Oh boy…been feeling this post brewing for a week and today I guess it’s time to release my thoughts. You know how these kinds of wordy posts go…if you came for flower pictures, I’m not offended if you scoot along and catch up with me on Monday when we get back to beautiful flowers.

I often receive emails and phone calls from designers…which thrills me to no end! A large portion of the calls and emails are in regards to the stress involved in the flower business. I hear the same concerns, worries and doubts over and over. On the one hand, I am thankful to know that I wasn’t a strange bird when I was in the day-to-day wedding business. I realize now how “normal” and common my experience really was. Thank you for validating that for me! On the other hand, my heart aches for you designers when I hear your struggles. One designer said to me recently, “You can still remember the pain even though you aren’t still in the business.” I think she was surprised, but all of the feelings of owning a design studio were intense…both good and not-so-good… and have stayed with me since closing it 4 years ago. The business is a dance of elation, fear, creativity, frustration and pure joy. That’s why we have a hard time “quittin’ it” even in the moments we want to run screaming from the studio never to return.

I’m not suggesting that any of you quit. And I’m definitely not suggesting that you not contact me with your struggles. I guess I just feel a need to share a few words of encouragement with you. I admire each of you. Writing Botanical Brouhaha is a guilty pleasure for me. I think of you all as I write posts and get a thrill when you find the blog helpful in any small way. You are generous and kind. You work so hard and care deeply about your clients and the art you create. You encourage one another. You are generous with your time and knowledge.

And, still, for many of us there is an undercurrent of self-doubt and fear. The fear that we aren’t good enough, talented enough, hip enough, beautiful enough, young or old enough to compete in this intense industry….where someone is always a few steps ahead. Someone is always getting more weddings, bigger weddings, more publications, bigger budgets, hipper studios than we are…it’s intense! My heart beats faster just thinking about the breakneck pace and pressure of it all. And then, there’s me. It’s like I stepped out of the race and into the stands…and now I’m watching all of you participate in the race fighting for your place at the finish line. I feel like I can see the big picture more clearly now that I’m not actually in the race. And here’s what I see…

Each of you is uniquely you. There’s not, nor can there ever be, another you. You have the talent and the drive and the passion. If you work from the creative place deep in your soul, the well won’t run dry. Sure, people will watch you and might copy your work…and, honestly, some might view you as competition and treat you nasty. But, it won’t matter because you will be two steps down the road following your heart and creating something new…something you are proud to put your name on and something that brings joy to you and your client. I wish we could figure out a way to stay current with our industry trends without feeling pressured to always create within their confines. Don’t you feel most fulfilled when you are creating within your own personal style? Be confident in that place. You might just create a trend! The true measure of your success isn’t what place you grab at the finish line….it’s how you ran the race. How many lives did you touch? Did you run with integrity, compassion and perseverance?

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“Make a careful exploration of who you are and the work you have been given, and then sink yourself into that. Don’t be impressed with yourself. Don’t compare yourself with others. Each of you must take responsibility for doing the creative best you can with your own life.” Galatians 6:4-5 (MSG)

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Release yourself from the expectations of others and go make an impact on the world with your God-given talent.

Love you and hope you have a great weekend!

image via Amy Merrick