I didn’t expect to be writing to you this morning. At least, not like this.
I was so hoping to wake up and have something to celebrate.
Before 7am, I’d already heard from half a dozen people in group texts and emails reminding us to breath. To sit with the big feelings. And especially, to remember the constant and steady things that carry forward no matter the results of an election.
The sun is rising as I write. The St. Joseph River is still slowly winding through our community. The dogs are still cuddly. These things are going to be more important than ever in the days to come. My mantra, at least for now…
I’ll be in the here – I’ll be in the now.
Walk away from social media. Focus on the heartbeat of the world that surrounds you.
For me – even if for the briefest of moments – when I reach a point of calm, I’m reminded of what matters most: community.
Community is protection. Community is resilience. Community is safety. Community is where we can go to recharge, to not feel alone.
Isolation breaks us. Community builds us.
I know for many of us it feels like we’ve been fighting for nearly a decade. We have. And it’s not over yet. I hate that. There’s still more work to do, and doing it together changes everything.
That’s why tonight, I’m inviting each and every one of you within the reach of this message to stop by the Botany Shop for a pop-up community gathering. The Shop will be open late from 5-8p for our final Late Night Plant Shopping of the season – but I really don’t care if you buy anything. That’s not what today needs to be about.
Tonight is about connection, processing the big feelings, and remembering joy. Remembering we aren’t alone. We need that now, more than ever.
We’ll have the most delicious botanical popsicles you’ve ever tasted from our friends at Craft One Half (on the house). I’m curating a playlist of some of my favorite, empowering, joy-filled, powerhouse music. While the Lot Next Door is still a work in progress – who cares. Let’s spend time in this space together. Moments like this are why we care so deeply about cultivating places and spaces grounded in the power of plants.
For whatever it’s worth – and you’re going to hear this message from me a lot more in the days ahead - for us local, independent businesses who care so deeply about building community, I think it’s worth remembering that we’ll never be able to compete with big-box stores and online retailers when it comes to cost or convenience, and there’s now even more uncertainty in the days ahead for us.
The one thing we can offer you that none of those mega-corps can’t: community. All of the local businesses in this community, Botany included, need you now more than ever. Please don’t forget about us, and don’t forget you can continue to vote with your dollars even if the election may be over.
There’s never been a more important time for us to be good at what we do. Moving with intention will matter more than it ever has before. The choices we make, the conversations we have, the community we foster and nurture: all of it matters.
I hope to see you tonight. We’ll dig in and get back to the hard work soon – tonight, let’s just remember what it means and feels like to be in community, surrounded by love and plants.
See you soon, plant lovers.
With Enduring Gratitude and Hope -
Ben | Botany Founder & CEO