Nine Months of Becoming
A reflection on growth, community, balance and the unexpected
Hello blank page — it’s been a while since I last wrote anything down, far removed from my original intention of sharing a monthly blog to record my entrepreneurial journey and keep my Beau’s Best Friends community updated. But life has its own rhythm, and sometimes the things we plan don’t unfold quite as expected. Paths shift, purposes evolve, and what we thought we were creating can transform into something entirely different — something unexpected.
It’s with those thoughts of the unexpected that I turn inward today, reflecting on what has unfolded for Beau’s Best Friends at this nine‑month mark. Nine months — the time it takes to grow a new human. And in many ways, that’s exactly what has happened. I have spent nine months growing a new version of myself.
The unexpected beginnings
So what has been unexpected? What did I not foresee back in the colder months of February?
Truthfully, I went into this with no expectations at all. I was blind, finding my way, questioning myself daily. Was I doing the right thing? Would people believe in me? Could I provide the service I dreamed of offering? Would anyone see me as professional anymore? Was this career change worthy of the leap?
I felt nervous, anxious — an actress stepping onto a stage with every new customer, performing confidence while quietly wondering if I truly belonged.
But looking back now, the most unexpected thing has been the kindness. The gratitude. The belief shown by the people who chose to trust me. What I hoped to build wasn’t just a list of customers, but a circle of friendships — a community that has supported me through every like, share, comment, and referral. You have lifted me more than you know.
What has also surprised me is the support of the wider community I’ve lived in for 18 years. Not just individuals, but the whole place. Local business owners who shared my story, passed on my details, or reached out to collaborate have helped pull me out of imposter syndrome and back into myself.
And that is the biggest transformation of all.
I am me. I have stood in my power. And for the first time in a very long time, I feel accepted — by others, and by myself.
Nine months. A full cycle. A new human. A new me.
The unexpected power of saying "no"
I’m not sharing any of this to complain — I’m genuinely grateful for the new business that has come my way, especially over the busy summer months. But as I sit here on the equinox, a moment of perfect balance between day and night, I’ve been reflecting on the balance within my own life.
And here’s something unexpected: I’ve learnt to say no.
For the first time since starting Beau’s Best Friends, I’ve realised that saying no isn’t a failure — it’s a form of strength. When you’re self‑employed, it’s so easy to say yes to everything. You feel responsible for keeping the momentum going, for maintaining a steady income, for proving yourself again and again. But Beau’s Best Friends is just me. Every walk, every house sit, every booking — it’s all done by my hands, my time, my energy.
Over the past few weeks, that pace has quietly tipped my life out of balance. The very balance I hoped to reclaim by becoming self‑employed had begun to slip away again. And so, unexpectedly, I’ve learnt to protect my time. To close my books for overnight bookings between now and Christmas. To block out weekends for my family. To honour the boundaries that keep both me and the business healthy.
This isn’t selfishness — it’s sustainability. It’s rest. It’s the new me learning to stand.
Just as nine months can grow a new human, these nine months have grown a new version of myself — one who understands that saying no is sometimes the most powerful yes of all.
Moving forward with intention
As I continue to grow this “new me,” the emphasis now is on balance. On building my daytime clients, Monday to Friday. On shaping a business that supports my life, not one that consumes it. On honouring the very reasons I chose this path in the first place.
Because just like the equinox, I’m learning that balance isn’t a luxury. It’s a necessity.
And as Beau’s Best Friends moves into its next season, I do so with gratitude, clarity, and a renewed sense of purpose — nine months in, and finally feeling fully grown.
If this reflection resonates with you, or if you’ve been on your own journey of unexpected growth, I’d love to hear from you. Your support has shaped Beau’s Best Friends more than you know — and continuing this journey together means the world to me.
f you’d like to follow along as Beau’s Best Friends continues to grow — or if you’re looking for caring, reliable support for your dog — I’d love for you to explore what I offer. From everyday walks to our new pet photoshoot sessions and my freshly published ebook, everything is gathered in one place on my Linktree.
Thank you for being part of this journey and for helping Beau’s Best Friends become what it is today.
https://linktr.ee/beausbestfriends
