❤️
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
Smooth sailing! Not! I started my candle business with zero knowledge of what I was doing. Funny, I still feel that way as I go. The entrepreneurial path isn’t a smooth road and anyone that tells you it is, well…you fill in that blank. There have been many ups and downs in my journey. If I showed you my garage of things I’ve bought for my business that I didn’t need it would confirm that I’m still learning along the way but that’s the beauty of it.
Every day I learn something new. That’s what makes it worth being on the bumpy road of small business ownership.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
As a candle maker I get to choose what I create and what I present to the world, that’s the most exciting part for me. Each blend I create has a unique meaning for for me. I take great pride in blending the oils to put out a fragrance that you can’t get enough of. All while doing so in an environmentally friendly and non-toxic way. When I wake up each morning and go to bed each night and all the moments between, I’m thinking of how I can impact lives in a positive way. That’s what I’m most proud of. My hope is that our candles keep you in good spirits and that you share that sparkle with others.
In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
The candle business is booming! This will continue because candle making has been alive for centuries and comes with a wealth of history. It seems over-saturated at the moment with many young startups, like us which we feel is a great thing for business. There is room to continue growing in this space and we are constantly thinking of ways to innovate as we grow our brand.
From my experience so far, customizations and unique offerings in this category is what sets us and others apart. I don’t see that going away. Collaborating with other small businesses is something we love to do. We see tons of growth in this industry in the coming years.
Pricing:
- $25+
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: https://hippiesoulcandleshop.com/
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/hippie_soul_candle_shop?utm_medium=copy_link
Image Credits
@glopinkstudios
