The Legend of the Christmas Bear (and Why You Need a Community That Loves You Through the Messy Middle)
When I was a kid, I went to a summer enrichment camp that offered all kinds of creative electives—one of which was ceramics. That summer, I proudly sculpted a ceramic bear.
And listen… it was bad. Like, so bad it became family legend.
It was oddly shaped, painted in absurd colors—mostly bright red, with splashes of orange and blue. It looked a little scary, to be honest. But my dad loved it. Declared it the “Christmas Bear” and made sure it had a prominent spot in our house every holiday season.
Now, most kids would have been mortified by how that bear turned out (I was, a little). And I probably should have given up ceramics then and there. But the way my family celebrated it—with love and laughter and zero embarrassment—made me feel like it was safe to keep creating.
That ugly little bear gave me permission to keep trying.
Later, in college, I took another ceramics class and made a much better bear—this one a proper bear color, complete with a little plaid ribbon around its neck. I made it secretly hoping it would dethrone the infamous Christmas Bear. It did not. The original still holds the title.
In fact, I just brought Christmas Bear home with me after a recent visit to my mom’s house. He’s now sitting in my office, still hideous, still loved—and reminding me of something powerful:
When you’re surrounded by people who celebrate you—even your missteps—you’re way more likely to keep showing up, keep learning, and keep growing.
Today, I was chatting with a fellow lawyer, and we were reflecting on just how much it matters to grow up (and live) in a community that sees your potential, celebrates your efforts (even when the results are messy), and offers you the perspective and support to keep going.
It’s no different in your law practice.
When you’re trying to build something that breaks the mold—like a law firm that actually loves you back—you need people in your corner. People who won’t judge you when you get something wrong. People who remind you that you are not alone, even when it feels like it.
Because without that kind of community?
You’re way more likely to stay stuck.
To play small.
To believe that what you want is too much.
But with the right people cheering you on — even your metaphorical Christmas Bear moments — you start to believe in your ability to grow. You take chances. You try new things. You keep going, even when it’s uncomfortable. And that’s where the magic happens.
If you’re building a life and law practice that feels good on the inside (not just one that looks good on paper), and you could use some community and support to help you through the messy middle…
Let’s set up a call and talk about how Path to PROmance can be your safe, supportive space to make real progress—on your pricing, your profit, your time, and your joy.
Because it’s easier (and way more fun) to grow when you’ve got the right people in your corner.
And who knows—maybe you’ve got a Christmas Bear of your own waiting to be celebrated. 🎄🧸
To your PROmance,
Whit