Bloom Anywhere Is Taking a Short Break

Hi. Welcome to Bloom Anywhere. I'm Gwen Moran, a writer, editor, author, and problem-solver. My goal is to share information, ideas, and resources to help you overcome obstacles, reach your goals, and find more joy in life, even when things are messy. Thanks for joining me. (If you got this from a friend, subscribe here.) I'd love your feedback and suggestions for future topics. Please send me an email at connect@bloomanywhere.com.

Our yard is often populated by a herd of deer. We have more than two acres and much of it is wooded. We lead a quiet life, and they hang out here because it's a safe space.
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A few years ago, a doe showed up with a gruesome back leg injury. I called a deer rehabilitation center. They couldn't do much and said that, while sometimes front-leg injuries resolve themselves, the game warden would likely euthanize her because back-leg injuries limit a deer's ability to migrate and find food.
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I agonized for days over what to do. I wanted to find a way to heal her, not kill her. Then, one day, the lower part of the leg that was damaged was gone. (Sorry...I know that's a lot this early.) She was keeping weight on. She seemed to be getting around.

I also noticed another doe sticking by her side. The injured deer, whom I called "Mama Deer" for no good reason, hung out in our yard even as the rest of her herd migrated to nearby farms to graze. But her fellow doe often stayed with her, chasing away the other deer when they tried to graze too close. Mama Deer always had an ample circle of grass on which to feast.

Soon, I realized that my nickname for her was prescient. She was pregnant. A few months later, she was lying in the grass with not one, not two, but THREE fawns. She raised her babies and lived for another year after that. Then she was gone.
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Last week, my father died. I also broke a tooth. And that was just the start. I have been feeling grief-stricken and injured. But like that loyal doe, my friends have rallied around me, caring for me, feeding me, and fiercely ensuring that I have what I need.

I am committed to my readers, and it pains me to do this, but I need to take a brief hiatus to get through the funeral and a few other things. I'll be back in November. I hope this action reinforces the message that, sometimes, we all need to take care of ourselves and put ourselves first.

In the meantime, I ask that you take everything you have—the love, compassion, energy, and kindness you have to give to others—and pour it into the friendships that lift you up and feed your soul. There is no greater return on investment. And if you need their help, ask them. Good friends are boundlessly generous.

As always, I'd love to hear from you, even while I'm taking a break: connect@bloomanywhere.com.