The Power of Support
Lately, I’ve been thinking about just how much support means, and how blessed I’ve been to be surrounded by it. These last couple of months have been a whirlwind of planning, renovating, re-imagining, and, plenty of second-guessing myself. But through it all, I’ve had a circle of people who’ve carried me, cheered me on, and rolled up their sleeves right alongside me.
My brother has a company called Advantage Home Improvements and our nephew Josh works along side of him. Honestly, where would I even be without them? He is one of my best buds, we have our own sibling language. Stuarts is the kind of guy that can take a scrambled idea out of my head and make it work. I don’t know how he does it. lol…They’ve tackled the renovations with so much patience—especially as I changed my mind (more than once!) and tossed in a few surprise “add-ons.” Instead of sighing and walking away, they just kept showing up with tools in hand and smiles on their faces. Josh’s wife Jenna helped me with the first major clean up. We tackled floors with scrub brushes on our hands and knees. That kind of support can’t be measured.
Steve, stepped up at home without missing a beat. He’s been steady, dependable, and quietly making sure everything behind the scenes runs smoothly. Emptying the dishwasher, staying on top of laundry and grocery runs. I swear I have only been to Fortino’s maybe once in the past two months.
And Tank—oh my sweet little Tanky. He may not swing a hammer, but it didnt stop him from trying..stealing tools, dipping his ear in paint, walking through the dust piles…but as our official Director of Happiness, he’s discovered that the happier he is, the more treats he gets. Let’s just say he’s been extra happy lately. He loves to greet everyone at the spa. Cindy our nail tech, literally goes to the farm on her way to work to get him fresh apples. Thankfully we use as much healthy stuff in the spa as possible. We caught Tank eating some foot scrub….oil and brown sugar.
I can’t forget Shelley. She’s been the heartbeat behind POP’s marketing. I get compliments every day about our IG page. I’d love to say ‘ya thanks…it’s been a lot of work’ lol…but it has had nothing to do with me. Shelley has so much artistic talent and is making sure the world knows what we’re building. Truly, POP wouldn’t be POP without her. And if that wasn’t enough, she created the most stunning painting for the studio. (If you haven’t seen it yet, check it out on IG, it’s breathtaking.)
And Andrew, this kid of mine….Not only our very first client, but he also gave me one of the biggest surprises of all: an official ribbon-cutting ceremony. He pulled together friends and family, filled the room with laughter, laid out food and drinks, and gave me a night to remember. My heart definitely grew a few sizes this past Friday night.
When I think about support, this is what comes to mind. It’s not just about helping, it’s about love in action. It’s about family, friends, and even furry companions stepping in with their own special magic. I’m forever grateful for mine.
I even received a special message from Crystal, my Pilates guru that now lives in Nicaragua…she sent me her love and the 3 rules she lived by when she started Exhale Pilates. I have framed it and it now sits on the desk at POP as a reminder to lead with love. Thanks Crystal.
My call to action this week is simple…
….it’s just a little nudge for you: take a moment to think about the people who’ve shown up for you, whether in big ways or small ones. Send them a thank-you text, give them a hug, or simply tell them how much they mean. Trust me, your heart will grow too.
xo
Marion
