Author’s face framed by flowers
Hello!
My name is Erica, and I am so excited to introduce you to Life in Bloom, a brainchild of mine for the last few years. The idea for this blog stems from an anxious need to always know what to bring and wear on a trip. Have you ever turned to the internet to find advice on what kind of underwear is best to wear when skiing? An honest review of what to pack when hiking up a mountain as a woman (the answer is always toilet paper, btw) or what to pack for a specific destination at a very specific time of year, only to get lost in Reddit comments and not learn anything? Same. So if you are the kind of person who needs to know who is going to a party, what people are wearing, and what the parking situation is, this is the place for you.
Simply put, this blog is a space to discuss some of my greatest passions in life, travel, style, and finding ways to help others bloom! So if you are here, I’m sure you are asking yourself, why Life in Bloom? What does it mean? Simply put, flowers are awesome and have always held special meaning for me. They represent individuality, beauty, resiliency, and vibrancy.
Individuality
While families of flowers may look the same, if you take the time to look, really look. You can see that each has its own petal pattern, color saturation, stems, leaves, and blemishes. Some may even have scars. Much like those around us, they all show up differently, and each and every one of us has differences that make us unique. So, flowers are a reminder to take the time to look closer and celebrate all the things that make us different. A reminder to accept the beauty that is someone showing up exactly how they are.
Beauty
It goes without saying that flowers are beautiful, but they are also delicate. They grow in the sun and sway in the breeze, dancing with a reminder of our responsibility to protect the beauty in this world. Throughout my journey on this Earth, I have been very fortunate to see just how truly amazing our world is. Have you ever taken in a view so mind-blowing that you cried? If not, I would encourage you to see with not only your eyes, but with all of your senses. From wildflowers in a meadow to towering mountains, I am deeply moved by the world that surrounds us and the beauty within. I believe that if we take the time to smell the flowers and soak in the beauty, the universe will speak and move us.
Resiliency
For many years, flowers have been a symbol of resiliency. Have you ever found a flower growing through the crack in the sidewalk? Or if you’re like me, have you completely ignored watering your plants for weeks? They are a testament to persistence, sometimes growing in the harshest conditions. What gets me about flowers is that they can look absolutely terrible one week or season and then come right back the next year, bigger and brighter than before. Flowers aren’t always in bloom, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t teaming with life under the surface, conserving their energy. This is a constant reminder to me that no matter what is thrown at me, I will bloom again, and boy, if my life over the last six years isn’t proof of that, I don’t know what is. So take it from me. If you are in a place of struggle, know that your time will come again to be the brightest version of yourself!
Vibrancy
Speaking of being the brightest version of yourself, flowers are a reminder to never dull who you are. People will come and go, but the ones who mean the most will never ask you to be someone you are not. To tone it down or change. The right people will do their best to make you even brighter, and when you can be unapologetically you, that's when you bloom for the world to see. You may have days where you are more colorful than others, but such is the beauty around us.
If you are still reading, I would like to say thank you for dropping by, and I hope you decide to come along for the ride! It is my hope that this place becomes a space for honest conversation and laughs along the way.
Best,
Erica
Author walking in a meadow with wild flowers and mountains behind them
