Why June Feels Different: Grief, Growth, and Choosing a Softer Pace

June always feels different.

Not just because it marks the beginning of summer, but because, for me, it carries a deep emotional weight

A Month That Carries So Much. It’s the anniversary of my mother’s passing. She died in a tragic car accident when I was just eight years old. Tomorrow marks that anniversary. That loss split my life in two. There’s a before and an after. And no matter how many years pass, I still feel the weight of it. June is also my youngest son’s birthday, the day before what would have been my mother’s birthday. He turns 19 this year, his final year as a teenager. If you're a parent, you understand how meaningful that milestone feels. Then comes Father’s Day. My husband and I both lost our dads in 2018, just weeks apart, during the early days of building CM Closet Design. That ache still lives with us. And finally, at the end of the month, it’s my birthday.

From Distraction to Intention. It’s a month that holds celebration, remembrance, reflection, and a kind of heaviness that’s hard to put into words. And for a long time, I tried to push through it like it was just another square on the calendar. But now, I hold it differently. I kept myself busy, thinking that staying productive meant I was making progress and that distraction was the cure. I needed a distraction the same way people need a fix.

But I’ve learned to see it differently. Now, I give myself space. Slowing down isn’t a failure. It isn’t being stuck. It means giving myself time to breathe. To reset. To listen for what needs to shift.

“I used to think slowing down meant I was falling behind. Now I know it just means I’m finally paying attention.”

A Time to Reflect and Realign

June also marks the end of Q2, a natural checkpoint. So, I ask myself:

  • Is the work I’m doing with Closet Darling Collective aligned with the kind of impact I want to make?

  • Does our messaging for CM Closet Design and TORO Garage Co. speak to the lifestyle upgrade we offer, or are we getting lost in the noise?

  • Am I building something that reflects my values or chasing what only looks successful?

These aren’t easy questions. But they’re necessary ones. Because realignment doesn’t come from hustle. It comes from honesty.

Building a Business That Honors My Life. Right now, I’m in a season where I’m choosing differently. I’m choosing ease, boundaries, and presence. I want good mornings and less noise. More meaningful projects with clients who value thoughtful design, not just the fastest installation at the lowest price.

I’ve done the hustle. I’ve survived the hard seasons. Now, I’m moving with intention. I’m no longer interested in running on fumes to prove my worth or seeking validation from industry peers. I’m in my soft life era, and I’m proud of that. It took clarity and courage to get here.

If June Feels Different for You Too... If you're slowing down or sensing a shift, honor that.

✨ This year has taught me that real growth doesn’t always roar. Sometimes, it whispers. And in those whispers? We often hear the truths we’ve been too busy to notice. How’s June feeling for you this year? Slower, softer, different? I’d love to hear.

Your friend, Carly

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