Anchored Through January

January always feels different from December.

This year, the month of January elt especially long, especially cold, and deeply inward. After the rush and noise of the holidays, I found myself needing quieter days and a much slower pace. I wanted less doing and more time grounded at home, rather than rushing from one activity to the next.

Pausing felt both necessary and wonderful. It created room to breathe and allowed me to reflect on the heart of my business and why The Anchored Bloom exists in the first place.

The name “The Anchored Bloom” holds special meaning for me. Anchors are the people who keep us steady as we navigate life. Blooming is what happens when we feel safe enough, supported enough, and rooted enough to grow. One cannot exist without the other; we bloom because something holds us.

Over the past few weeks, I have been thinking often about the anchors in my own life. My husband, my children, my parents, and my friends. Especially my friends.

When I left Atlanta years ago, I truly believed I would never find another group of friends like the one I had there. My connection to my girlfriends felt like a once-in-a-lifetime bond, and I carried real grief around leaving them behind. What I did not anticipate was how that bond would continue to anchor me, even from far away. Distance did not weaken our friendship. If anything, it has made the time we share feel even more meaningful.

At the same time, I have been fortunate to build a wonderful network of friends where I am now. New friendships have grown slowly and organically, weaving themselves into the fabric of my family’s life. I am deeply grateful for these ladies that brings fun, connection, and steady support. These women and their families are my anchors in the truest sense of the word.

The more I reflect, the more I see how many different kinds of anchors surround us all. Family members, friends, teachers, neighbors, coaches, caregivers, and even the people who notice us on a hard day and choose kindness.

Each one helps our roots grow, and strong roots make blooming possible.

As The Anchored Bloom continues to grow, I am reminded that we are all held by someone, often by many someones, and that we are also anchors for others, at times without even realizing it. January gave me the pause I needed to remember that.

Even with a good ten inches of snow still piled on the ground, the days are beginning to stretch a little longer. With each bit of extra light comes a familiar and welcome shift toward outward growth. New ideas are taking shape, creative energy is returning, and in the coming weeks I am excited to share new products built on the same belief that the people who anchor us deserve to be seen and celebrated.

For now, I am grateful for February’s long-awaited arrival, my January pause, and the anchors that hold me steady.

With heart,
Melissa