05/29/2026
It’s like he stepped inside my heart and wrote this 🩷
I took this photo of my daughter at her horse lesson, and it hit me harder than I expected. Bloom Strong Ministries
Business ownership takes an emotional, physical, and personal toll. There are certainly rewards, but entrepreneurship is not for the faint of heart. The stress of finances, staffing, decision-making, and constant industry changes has a way of following you home and keeping you up at night.
But one of the personal costs I’ve felt the most over this past year is missing little moments like this.
It had been close to a year since I was last able to take my daughter to one of her weekly horse lessons. Much of that time has been spent building out our new pharmacy in Anacortes, and while I believe deeply in what we are creating, it has come with sacrifice.
This wonderful little soul absolutely loves horses. I find them majestic, but I’ll admit, they intimidate me. They are large, powerful animals, and I am in awe watching her climb up, take the reins, and learn to guide them.
I know she is at least a little scared. But what makes me so proud is that she faces that fear and does it anyway. She is learning something that many adults are still working on: courage isn’t the absence of fear. It is doing what needs to be done even when fear is present.
Every time she finishes a lesson, she walks away with a little more confidence, a little more independence, and a little more pep in her step. I am so thankful we can give her this opportunity to grow into a strong, capable young woman.
I was incredibly grateful to be there this past week and see it again for myself. I hope that sometime soon, I can make it a regular part of my week again.
I know we are building something beautiful in Anacortes. I know the hard work matters. But I am also very aware of the toll that building something can take on you and the people you love most.
So if you know a business owner who makes it look easy, remember they may be like the proverbial duck on the pond: calm and unflappable above the surface, but paddling like crazy underneath just to keep moving forward.
Next time you see a business owner, give them a pat on the back. Chances are, they could use it.