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We have a small pond on our property.
And this winter was brutal.
Bitter cold.
Wind chills pushing -20.
Weeks where it never really got above 4 or 5 degrees.
Snow that just kept coming.
So when things finally started to thaw, I walked down to the pond.
And there they were.
Goldfish… floating.
And I’ll be honest — it hit me a little harder than I expected.
They keep the pond clean.
They’re part of the rhythm of the place.
And when you lose something on a small farm — even goldfish — it stings.
We also lost seven chickens to hawks this year. I’m building a chicken fortress of solitude for the the next batch. (and maybe for myself?)
It’s just part of it.
Still doesn’t make it easy.
I figured the winter just took the goldfish out.
Too cold. Too long. Too much.
Then I went down again last week.
And it was like the whole thing flipped.
Goldfish everywhere.
Moving.
Active.
More than I remembered.
They made it.
They didn’t die.
They went down into the weeds.
Into the mud.
And just… stayed.
Waited it out.
Grayson was pumped.
Hollie too — she loves anything with a heartbeat.
And me?
I just stood there for a minute thinking…
Alright.
Yes.
This is a goldfish metaphor.
But it’s a pretty good one.
Because sometimes it feels like that.
Like everything is frozen.
Like the pressure is too much.
Like you’re not sure what’s still alive under the surface.
And then… you come up for air.
And realize you made it.
Not by pushing harder.
By staying in it.
By holding steady.
By going a little deeper when things got rough.
We talk a lot about growth, momentum, building.
But sometimes the real win is survival.
Just getting through a hard stretch.
And trusting that there’s still life underneath it all.
If it feels cold right now…
if it feels heavy…
if you’re not sure where things stand…
You might not be done.
You might just be under the ice.
And closer than you think.
3 Things Worth Paying Attention To
1. Not all progress is visible
Sometimes the work is happening where no one can see it.
2. Survival is not failure
Making it through a hard season is a win.
3. There’s more resilience in you than you think
You don’t always feel strong when you are.
One Simple Reset (This Week)
Think back over the last few months:
something you made it through
something that didn’t break you
something that’s still standing
Give yourself credit for that.
1 Book
Endurance — Alfred Lansing
The true story of survival in impossible conditions. A reminder that resilience often shows up quietly.
1 Quote
“Fall seven times, stand up eight.”
— Japanese Proverb
🤝 Let’s Connect
If you’re in a season that feels heavy — in business or life — you don’t have to carry it alone.
Let’s talk.
No pitch.
Just conversation.
— Brian
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