Kindness, Winter Gardens & A Gentle Reminder to Myself

I'm not sure if it's the middle of winter, the endless cups of tea, or simply one of those weeks that every small business owner eventually has... but I've been thinking a lot lately about kindness.

More specifically, where kindness ends and boundaries begin.

I've always been someone who leads with my heart.

It's probably one of the reasons I became a florist in the first place. Flowers have this beautiful way of helping people through life's biggest moments - celebrations, heartbreak, new beginnings, endings, apologies, birthdays and everything in between.

You don't choose this job unless you genuinely care.

But lately I've realised something.

Sometimes caring too much comes at your own expense.

Running a small business has a funny way of exposing every part of your personality. If you're a perfectionist, it'll find you. If you're someone who struggles to say no, it'll test that too. If you're a people pleaser... well... you'll know exactly what I mean.

This week reminded me that kindness and generosity are beautiful qualities.

But they aren't the same thing as sacrificing yourself.

I'm still learning that.

I have this habit of taking responsibility for absolutely everything, even the things that happen long after my work has left the studio. If someone is disappointed, I carry it. If something goes wrong, I immediately wonder what I should have done differently. And I carry it with me for months, sometimes embarrassingly - years. 

Sometimes that's helpful.

Most of the time it's just exhausting.

I'm slowly realising that not every problem belongs to me.

I've also caught myself doing something else recently.

Scrolling.

Looking at what everyone else seems to be achieving online.

Better studios.

More weddings.

More followers.

More talent.

More.

It's funny because when I actually stop and look around my own little life, I realise I already have so much of what I once hoped for.

I spend my days creating with flowers.

I work from my own little studio.

I get to duck outside and spend five minutes in the garden between orders.

I have a little boy who still asks for cuddles.

A husband who reminds me to eat and slow down.

Clients who trust me with some of the biggest moments of their lives.

That's already an incredibly rich life.

The internet has this sneaky way of convincing us we should always be chasing the next thing.

More followers.

More weddings.

More money.

More success.

But for what?

I'm beginning to realise that contentment is something we have to actively choose. There will always be someone doing more, growing faster or achieving bigger things, but that doesn't make what we've built any less meaningful.

Success isn't always louder.

Sometimes success looks like enough.

And maybe this week was the reminder I needed.

That kindness doesn't mean saying yes to everything.

That boundaries don't make us less compassionate.

And that I don't have to earn my worth by carrying everyone else's disappointment.

I'm still learning.

 

In the Garden

Winter always feels deceptively quiet here in Adelaide.

Above ground, not much seems to be happening, but beneath the soil everything is quietly preparing for spring. I think there's something comforting about that.

If you're dreaming of a beautiful spring garden, now is actually the perfect time to start getting things ready.

A few things I'm doing this month:

• Pruning my roses and giving them a good feed before they wake up in spring.
• Succession planting snapdragons for a longer flowering season.
• Planting sweet peas (if you haven't already, there's still time!).
• Sowing larkspur, nigella and poppies directly into the garden.
• Pulling what feels like a never ending amount of winter weeds before they completely take over.

Winter flowers don't always get the attention they deserve, but I honestly think some of the prettiest blooms belong to this season.

My favourites at the moment are:

♡ Hellebores

♡ Iceland Poppies

♡ Paperwhites

♡ Jonquils

♡ Anemones

There's something wonderfully hopeful about winter flowers.

They quietly remind us that spring isn't all that far away.

What I'm Cooking

When the weather cools down, all I want are comforting dinners that don't require too much thought after a day in the studio.

Lemon Garlic Chicken Tray Bake

This has been on repeat lately.

Simply add chicken thighs, baby potatoes, whole garlic cloves and lemon wedges to a baking tray.

Drizzle generously with olive oil, Dijon mustard, thyme, salt and cracked pepper before roasting until everything is beautifully golden.

Serve with steamed greens and plenty of crusty sourdough to soak up all the delicious juices.

Simple.

Comforting.

Absolutely delicious.

Creamy Roast Pumpkin Soup

Roast pumpkin, onion and garlic until caramelised.

Blend with chicken stock, a splash of coconut cream (or regular cream), a pinch of nutmeg, smoked paprika and black pepper.

Top with crispy sage leaves, toasted pumpkin seeds and serve alongside warm buttered sourdough.

The kind of dinner that makes the whole house smell cosy.

Things I'm Loving This Month

Wearing

• Chunky knit jumpers.

• Wool socks.

• My suede knee high boots

• Oversized linen shirts layered under cosy knits.

Basically... anything that feels like wearing a blanket.

Listening To

I've been gravitating towards quieter music while I work.

Lately that's looked like:

• Bon Iver

• Hollow Coves

• The Paper Kites

• Noah Kahan

• Lizzy McAlpine

Or simply a gentle instrumental piano playlist while I'm designing flowers.

Drinking

Far too many cups of Earl Grey.

The occasional dirty chai.

And on a bad day, red wine. 

Watching

I've somehow found myself rewatching Escape to the Country while conditioning flowers. And always Lydia Millen's vlogs. 

Buying

Not a lot, actually.

I've been trying really hard to resist the constant feeling that I need the next thing.

Another vase.

Another pair of secateurs.

Another beautiful linen apron.

Another course.

Another dress.

The internet has a way of making us believe we're always one purchase away from becoming the version of ourselves we're chasing.

I'm learning that contentment is probably the better investment.

Until Next Time...

Running a small business is a strange thing.

Some weeks you feel unstoppable.

Other weeks leave you questioning absolutely everything.

This week was definitely one of those weeks.

But as I sit here writing this with a cup of tea beside me, I know one difficult day doesn't undo years of showing up with care.

If anything, it's reminded me that I need to protect my heart a little more.

Not by becoming less kind.

But by remembering that kindness also includes extending some compassion to myself.

If you're having one of those weeks too, I hope this is your reminder that tomorrow is a fresh start.

The garden keeps growing.

Spring always comes.

And so do brighter days.

Until next month,

With love & roses, 

Kels  ♡