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Meet Tara Ijai of Love Glasses Revolution

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Today we’d like to introduce you to Tara Ijai.

So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
The Love Glasses Revolution came to fruition at the end of 2015 during a time of despair. As an American Muslim woman, you could hardly turn on the news without hearing the rhetoric about Muslims and other minority groups and it seemed there was no elected leader that was defending people and preaching unity and inclusion.

I had friends who were calling me to ask if they could escort me to the bank or to the store in fear for my safety and I remember thinking, “Is it really that bad?”

My brother called me, he lives in Texas and works at the Bureau of Prisons, he’s 6′ ft. tall, full tattoos, goatee, 280 pounds and a heart bigger than he is. We talked for 2 hours or rather, he let me full out cry and rant. At the end, he didn’t know what to say but he sent me a meme. It was a picture of a guinea pig wearing heart shaped glasses and it read, “I can’t see haters with my love glasses on”.

It was like this light went off and all of the sudden I went from a victim mentality to an “I have options” attitude. In that split second, I realized that love was the answer and that I could not control anything going on around me but I could absolutely control my reaction to it. I suddenly had the power to choose and I felt empowered.

I immediately bought a pair of heart shaped glasses and I went out into the world. I stood taller and prouder. People responded with such positivity. They would say “Oh I love your heart shaped glasses” I would tell them “They are my love glasses” and then they would ask where to get some. I convinced my husband that we needed to start a love glasses revolution and hand out love glasses with pledge cards asking people to choose love. He is such a supporter of my crazy ideas and he did help me, he designed a website for me, found a place to purchase the glasses wholesale and is my constant support. It wasn’t long though that we realized we couldn’t personally finance love in the world so that’s when we created the business and offered the glasses for sale online with the message.

Shortly after, we started we had organic media attention with our local news channel coming to interview us, I did a storytelling night that ended up on NPR and we were on the cover of USA today as part of the “I am an American project”. We handed out love glasses at the women’s march and carried a 12′ Love for all banner with our love glasses on and it started becoming kind of a movement.

Other people had their own stories and reasons why they too wanted to choose to see the world with love. I started meeting other people and learning their stories. I got invited to spaces that I had never been before like an immigration conference, a transgender awareness night and a black lives matter vigil. I started to learn that if you just replace the word Muslim with other groups it is all the same. We are just simply all the same.

There are now love glasses all over the world including, Ireland, England, Rwanda, France and all over the USA too. We just sent 400 pair to a lady that wanted them for a convention in Hawaii. People bought them for their wedding and holidays and I even had a story of a lady who handed them out to their team of doctors after surgery. It’s been the most amazing experience and my lifestyle now does not allow for the hopelessness and despair that I had once felt.

We get to do unique things and be part of the change that is helping to heal our nation! We will be an official sponsor for the Spring into Music Fest that will be held at Castles & Coasters on May 11th centered around suicide prevention and awareness. My best friend, who wears love glasses is running for U.S. Senate for Arizona and Love Glasses Revolution will be part of a fashion show for the H.E.A.T beauty showcase on April 22nd and just around the corner we will be at the Phoenix Pride parade with our own float!

This movement has changed me. Instead of looking at all the negative, I can decide what will I personally do to change my part of the world and that’s where I focus. I believe if we all did that we could truly change the world with LOVE because it always starts with us.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
It has not been easy in terms of what am I doing, where am I going? I mean I literally put a pair of glasses on my head and then went with it. It was extremely organic and I would say that it is not easy. I mean just because I put the love glasses on and wear them does not exempt me from hate coming my way. Even when we were in the USA today, as a movement to share love in the world I had to stay away from the comment section. It’s become a place where people can “drive by” and leave their ugliness without every knowing or meeting you. You cannot let that stuff take over your mind. You must stay incredibly focused. To love people and to share love is work. It is not always easy but I know its always the answer.

So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Love Glasses Revolution story. Tell us more about the business.
My business is literally just an expression or extension of me in the world and that means I share love and joy in the world every single day. It is my job. People could say well I’m on some Pollyana type deal and just wear rose colored heart glasses and I would say, it is because I’m extremely grounded in what is going on in the world today that I have decided that my choice, my statement will be showing up with love.

The question is… how will YOU show up?

Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
I just started to walk my truth and put out love in the world and things and opportunities just started to happen. I would say that when you align yourself to your truth, magical things start to happen to you and for you.

Pricing:

  • Love Glasses range from $15 to $30 They include pledge cards, and stickers
  • T-shirts $20-28
  • Keychains $6
  • Buttons $2
  • Hats $25

Contact Info:

Getting in touch: VoyagePhoenix is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.

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