Rylea Bloom: The path to opening Rylea Bloom wasn’t a hard one to find, it just looked like Mt. Everest to me. The summit was often obscured by clouds and the trek seemed way too steep. Too many unknowns. No map other than my gut. Chasing my dreams meant abandoning my ten-year climb up “Mount Financial Industry” in pursuit of something ten times riskier, but that maybe would be ten times more rewarding.

Creating happiness for other people was a meaningful goal. I’d had it for years but always labeled it a hobby. That changed two years ago with Rylea Bloom: my own floral boutique, in my own neighborhood.

I love the effect flowers have on people. It’s a real honor to create that from scratch! That look of joy when they receive an unexpected floral gift, or the calm that comes over them when it. It’s uplifting to see! It’s validation that I made the right decision.

In the build-up to opening Rylea Bloom – Diy Wedding Flowers Tips, I moonlighted as a freelance wedding floral designer for a decade. I finally took the last step and quit the bank (after months of agonizing over-thinking) and gained experience at a downtown shop.

One day, a customer asked me how I knew this was what I wanted to do. After all, my first career was as far from blooms as I could ever be! He was a UofT professor and was inspired by my move to a ‘second career’, believing me to be brave. He said to me: “But really, it’s not a career is it? It’s more like a calling.” In fact, he also used the word “vocation” in our conversation.

And that right there was the truth of it all.

What I labeled as a “hobby” was actually the calling that I need to meet. I realized I didn’t choose flowers, they chose me. I had been hitting the snooze button for so many years on this part of my life, but one day I decided: no more!

I want to bring joy to people. I want to help intensify beautiful moments. It’s not about the mechanics of putting blooms together in an elegant design—though that is great fun too! It’s about the feelings my creations can inspire in others. I had never even thought of it as a talent, let alone a “calling”.

I don’t think it takes bravery to embrace the gifts that you have. Self-appreciation is step one. I’ve had many people confess to me they are great at “x”…but wouldn’t dare to make a career out of it. I’ve been there. I get it. But now that I’m on the other side.

I believe everyone should try. Yes, it takes hard work, determination and more than a few sleepless nights but when your ideas come together and take shape you can create a business that doesn’t just provide a good or service, but rather one that gives people what they want and makes them (and YOU) happy in the process.

Peruse a few sites about career changes online and you’ll read a lot about people having ‘side gigs’ or ‘side hustles’. But a calling goes beyond that. Maybe it’s your time to stop hitting the snooze button?

“Your gifts belong to God. He invested in them in you while you’re here. And he wants you to produce a return on what he has given you. ~ Dr. Allen Hunt”

Whether or not you believe in God, I know that we all have a calling. Maybe you haven’t found “it” or maybe it’s more than one. Maybe it taps you on your shoulder daily, but you ignore it. I found mine and now I’m sharing this with you in the hopes that you will find yours. Share this with a friend who has been thinking about taking a leap. Maybe my words can help them start a new path too.