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In three days I am dropping my oldest off at college.

I'll be honest, I'm kind of a mess. Much more emotional than I thought I would be.

He's late in starting because he was wait-listed for the fall semester. The school he is going to is very, very small, and hard to get into.

They do this incredibly cool thing where every student works 15 hours a week on campus, and in exchange pays no tuition. The only thing they have to pay for is room, board, and books.

Admission there isn't based so much on good grades and high test scores, but more so on work ethic, financial need, and character.

Really it's the perfect fit for him. I'm so grateful he got in 🤗

He's had his share of challenges in life. I had some complications in my pregnancy and his birth, which caused some developmental delays. He's also got a quiet and tenderhearted spirit, which has led him to feel a bit on the outside of "average" boy world.

He was bullied and picked on in 5th and 6th grade, both at school and in our church youth group (double ouch on that one 😬). He started junior high in a new state, right before Covid made school even weirder. In high school, he struggled to find his friend group and so spent most of his time working.

I've always said I think he's gonna peak in college. That's when the world gets a little bit nicer, and all the amazing things about him will finally be seen and appreciated.

I'm so thrilled for him, really. But I'm also grieving this weekend as we prepare to send him off. I don't know that I'm ready to let him go.

Several years ago, someone told me, "Every yes means you're saying no to something else."

Meaning . . . to move into something new in life, you have to let something else go. We don't have infinite time or infinite presence. Our limits are real.

To say hello, you have to also say goodbye.

So as we spend this weekend packing up our kiddo to say goodbye so he can have his hello, I'm thinking about how this idea applies to my business as well.

Last year I tried a lot. Did a lot. I think honestly spread myself too thin.

This year, I have to let some things go. Maybe even some things that are good, but just not right for this season.

And what about you?

As we kick off the new year, is there a new "yes" for you out there? If so, what is the "no" that it will require?

I challenge you to spend a bit of time soon, maybe just an hour over a cup of coffee, and look at your coming year. Is there a door you need to close? A new door open to walk through?

I often walk away from times of reflection with new clarity on my choices.

How to Think Like a Business Owner Accompanying my How to Think Like a Business Owner Course is a 21 page workbook that guides you through your own business strategies for 2026. Want help setting goals and getting strategic with your Yes's and No's? You'll find that and more here in my new mini course. See More Here

Next week I will be sharing more specifics about some new things I have planned for 2026, and maybe a few more things I will be letting go of as well.

Now it's time to go finish packing 🧳

Melanie Alexander Owner Lost & Found ​LostandFoundDecor.com​ Shop our Vintage Treasures at LostandFoundVintageShop.com​ ​