When the Person Who Wrote the Story Feels Lost Too

Today I feel a bit like Blue Bear

Some days, building Blue Bear & Co. feels like the most meaningful thing I have ever done.

Other days, I feel completely lost.

Today is one of those days.

And the irony isn’t lost on me.

I wrote Finding You for children, a story about a little Blue Bear who is lost and sets off on a journey in pursuit of finding his place in the world.

He is searching for connection. For belonging. For identity.

But finding his way isn’t easy.

Along the journey, Blue Bear faces hurdles he must overcome. There are moments that require courage. Moments when the path ahead is uncertain. Moments when he has to keep going, despite not knowing exactly where the journey will take him.

At its heart, Finding You is a story of hope, courage and resilience.

And today, I feel a little like Blue Bear myself.

When you know what you are searching for, but not how to get there

I know why I started Blue Bear & Co.

I wanted to create something meaningful from the loss of my son, Charlie.

I wanted to take my experience as a mum, alongside 17 years of experience as a therapist and create bears and stories with genuine purpose.

Something that could help children feel safe, comforted and connected.

Something that could help a child hear the voice of someone they love when they cannot be there.

Something that could hold a familiar scent, offer the reassurance of a soothing heartbeat, or simply become a constant companion through times of change, separation or uncertainty.

Something that could support families through moments when words simply aren’t enough.

I know what I am searching for.

I want Blue Bear & Co. to become a brand known for comfort, connection and emotional wellbeing.

I want our bears and stories to reach the children and families who need them.

I want to build something sustainable that creates a lasting legacy from Charlie’s life.

But knowing what you are searching for doesn’t mean you always know how to get there.

Sometimes the path feels clear.

Other times, you reach another hurdle and wonder whether you have taken a wrong turn altogether.

Today is one of those days.

The reality behind the bears

Behind every bear, every hospice visit, every parcel, every social media post and every new idea is a very small business.

And behind that business is me.

A mum trying to create something meaningful from the most painful experience of my life.

A therapist who believes deeply in the importance of comfort, connection and emotional wellbeing.

And a woman trying to build something that is not only meaningful, but sustainable.

There are moments that remind me exactly why I started.

I have watched people hold our Brown Bear for the first time and immediately realise it is so much more than a teddy bear.

I have seen the reaction when someone understands that it can hold the voice of a person they love. A familiar scent. A soothing heartbeat.

I have visited hospices and met incredible staff and families.

I have watched our bears reach children and families experiencing grief, separation and some of life’s most difficult moments.

I have seen children connect with the stories and messages behind our little Blue Bear.

Those moments matter enormously.

But there are also quieter moments.

Moments of doubt.

Moments when I wonder whether I am explaining what I have created clearly enough.

Whether the right people know we exist.

Whether I am trying to do too many things at once.

Whether I need to keep going, change direction or find a different path altogether.

I don’t think we talk about those moments enough.

Purpose and sustainability both matter

Blue Bear & Co. was created from love, loss and a desire to make a difference.

But I am learning that purpose and sustainability have to exist alongside each other.

A small business needs more than lovely words and encouragement.

It needs customers who choose to buy.

Retailers who are willing to take a chance.

People who recommend it to others.

Businesses who believe in a mission.

And, perhaps most importantly, it needs honest feedback.

Not only the lovely words, although they mean more than people probably realise.

But the constructive words too.

The things that could be clearer.

The things that could be better.

The reasons someone might love what we do but still choose not to buy.

And perhaps that is one of the hardest parts when you have created something so personal.

Because when so much of your heart is wrapped up in what you have built, asking people what they really think can feel frightening.

But I don’t want to build Blue Bear & Co. inside an echo chamber of encouragement.

I want to listen.

I want to learn.

And I want to understand.

So today, I’m asking you

If you own one of our bears or books, I would genuinely love to hear from you.

What made you choose it?

Who was it for?

What has it meant to you?

Has it helped your child or family in a way you didn’t expect?

And if you haven’t already, would you consider leaving us an honest review?

Those words do far more than help a small business. They help other families understand what these bears and stories might offer them. They help retailers understand why these products are different. And they help us begin to build the evidence we need to reach more children and families.

But I also want to hear the constructive things.

Is there anything about our products that you would change?

Anything about our website or messaging that feels confusing?

Is there something you wish we offered?

And if you have followed Blue Bear & Co. for a long time, love what we stand for, but have never bought from us, I would genuinely love to understand why.

Was it the price?

Was the timing never right?

Were you unsure which product was for you?

Did you not fully understand what makes our bears different?

Or is there another reason entirely?

I’m not asking these questions for sympathy.

I’m asking because I want to listen.

Perhaps I need to remember the story I wrote

Blue Bear doesn’t find his way because the journey is easy.

He finds his way by continuing despite the hurdles.

Through courage. Through Belief.

Through the hope that somewhere ahead, he will find where he belongs.

Perhaps today, the person who wrote the story needs to remember its message too.

Hope, courage and resilience are not about never feeling lost.

They are about what we do when we are.

Today, I may feel lost.

I may not know exactly which direction Blue Bear & Co. should take next.

But perhaps I don’t need to have every answer today.

Perhaps I need to listen.

To the families who have held our bears.

To the children who have read our stories.

To the retailers who have stocked our products.

To the hospice staff who have placed our bears into the arms of families.

And to those who have quietly followed this journey from the beginning.

So today, I’m asking for something that could genuinely help me find the next part of the path.

If you own one of our bears or books, please tell me what it has meant to you.

If you have constructive feedback, I genuinely want to hear it.

If there is something we could do better, tell me.

And if you could describe Blue Bear & Co. in just three words, what would they be?

Because perhaps none of us finds our way entirely alone.

And perhaps that was part of the story all along 🤍

Sent with Love,

Nici x

Founder of Blue Bear & Co.

Co Founder of Thumbs Up for Charlie