As Melaleuca moves forward to endorse the concept of total wellness to the world, several questions come to mind. Some of those questions have to do with the idea of a business getting involved with anything other than the concept of physical wellness or financial wellness. In other words, what business does a business have promoting things like "inner wellness," or "family wellness," or "social wellness"? "We can understand there is tremendous financial opportunity in promoting physical wellness and even financial wellness. But how much money can be made promoting things like inner wellness, family wellness or social wellness?" Well, the answer is simple: None! At least as far as we can tell. Then, you might ask, "Why would we promote it if there is no money in it?" "Why would a business do something that it knows there is no money in?" "Does that even make sense?" "Should not a business stick only with things that will enhance the
bottom line?"

Well, here is how we see it: The day we opened our doors we established our mission statement, "To Enhance the Lives of Those We Touch by Helping People Reach Their Goals." We have learned that people have many different kinds of goals. Some are financial, some are health-related, others have to do with their family, their social life, etc. In all cases, people want to improve and be healthier in these areas. In truth, money on its own can never bring happiness, especially when other areas of our lives are unhealthy. That's why we believe we should extend our efforts and our focus beyond just physical or financial health.

Speaking from a personal standpoint, it is my experience that true happiness stems more from our relationships with others and how we feel about ourselves (as to whether we are living by our own values of right and wrong), than from how much money we made this month. Most people I talk to about this agree with me. Yet, support or encouragement to work on these things is hard to come by. The media and entertainment world, for example, seem to provide very little support to our search for true happiness.

The other day, I was in a hotel room getting ready for an appointment and I turned the TV on just to see what was on. I was surprised to see how many "shock shows" were on, where they bring somebody's wife in front of everyone and watch with great fascination to see what will happen when she tells her husband she is now in love with his best friend or his father or his mother. Isn't it odd (and sad) that our entire nation seems to be infatuated with the gross, the unseemly, and the unthinkable, when true happiness comes from seeking the opposite? There is lots of money to be made in marketing sleaze and the kinds of things that injure or break up families and relationships, and not much money to be made from promoting the things that hold families together.

But although there is no money in it, we believe someone should be doing it. And if we do it well, then we will be fulfilling our goal of helping people reach their goals.

I am on a personal quest to try to improve my own life in all areas of wellness. Last month I reported on my success in achieving my goal to lose 34 pounds of fat and get into better shape. I'm hoping that sharing my own struggles will help someone else in theirs.

The concept of family wellness is another area that I have struggled with. Early in my professional career, fear of failure drove me to be a workaholic. While I rapidly climbed the corporate ladder, I did not spend nearly enough time with my family. After 16 years of marriage I learned how painful divorce can be for everyone - but especially for the children. I learned that kids need a mom and a dad, and I learned that our most precious asset is time - not money.

I have been given a second chance. Belinda and I are now the proud parents of nine daughters and five sons. We are in our eighth year as a family. And I can bear witness that the joys created by family experiences far outweigh the benefits of financial wealth. Belinda is my mentor and guidance counselor. She creates a wonderful feeling of unity and brings peace into our home. We try to have many family experiences, both together as a family and one-on-one with each of the children.

It takes time! And it is so worth it! At Convention I told a story at the Enrollers Reception of the time my three oldest sons and I dropped into a deep "bottomless" cave that we had discovered on our ranch in Utah. It took us countless hours to prepare. And it developed into an experience of a lifetime! Just the four of us! And the cave keeps getting scarier each time we tell the story!

Since Convention, I have tried to do something with one of the kids each month. Trent and I went camping. We made our own tinfoil dinners and Trent built the fire. That night we slept in the back of our SUV, with our dog, Spam, sleeping between us, with the stars overhead. We talked way into the night. The next day we went swimming and fishing. I know we will always remember that night and day together!

Our daughter Emily loves to go to our ranch where there are several Indian caves and overhangs. We spent one whole day together last week - just the two of us - looking for Indian artifacts. We found a new Indian cave with great potential. We found some bone tools and two arrowheads - a tiny one of black obsidian, and a larger one of mahogany obsidian. Every time we look at them we will remember the day we had together. None of my genes run in Emily's blood. She is 23 years old. I met her (and her mother) just eight years ago. But we are as close as any father and daughter can be, and that relationship brings us both great joy.

Last month, my 28-year-old son Brian gave me scuba lessons for my birthday. So he and I are now taking scuba lessons together. We will be certified this Thursday, just in time for our annual family crabbing trip to the Oregon coast this weekend. We have always wanted to see what those crabs are doing on the bottom of the ocean when we are trying to catch them with our crab pots. And now we'll know!

Once a month I teach a lesson to the older men in the congregation of our church. Last month the lesson was on our responsibilities as fathers and husbands, and what impact we as fathers have on our children and our families. These men are from 40 to 75 years old. Most of them are farmers, and all of them are fathers and grandfathers. In my lesson, I tried an experiment. I asked each of them to write down the names of each of their children and grandchildren, and then next to each name write an activity they could have with each child this week, this month or this year. Then I asked them to write a principle they would like to teach each child as they spent that time together. Then I challenged each of them to follow through with that commitment. I have already heard back from many of them! They are having a great time and already are telling wonderful stories of their experiences with their kids and grandkids.

There are many things we can do together as a family that will bring us together and enrich our family experience. We have found that daily family prayer, eating together as a family, and a weekly family meeting or activity can bring unity, closeness and security to family members.

It takes time! But I am convinced that investing in our families is a very worthwhile endeavor. No, there's not much money in it. But what you do receive is worth a lot more than money!

Sincerely,

Frank