A Season of Wins and Whispers: An Update from April

The past few months have been a paradox—filled with the highest highs and some of the hardest truths. Let’s start with the win: April marked a big milestone for us as we participated in our very first Third + Bird market. It was, quite honestly, the most incredible weekend. Seeing so many new faces, feeling the love for what we’re creating, and connecting with other vendors was beyond encouraging. It wasn’t just a business opportunity—it was a soul-nurturing moment. I felt seen, supported, and deeply inspired.

But as much as I want to sit in the glow of that success, I can’t ignore the shadow side of this past few months. The last two months have also been one of the most painful and eye-opening stretches of time I’ve had in a while. For a brief moment, it felt like everything we’ve been working toward was finally falling into place. It was as though all the prayers, hard work, and relentless patience were beginning to bloom. But just as suddenly, that momentum came to a screeching halt.

Another detour. Another “not yet.”

This time, though, the pause has felt different. Instead of just powering through like I always have, I’ve been sitting with a hard question: What if this detour isn’t a detour at all? What if the dream I’ve been gripping so tightly, fighting so hard for, isn’t even mine to chase?

The truth is, I’ve been pouring my entire self into this journey—mind, body, and soul. I told myself that if I just worked harder, sacrificed more, pushed through every barrier, it would all eventually pay off. And while the external wins have been there, the joy? It’s been slipping through my fingers.

I’m realizing now that maybe the goal isn’t to force this dream into existence. Maybe the “no” I’m hearing so loudly is an invitation to stop striving and start listening. To let go of the belief that everything depends on me, and to trust that some decisions are too heavy to carry alone.

After a year of momentum and open doors, this season feels like a hard reset. But maybe that’s what I need—a chance to come back to myself. To reclaim a simpler rhythm where rest matters, joy is abundant, and I’m not running on empty.

I want to take this time to rediscover what makes me come alive—not just in my work, but in my heart and soul. To invest in grounding rituals, to have fun again, to get healthy, and to slow down long enough to actually feel my way forward. Because maybe in letting go of the vision I’ve clung to so tightly, I’ll find something truer, something better, waiting just beyond it.

This isn’t the end. It’s not even a full stop. It’s a pause—a redirection toward joy, stillness, and surrender. I don’t know exactly what’s next, but I do know this: I’m trusting that the path will reveal itself in time. For now, I’m choosing to be still and to believe that even in this, there’s a purpose.

Thank you for being here—for cheering me on through the wins, sitting with me in the struggles, and believing in me even when I doubt myself. Here’s to whatever comes next—one step, one breath, one prayer at a time.

Raw, honest, and here—always 🤎

-Bethany