Good Seed Floral
I don’t know about you, but letting go was a big part of last year for me. I’ve always been someone who hates letting go...I naturally gravitate towards the feeling of control that comes with holding onto things and the denial of any unpleasant feelings centered around people or things I’m a part of.
2020 was an awakening to the pain, freedom and beauty in letting go. The healing of letting go. And the brutal honesty that comes with being transparent about what wasn’t working for me anymore. Some things were a long time coming, some things were sudden and unexpected. Both are hard in their own ways. I had become comfortable in a place I wasn’t meant for anymore, but acknowledging that brought an untethering and a lightness in the midst of the pain- a greater understanding of myself and what I needed- not just what everyone else needed.
I think that’s the root of letting go- being honest with what you really need. Not want, not desire. But NEED. I am 100% someone who loves to please other people first- to the point that I don’t know what I need unless I really search for it. As I processed through my letting go last year, I realized something:
Not being honest about what you need is a selfish thing. It can feel philanthropic or loving... but ultimately no one benefits from the deep resentment and bitterness that often comes with unacknowledged needs. Those needs don’t go away...they remain unfulfilled until they come out in ugly, destructive ways.
Letting go of things that are not for you anymore, or never were in the first place, is the most loving thing you can do for yourself and those involved in what you are letting go of. Knowing what is for you and what isn’t, that’s harder to figure out. But in my experience, you will know in your gut, in your soul, what you need if you spend the time with it.
If you look at Good Seed’s website, you’ll still see a little about us all throughout. My former business partner and I are close friends who started doing flowers together in 2012 and turned it into a business (very much by accident!) in 2013. We had no idea what we were doing, but we LOVED flowers and had so much fun together that we decided why not forge ahead?! What resulted was a business that brings so much beauty to people’s wedding days and loves couples well. I am proud of what we built and what it is able to do.
Last year was hard. So hard for small businesses, especially in the service and wedding industry. It changed a lot for so many and we were no exception. I realized I needed to let go of the partnership we had built together. I realized living in two different places, wanting different things for our lives and the business had made it hard to run Good Seed together and remain close friends. I realized I needed things from the business that a partnership couldn’t give me. And it was one of the most painful things I’ve ever gone through. I felt set free by this realization and also incredibly hurt by what I knew I needed. It was difficult being honest about these things- it was scary especially because I am so bad at honesty surrounding what I need in the first place, ESPECIALLY when it could hurt others. We explored different options- each starting new businesses, or a buyout option. In the end, we decided on the buyout of the wedding side of Good Seed, while starting another business together for the education side of things. Letting go is not linear- it’s not straightforward and while the process has gone very smoothly, it hasn’t been without pain too.
Ultimately, letting go is a loss. And all losses need to be grieved. It’s healthy and good to grieve loss- to walk through those emotions. To experience them in the present, to not hide from them. But losing something that isn’t for you anymore, it is also a healing experience. It’s not lacking something from then on, it’s gaining something that you NEED. And like I mentioned in the beginning of this, being honest about what you need is incredibly important in life, even if it hurts.
You only have one life- don’t spend it in the chains of holding onto things that aren’t for you. Release the urge to force what doesn’t fit anymore, or maybe never did. Stop striving, embrace brutal honesty and lightness will find you.
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Josie Brainard is the co-founder of Good Seed Floral -a full service wedding floral studio that specializes in modern, romantic florals, based in Austin, TX. She started her flower career in 2012 when all of her recently graduated friends got married and needed help with their flowers. After a summer of magical flower farms and weddings in Oregon, Good Seed Floral was born when she and her friend Taylor, decided to take the leap of starting their own business. She believes that flowers have the ability to change a space like nothing else can and bring healing and beauty to a world that desperately needs it.
Good Seed has done weddings all over the world and travel for a large portion of their weddings. They also recently officially relocated from the PNW to Austin, TX and are so excited about this fun change! Josie also loves bringing practical, inspiring design and business teaching to florists who want to build a business they love with her other love, Business and Blooms.