We had the good fortune of connecting with Dr. Akala Lemus and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Dr. Akala, maybe we can start at the very start – the idea – how did you come up with the idea for your business?
I am originally from Golden, CO. I had been in Austin since 2012 pursuing a career as a NUCCA Chiropractor. After owning my own practice, Hands On Holistic Healing, for a few years, I started practicing in a much less conventional way in 2016 by making house calls. I helped my clients by teaching them how to help themselves – breaking the cycle of co-dependency many health providers create.

I was free to pursue my passions for plant based cooking and real estate by 2017. I was just about to start a business that helped luxury investors cash flow thier investments. After 3.5 years of searching for funding, we were really close to doing a deal, and my mom suddenly needed an emergency hip replacement. So in September of 2020 I found myself in CO helping my mom heal.

She had some really aweful tenants occupying her rental property. While I was there, I helped my mother do an eviction. However, due to COVID, there were rules I’m place that didn’t allow for the normal eviction process to take place. I installed a security camera because these people were up to no good, and unfortunately, I was right.

Trigger warning – on Sat Oct 24, 2020 I was on the phone with my aunt in Utah and my phone kept pinging me with notifications from the security system I installed. I saw that I had missed >900 notifications and freaked out when I saw a swarm of police on the property. I was immediately concerned for my mother’s safety.

I scrolled to see if I could determine if she was ok. The first scene I saw was the tenant, and two men rolling into the frame.. Then the tenant stood up, pulled out a gun, shot it between the two men still on the ground. The bullet ricocheted and hit his friend in the face.

This incident changed my life for the next 2 years (honestly it’s not as present in my daily life, but it still bothers me). I still had to go through the whole eviction process to get his girlfriend, and accomplice, off the property after this incident, it took 6 months. Later, in March of 2021 only two days after finally arriving back to Austin to pursue my real estate career, I was subpoenaed to appear in court in CO in June as the lead witness in the murder trial.

This incident was the catalyst to creating Positive Packages.

I was done with negativity. My life had been turned upside down going to help my mom heal. Not only did I get sucked into her drama, but I left a relationship and business I was growing to be there.

After that incident, I was obviously going to be in CO for much longer than anticipated. I created a package to send to the person I was missing in Austin, TX in Nov 2020. I wanted to convince him that Colorado was the best place on Earth. So I created a package of trinkets that reminded me specifically of CO.

The morning I was going to deliver the package, he sent me a message that said, “sending positive thoughts to you.” I went to mail the package and replied, “sending you a positive package” with a photo of the tracking info.

After sending that message, I thought about how good it felt to buy art from local artists, support local business and send positive vibes from a place that meant so much to me, like CO. As well as how much it took my mind off of what I was dealing with.

I thought to myself, “What if that was what I did every day? What if I became a curator of positivity, and I spent every day spreading positivity in the world!?”

I instantly checked to see if www.positivepackages.com was available – it was. And here I am, Akala Lemus ovvner + curator ov posi+ivity at Positive Packages.

I created the logo, had a friend digitize it, and curated the first package complete with branded packaging in 28 days.

Positive Packages curates luxury sensory gift package experiences that transmute negativity one package at a time.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I am most excited about the big idea of Positive Packages. We are just getting started. As we grow, we will be able to offer many more themed sensory gift package experiences. As well as giving people the option to create their own packages filled with locally, ethically and sustainably sourced, products.

Positive Packages started with a package that I created being a curator of other people’s art. As I got feedback, mainly on pricing, I realized I needed to pivot. It was a hard/easy decision. Meaning it was hard to let go of the package I created because I had spent money to buy product and brand an experience that didn’t seem to motivate people to make purchases at the rate I expected. It was easy, because I was able to unleash another facet of creativity!

AK Apothakary is a brand I started to help my mom create a legacy. Her garden is something that she has poured her everything into for my whole life. But, no one knows it exists other than the people who have been to her house.

While I was home for so long helping her with all that drama I mentioned, I saw her passion in a new light because of my enthusiasm for creating scalable businesses, and her relentlessness. She literally had just had a hip replacement, but after only two weeks of healing, she was out in her garden weeding and braiding the ivy to keep it growing where she wanted it.

It was obvious to me in that moment how much her garden meant to her. I want to celebrate her passion by giving people a way to interact with the flowers she grows.

I created a new package called The Pampering Positive Package that uses products I create via AK Apothakary using flowers from my mother’s garden.

Curating items I also make for this first package has helped me offer a package at a much lower cost to customers. Now packages are moving locally at a more steady pace; it’s working! Next stage is advertising so people know Positive Packages exists.

I have pivoted several times in my life regarding “my career.” Each time was just as scary, or more scary, than the last. But every pivot led to growth, increased life experience and a greater sense of inner joy and peace.

Being able to conquer fear, doubt and uncertainty that life brings is something that I am proud of, and undoubtedly sets me a part from those who are too scared or don’t trust themselves enough to take that leap of faith into themselves and do what is calling them to move or take action.

Astrology has been a tool that has helped me be able to better understand myself and navigate life’s uncertainty. Art, music, dance, breathe work, meditation, yoga, nature walks, and expressing myself through creating plant based recipes also helps me find balance and figure out what the next right thing for me to do is.

Lastly, I would like people to understand how impactful giving and/or receiving a gift can be. Especially giving/receiving a Positive Package. We live in a time where the human species just experienced an extended period of time of societal separation, and mental health issues are at an all time high.

Positive Packages are sensory gift package experiences that spark positive vibes from just the box alone. The contents of every Positive Package are always hand crafted, locally, ethically and sustainably sourced and are gift wrapped in gold to remind the recipient that they are worthy.

Positive Packages shifts ones vibrations to a higher frequency, which has a ripple effect, no doubt. If you’d like to test it out for yourself, use code: SharetheLove at check out and save $20 when you spend >$100 at www.PositivePackages.com!

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I absolutely love this question! Summer in CO itinerary would be as follows:

Sat: The Corner Beet for brunch followed by an afternoon at the Denver Art Museum. We would have to spend that day touring all of Denver via car. Speer to Commons Park, then to 20th to see Union Station and Coors Field. Lawrence down to The Rhino District to check out all the graffiti art. To 26th to drive around the Denver Zoo. Colorado Blvd over to Cherry Creek area to show all the awesome architecture of the houses in that area with ivy all over them. Then dinner at Somebody People. On the way to Golden, drive through the main strip in the Highlands.

Sun: Coffee at Generous Coffee Shop in Golden. Breakfast at Kona Bowls down the street. Walk along the river, find a swimming hole and kick it for a bit. Then head to the Farmers market. Grab some fresh veggies and vegan bread to make some grub to take camping with us. Head back to the house in Golden and make some grub, eat and then pack up to go camp! Have dinner and go on a hike at Red Rocks and watch the sun set. Then come back and get some sleep.

Mon: Coffee at The Red Silo in Arvada, CO. Breakfast at Cafe 13. Then head up to Silverthorne. Coffee and sweets at Clint’s Bakery and Coffee House. Drive around and find a place then head to Peak One Campground to set up camp.

Tues: Kick it at the campsite. Hike, take in the big nature, eat the yummy grub we made. Swim in the lake. More eating!! Singing around the campfire and talking story. Bedtime.

Wed: Drive around lake Dillon and head into Keystone. Check out whatever strikes our fancy. Take a gondola ride up to take a hike on the hill. Then head back to pack up camp and head to Lake Granby – hit up Sulphur Springs on the way – camp in Arapaho Bay.

Thur: Spend the morning enjoying the camp site, take a hike with our coffee. Then rent a couple jet skis and tear it up for a couple hours. Watch the sunset over the lake. Marshmallows by the fire tonight is a must!!

Fri: Pack up camp early and head to Estes!! Such a beautiful drive!!! Take our time and enjoy every vista point!!!! Find a place to picnic in Estes by the lake. Then head back to Golden so we can get them to the airport in the next day!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I wouldn’t be where I am without my parents. My dad is an acupressure massage therapist, surfer, musician and artist. My mom is a beautician, esthetician, astrology and crystal enthusiast, and avid gardener and knows a lot about the power of healing with herbs and essential oils.

My sister and brother have been strong leaders for me growing up. My sister showed me how to be fearless and what freedom meant through music, art and self reliance and was the reason I was brave enough to go to college away from home. My brother taught me courage, gave me confidence to believe myself many times throughout my life – he also taught me how to ride a bike.

All of these people have given me so much love and support my whole life. I wouldn’t be who I am without them.

My grandmother’s both lived the majority of their lives without their husbands. Both died in service shortly after starting their families. Neither remarried. They have shown me strength and resilience in life economically, spiritually and mentally. They are both over 90 and still living independent lives. They are incredible role models to me.

Website: www.PositivePackages.com

Instagram: @positive_packages

Linkedin: Akala Lemus

Twitter: @pospacks

Facebook: @pospacks

Youtube: https://youtube.com/channel/UCP_99vohBeEQP7q6-Q-c3cw

Other: www.AKApothakary.com IG: @AKApothakary FB: @AKApothakary

Image Credits
Arianna Horton – www.SourceVisionaryMedia.com

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutColorado is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.