Last time, we talked about how busy life can become.
For years our days were filled from sunrise to bedtime. Work, family, responsibilities, appointments...there was always something demanding our attention. We built a wonderful life together, and we're grateful for every memory. But when we look back, there's one thing we wish we had done differently.
We wish we had slowed down.
Not because life wasn't good, but because we were often so focused on what came next that we didn't fully enjoy what was right in front of us—our home, our time together, and the simple moments that make life meaningful.
Ironically, it took an unexpected encounter with a few donkeys to teach us that lesson.
In the spring of 2025, after retiring, I bought an electric bike. Riding had always been one of my favorite ways to clear my mind, and one warm Arizona evening I headed to a nearby park.
As I rounded a bend behind the baseball fields, a small herd of the donkeys that roamed our desert crossed the path ahead of me.
I was captivated.
I love seeing wildlife, and for a few seconds I forgot everything else around me. I was so fascinated watching those donkeys that I completely tuned out the light pole directly in front of me. The light pole, unfortunately, had no interest in getting out of my way. Let's just say the light pole won.
I crashed.
The donkeys wandered off completely unimpressed, while I earned myself a ride in an ambulance on my way to surgery on a broken leg instead of finishing my bike ride.
During those long months of recovery, I kept coming back to one simple thought:
If I had only slowed down.
You might be asking at this point, "How did this cause you to come up with The Spotted Donkey as a business name?"
We get that question a lot. The short answer? Because I wasn't paying attention one evening...and a group of donkeys changed our lives.
It turns out life has an interesting way of telling us to remember just this kind of incident and that we need to slow down. Sometimes it's a traumatic event like a run-in with a herd of donkeys. Sometimes it's a titanium rod in your leg.
That lesson became much bigger than any bicycle accident.
We realized how often we rush through life—always moving to the next task, the next obligation, the next deadline—without taking time to enjoy the places where life actually happens.
Especially our homes.
As I recovered, we spent more time creating spaces that felt peaceful instead of hurried. We added touches that made us smile every time we walked into a room. Beautiful florals became part of that transformation. They brought warmth, beauty, and a sense of calm that reminded us every day to pause and enjoy the life we'd worked so hard to build.
Our house became more than a place to live.
It became our sanctuary.
Those donkeys became a symbol—not of an accident—but of a life-changing reminder. Sometimes life gives us unexpected moments that invite us to slow down, look around, and appreciate what's already in front of us.
That's why we named our business The Spotted Donkey.
Every arrangement we create is inspired by that lesson. We believe beautiful homes don't happen because life gets less busy. They happen because we intentionally create moments of peace in the middle of the busyness.
That's why our mission is simple:
We transform busy homes into peaceful sanctuaries.
If our florals help you pause for just a moment, breathe a little deeper, and love your home a little more, then we've accomplished exactly what we set out to do.
Thank you for spending a few minutes with us today. We hope you'll stop by again tomorrow as we share some of our newest floral designs—and continue helping you create a home you'll love coming back to.