GoFundMe | Paradise Found! Save a Bit of Classic Santa Barbara

Hello Beautiful Community,We hold each and every one of you in health, protection and love.On March 20, the first morning of the stay at home/mandatory business closure, I looked at Tucker and proclaimed "Tuck, we're not in Kansas anymore! We're going on an adventure into the unknown land of OZ".At first I was filled with a sense of resilence. After all, I am resourceful, flexible and creative.I immediately began navigating my way through all the various options. I listened to endlesswebinars. I submitted applications (EIDL, PPP and others). I worked with mentors at WEV, SCORE, EDC. I had full faith and trust.And then I waited. And then I waited some more. At some point my full faith and trust gotwobbly. As cash reserves dwindled, it was time to turn and face my the “worst casescenario”—the demise of the sweet little sanctuary space, Paradise Found, which had served thiscommunity to the best of my abilities for 33 years.I sat with my “worst case scenario”; trying to reconcile my full faith and trust with reality. One night my childhood heroine, Glinda, the Good Witch of the North, came to me in a dream and sweetly whispered,"Do not despair. Remember you have had the power to rewrite your story all along." Upon awakening, I realized I had misplaced my full faith and trust; in a sense I had given it away to systems outside of myself that I had no control over.Well, I reclaim my power now! My full faith and trust reside in Spirit, in myself and in my community.For the smallest of the small, like Paradise Found, the SBA loan/grant programs have been an epicblack hole; there has been nothing behind the metaphoric green curtain. With a second round of the Paycheck Protection Program recently being funding, it is possible that something might come sometime, but at this point it looks like too little, too late. I, for one, am moving forward and empowering myself and our community to reclaim a piece of classic Santa Barbara that once gone is unlikely to be replicated.I know that we have all been affected to various degrees by this pandemic; mentally, emotionally, spiritually and physically. I have come close to overwhelm several times feeling the collective grief, fear, worry and suffering. I know things are financially tight for some now, but this is a grassroots campaign where anything and everything is welcomed, valued and treasured.There is power in numbers. Little numbers add up to big numbers.I am asking you to look into your heart, make a contribution to GoFundMe here. Please share with those in your circle.Let's rewrite the story: Paradise Found. Paradise almost lost. Paradise Saved.A deep bow of gratitude for your support.Teresa, spirit of Thule, spirit of Huxley, Tucker and all at Paradise Found