We’ve reached the end of January. Finally.
I try to be very honest and upfront with y’all, and the truth is—it’s been rough. Not just from a business standpoint, but on a very human level. In December, I had to somewhat suddenly put my 13-year-old soul dog to sleep, and everything since then has felt like a blur. I carry an enormous amount of guilt about how much travel we did late last year, right before she got sick. I can’t help but spiral into the what ifs: What if I had been home more? What if return-to-office hadn’t been enforced so strictly? What if I’d noticed something sooner—could we have caught it in time, could we have fixed it somehow?
Two weeks ago, I had a medically necessary hysterectomy. I’m not quite on bed rest, but my activity is very limited. I’m on a strict schedule of pain medication just to stay ahead of the discomfort, and I still can’t drive. Even getting into a car is a struggle. Recovery is expected to take about eight weeks, which is… not ideal for someone who is historically terrible at resting. (Case in point: I’m writing this blog post instead of lying down, while also trying—and failing—to drum up business with discount sales.)
January sales have been absolutely abysmal, which is unfortunately on brand for this time of year. Less than $500 total. The country feels like it’s on fire, and our government is increasingly comfortable with cruelty—especially toward people it doesn’t understand or agree with. It’s hard to fault anyone for pulling back, for conserving energy, for not feeling like buying things right now.
I realize I’m rambling.
Outside, the snow is really beautiful. We haven’t had much of it here in Charlotte in years. But it also makes me sad, thinking about how much Lexa loved to play in it.
Some seasons are just heavy. This feels like one of them.
This business has always been built in real time, alongside real life. Sometimes that means bursts of energy and creativity, and sometimes it means moving carefully, one small step at a time. I’m still here—even if things feel quieter than usual—and I’m grateful to everyone who continues to show up, in whatever way they can.