Camaraderie

In the last year, I have come to find relationship to be the one thing, the ONLY thing that life is about. Building, maintaining, and investing in relationships. Further, relationships must also be reciprocal- not energy exhausting or sapping. I’ve learned that not pursuing one sided relationships is healthy.  

For me, the value of relationship is in vulnerability. Relatability. Openness.

It also means that there aren’t expectations to fit an implied or enforced standard. I’m free to be myself in that relationship and they don’t feel the need to change themselves for me.   

There are so many people who have been this for me. Women who are all for me. Excited about my work. Asking tough questions, but also lending their voice to encourage the journey.

This week alone, I’ve met with two amazing women—one who taught me about florals and gave me some initial steps in the flower world. We want to work together, collaborate somehow in the future.

The other is SusanBeth Breuner from Elements of Light Photography who wants to do another styled shoot with me in January to help my business. I so appreciate someone further into the wedding business offering me a chance to showcase my talents.

A few weeks previously, was Allison with Capturing His Creation, who gambled on a girl who’d helped with a couple weddings, arranged flowers all summer, and was available last minute for a styled fall shoot. She offered me the opportunity to step into some much larger shoes a more experienced florist had vacated.  

Since then, people from the wedding industry and elsewhere have tagged their friends in my giveaway post, messaged me with encouragement, and helped my business grow. This positive energy in the growth of a my business and the encouragement of more experienced business-women has reinforced the excitement of what I’m doing.

This is the beginning of an exciting journey. A journey arm-in-arm with other people who want me to succeed just as much as I want to succeed. And relationship is the goal. The friendship. The camaraderie.

If you, too, are one of the people who love relationship, crave vulnerability, and feel deeply other people’s joy, let’s connect.

 Cheers!