We all have a story to tell. Mine, probably like many others, is one of self discovery. It is a story of how I have started to and hope to continue to “bloom”. One definition of bloom is “to come into or be in full beauty or health; to flourish”. I imagine most of us hope to have a life filled with experiences that help us bloom into the best version of ourself. And it’s funny how reaching mid life makes you realize that you want more of those experiences. At least that’s true for me.

Singer Beyonce Knowles once said in an interview, “My daughter introduced me to myself.” Dang, that’s true. I have three daughters, and each of them in her own way has helped me to bloom. My oldest is much like me, and in being her mother, I have learned more about myself in the past 10 years than I did in the first 30 years. She has shown me the importance of knowing my true self, trusting it, and accepting that I am unique, and that it’s okay. My middle daughter has disabilities and many medical challenges, and being her mother has helped me to appreciate the beauty of a life that can be simple and complex at the same time. She has made me a fierce protector of what I love. My youngest has helped me practice gratitude and brings joy as a result. She also has helped me discover a creativity inside me, and we did many projects together while I held her close to my heart in a baby carrier.

My biggest challenge as a mother has been making time for myself. Flowers have become the best way for me to do that. I am a full-time physician, with all the sacrifice and fulfillment that comes with it. Full-time work combined with parenting leaves me with an empty cup at times, and for a long time I struggled with how to fill it back up. In trying to find ways to fill up my cup, I looked for classes that I could take and fuel my creative spirit. I found a floral design introduction class and signed up for it. I was immediately hooked. I took a few more classes and then decided I wanted more, and thus I started the school’s program for certification as a floral designer. I am still early in that program with the time constraints of life, but I have already learned so much. I decided to open my own floral design studio from home, and now I am trying to grow that business. I still consider myself an amateur on the way to being a professional, but it has brought me great joy. Being creative with flowers and other projects is the only place in which I enjoy what I am doing truly for the process and experience, without having to worry about the outcome.

Carl Jung once wrote, “The greatest burden a child must bear is the unlived life of its parents.” I hope that as I bloom, grow, and flourish in this new career, I can live a wholehearted life of which my children will be proud. I hope to be an example for them. I promise to provide you with a quality product, attention to detail, and passion. My hope is to bring joy, kindness and love to the world through the beauty of flowers. Thanks for allowing me to do so. -Kate