...began the year I was 39 years old, playing competitive league volleyball with women who were five years to 20 years younger than I was. I hadn't played competitive 'ball for about a year and was in really rough shape. One night, during intense play, I started praying to God (or maybe begging Him), "please, God, give me the energy, strength & power to not pass out in front of all these people!" I was gassed! It's funny now, but I didn't think it was that night. That became my mantra for the next several weeks while I regained my endurance.

At that same time, I was recovering from an ugly breakup with the guy I thought was the love of my life. And again, I found myself praying for the energy, strength & power to heal. To have faith. To continue going it alone. To keep taking steps forward every day. To keep an open heart for future love.

Over the next few months, though, situations with friends and acquaintances presented themselves that gave ESP an entirely new depth of meaning. Friends who were battling cancer or debilitating diseases. Women who were going through rehab to end years'-long addictions to drugs. Friends who had traumatic experiences trying to have children...

But the real inspiration came from a woman I played against in league. She was fighting Stage 4 lung cancer. She never smoked a day in her life. She was undergoing treatment. She'd show up every week with a bandana covering her balding head, and she exuded an indescribable energy. She was the setter for the opposing team, which meant she spent a lot of time running all over the court, and she was amazing! Eventually, she stopped showing up regularly, which of course, likely meant the cancer was winning. I was dabbling in jewelry-making at the time, so I made leather bracelets for my own team and one for the player with cancer so she knew she had six random strangers thinking about her and her fight for life. The saying on the bracelets was, of course, "Energy, Strength & Power."

It became clear, ESP could be more than just a silly mantra to keep me from running out of gas for some volleyball game. It became an attitude for me, and the mantra developed into something I wanted to share with other women. A woman who is the head of her household. A women who is managing a stressful career. A woman who is enduring an abusive relationship. Or going back to college. Or taking care of ill or aging parents. Or fighting an illness. "Please give me the Energy, Strength & Power to endure."

But it all started on a volleyball court...so I'm honoring the birth of this lifestyle, this mantra, this attitude, by launching a group of products centered on the game I love. And I want this line to be a reminder to women, when life is kicking sand in your face, seek the ESP you need to not only survive, but more importantly, to THRIVE.

Wishing you all well!

~Misti