Why Stem and Story?
I’m Becca, and I found passion and purpose with flowers as they helped me heal from burnout.
After several long, pandemic-heavy years in Big Tech working as a software engineer, I found myself drained, lost, and disconnected from a feeling of purpose. Though I was technically ‘making it,’ each day felt like a slog for survival.
Eventually, I decided to take a Leave of Absence to quiet my body and mind and see what might emerge. I could not have predicted then how flowers would help me heal and practice self-compassion.
Now, Stem and Story helps me help others learn to be creative with flowers and rejuvenated by the process.
In their quiet way, flowers shook me wide awake
As I rested, traveled, walked, stretched, and welcomed new routines and experiences, flowers showed me a new way to relate to my surroundings and to myself.
Flowers invited me to slow down, really look, and absorb all the beauty around me, from the escaped pansy growing in the crack of a sidewalk near my apartment in Seattle, to the honeycomb yellow Butterfly Bush off the Oregon coast, to the dried hydrangea floret in an antique bud vase, made crunchy and deliciously delicate in the sun.
Flowers showed me the importance of being grounded within myself, connected to what gives me energy and joy. Flowers taught me about cycles and accepting that things will fade and decay, and that that’s natural, okay, and beautiful.
Flowers affirm who we are
Flowers reminded me that I am an artist, that I am nature, and that I am resilient and deserve more than survival. Life is meant to be enjoyed fully, right now.
Flowers reminded me that, though our time here is finite, the abundance and beauty of this moment is enough. That I am enough.
Flowers grew out of my self-compassion journey, and they’ve helped change the way I now live and relate to myself and other living beings. They’ve shown me the needs and changes of the environment and what’s at stake in our stewardship. They’ve brought me closer to my friends, neighbors, and my community. They’ve asked me to witness differently and show up in my life with more intentionality, courage, creativity, curiosity, patience, forgiveness, tenderness, and love every single day.
Though flowers have called to me throughout my life (I’ve since realized!) — permeating all my best memories starting from childhood — this time, flowers called me to follow them and I listened.
Ultimately, I’d love for YOU to hear the same expansive invitation that the flowers sent me — to honor, celebrate, and take better care of yourself through flowers. And giving yourself permission to just BE.
