Why LovedByBlue As A Business Name?
Seven years ago, on August 6 2013 I very anxiously took a drive to the Animal Rescue League of Berks County to meet an abandoned Pit mix named Tuesday. I had a few not so positive foster experiences, and was convinced that dog ownership wasn’t for me. Tuesday, now affectionately known as Bluebelle, was abandoned at the shelters night drop, with no information about her history. To this day, I will never understand how someone did not love this girl, and just left her.
I know what it feels like to be left, to feel abandoned, and to not feel loved. I’ve spent my entire adult life not having a relationship with my mother. After my parent’s divorce, she packed up my belongings and left then on the curb when I was 17. I don’t believe she loves me, and if she does, she clearly doesn’t know how to show it. Years later, I’d unexpectedly lose the relationship I had with my father, as a result from needing to set some healthy boundaries. I do believe he loves me, but not as much as he loves other things.
The last twenty years I’ve struggled with abandonment issues. I’ve felt unlovable, unworthy, not good enough, and even though my brain knew I did nothing wrong, I’ve questioned what I could possibly do to make my own parent’s not love me. I’ve clung on to any relationship possible, no matter how unhealthy it was. I disrespected myself, by allowing others to disrespect me, just to feel wanted or loved. I’ve isolated, I’ve disconnected, I turned to drinking, I went on medications, and I’ve seen a therapist quite a few times. I’m still a work in progress, I still struggle, and I’ll always be working through feelings of being enough.
And then I met Bluebelle. I had no idea at the time that she would be everything I needed. It’s like she was my mother, my unborn child, my best friend, and my significant other all in one. To some, that may sound crazy, and that’s ok. If the last seven years have taught me anything, it’s that God doesn’t always send our blessings the way we dreamed them up to be, but exactly what we need in that moment. I wholeheartedly believe that Bluebelle is my soulmate. We’ve been through hell and back again and all the way from the east coast to the west coast.
Bluebelle is the definition of unconditional love. On my best of days and on my worst of days she shows up with a wiggling butt, a wagging tail, and a face full of kisses. I can see her love for me directly from her eyes… the way she looks at me. I’ve always thought she had such a gift of talking through her eyes. It’s a never ending, unconditional, “no matter what” kind of love. The kind of love everyone, even myself, and even you, deserves.
When building a personal brand I wanted to make sure to convey the importance of everyone having a “Bluebelle” kind of love. I also wanted to promote self love, self worth, and self care. Even if I was still a work in progress, I wanted to use my story to inspire other women. I wanted a platform to let women know that they too matter, they too are enough, and they too are worthy of love. I wanted to remind women that while busy juggling many hats, they were important enough to make time for self care. I wanted to convey that we cannot pour from an empty cup and therefore it was imperative that they make themselves a priority, even if every now and again…. we have to start somewhere, right!
My favorite thing is getting photographed with Bluebelle. If you give her enough time, her larger than life personality will shine through. Inevitably, the love in her eyes is portrayed in an image. These are the images I will cherish for a lifetime, because these are the moments I want to always remember. Even when I felt undeserving of any love from anyone, this little girl showed up and showed love.
From Us to You, Much Love,
Alycia and Bluebelle