Dear Friend,

Several years ago I was trying to build a business. After a particularly rough day, I laid down on my couch, let out a big groany sigh and thought to myself, “is this really worth it?!” The mountain I was climbing felt like it had no top. I could see nothing but more climbing and that had me feeling like a deflated balloon.

Eventually after feeling sorry for myself for a bit, I got myself off the couch and checked my email. To my surprise there was an email from Linda, a woman I used to work with back in Chicago. We hadn’t worked together long, I didn’t know her well.  The email itself was a simple 2-3 sentences, saying hello and that she was reading my blog posts; but it was the last two words that were like balm to my troubled spirit:

“Keep going.” 

Those two words did something to me that day. It was the exact thing I needed to hear in that moment and it came in an unexpected email from someone I barely knew. 

I’ve thought about that email often over the years – how it came at just the right time with just the right message and I’ve adopted “keep going” as a mantra to help me through difficult times. 

I tell you this because lately I’ve been thinking about this idea of “self-made”.

Something about the idea doesn’t sit right with me. I think it’s literally impossible to be self-made. 

Yes, we can work really hard for the things that matter to us and once we achieve those goals it can seem like we did it ourselves but even amongst the hard work and sacrifice there are people and things that have been a part of our journey that have helped us get to that place.

Don’t get me wrong, as someone who has a hard time reaching out for help, I would actually prefer self made, but the older I get and the more support from others I’ve needed to lean into, I can say conclusively that we cannot do anything big and challenging on our own…from building a business, to raising kids, to following a dream – we need support. Support is what makes us. We are support-made. 

And to me support-made is actually a giant relief. We don’t have to do life on our own. We don’t have to figure out all the things.

I’m not trying to diminish hard work, passion, and grit. I realize that everyone’s amount of support is different and we all start from different places but along the way there had to be something to keep any of us going – an encouraging word, monetary support, a book or teacher that taught us something to get us where we are. 

I just think that this individualistic idea isn’t serving us. What if we recognized and honored all the people along the way that have helped us? What if we scooped them up in our story of life and included them in our support-made journey? 

Friend, I’ve got a challenge for you (and also for myself)…

Who are the people (maybe you know them personally or not), books, podcasts, etc that have helped you in an area of your life? In your career, with a project, during a challenging time in a relationship, or maybe just with life in general? Write them down and send a little gratitude to them if you can. 

Or who is someone you know that could use a little support? Is there some small way you can be that for them right now? 

None of us can do life on our own. We need each other.

Cheers to your support made life.

You got this.

Love,
Laura