Fall is Approaching Quickly
I typically love fall—the cooler weather, the last burst of color on the trees, enjoying hot drinks again, hiking without bugs. It's always been my favorite season. But not this year. This year I'm looking at fall with a little bit of melancholy, because this year fall means that everything I started back in the spring is starting to close.
It turns out my flower growing and the gallery line up almost perfectly every year—they start around the same time, and now they're slowing down and wrapping up around the same time too. I was on such a high all season, feeling accomplished and powerful, and now that high is giving way to something sadder. My flowers are slowing down, and I only have two days left at the gallery. The wind-down has officially begun.
Still, I'm really proud of myself. I was so brave this year. I applied and got into a gallery, and I jumped in fully with Swells Art and Design—getting a business permit, starting my flower business with a farm stand, all while selling at the gallery and learning about sales tax, LLCs vs. sole proprietorships, and everything else that comes with running a business. It was a huge year of learning and growing, and it was so much fun. I've had plenty of "oh, I didn't know that" moments, but I'm learning to give myself grace, because now that I “know”, next year is going to be even better.
I have to keep reminding myself this season isn't over yet. My flowers ARE still producing, and my hope is to keep bringing joy through flowers to people every weekend until the end of September. Plus the gallery will stay open until October 16th, and I have two more days there: September 22nd (all day) and October 13th (morning only). These are your last two chances to catch me in my first year at the gallery! Until then, I'll be chasing this high all the way to the frosty end.
I almost forgot—I do have news to share.
Remember that piece of artwork I submitted to be a book cover? Well, it wasn't chosen. So that is a bummer, because it would have been such a cool experience. But there's good news in it too: since it wasn't chosen, instead of waiting for the book to come out, I get to share it with you much sooner than I expected. It's at the print shop right now getting a limited run of prints made. Once they are ready, I'll frame the original, do a photo shoot, and share it with all of you. Keep an eye out on my social media. Plus I will let you know on here!
That news is also part of why I've been a little sad, too—but it surprised me. When I found out my painting hadn't been chosen, I felt a strange kind of sadness, different from the usual sting of rejection. It took me a minute to understand why.
You see, I started this whole journey—putting my artwork out there, building my website, and helping with a book—about three years ago, just after my friend Matt took his life. I threw myself into it partly to keep my mind busy, and partly because on the day he died, he told me I needed to be brave and show the world how awesome I was. I've been working toward that for three years. Along the way, I helped my friend finish her book (which is amazing, by the way — I can't wait to share it when it comes out), and my last big push was painting the most magical cover I could for it. I did it! And when it turned out not to fit her vision, which is completely fine by the way, that chapter was officially closed. It was the grieving, healing, creating, inner-work era of my life—and it just came to a close. There's still so much ahead of me, but I wasn't prepared for how I'd feel when that particular door shut. I had to grieve taking that final step. I did it Matt! I was brave. Thank you for making me promise—I did it!
So as the weather continues to cool and the leaves shine a little brighter, take a moment to soak it all in. We're getting closer to a quieter season—the wintering season—when we pull our energy inward, reflect, and get ready to come back bigger and better for this next season. I am not ready to stop now! I am just getting started!
