We’re looking forward to introducing you to Ava Adames. Check out our conversation below.
Ava, it’s always a pleasure to learn from you and your journey. Let’s start with a bit of a warmup: What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
“I’ve been spending intentional one-on-one time with my sons by taking them on little individual outings. We turn our phones off and just focus on being with each other, which has given me the chance to really learn where they are and who they are in this moment of their lives. So far, it’s been going wonderfully, and I’ve really treasured the deeper connection that’s coming from it. With my adult son, who’s 23, we recently spent a day doing pottery together, which was such a meaningful and creative way to connect. With my soon-to-be 15-year-old, who’s just starting high school, our time together has looked like train outings followed by lunch at a nice restaurant—simple but special moments that let us talk, laugh, and just enjoy being together.”
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My journey in spiritual wellness has gone through a refreshing transformation in recent years. Back in 2023, I gave my brand a facelift—new colors, a freer-feeling logo, and a revitalized outlook that reflected the way my work was expanding. That renewal sparked a deeper alignment, not only in how I hold space for others but also in how I share resources. Now, through my website, I highlight the incredible offerings of colleagues and friends—creating a space where community and connection can thrive.
When I spoke with Canvas Rebel in 2023, I was beginning to explore new ways of showing up in the world. Today, that has grown into ambassadorships with small businesses whose values align with mine, and even stepping into a contributing writer role at a local paper. This expansion has been received with such warmth, and I feel humbled by how my story and voice resonate with others.
What makes my path unique isn’t just the work itself—it’s the way life has shaped me. The recent passing of my son has changed everything. That profound loss opened me to what truly matters in life: presence, love, and the courage to keep creating beauty even in the face of grief. It’s from that place that I continue to grow my work, offering not only spiritual wellness services but also a living example of resilience, authenticity, and honoring the sacredness of each moment.
My brand, Violets in Bloom, isn’t just about products, classes, or services—it’s a reflection of life in full bloom: messy, unpredictable,, and deeply human.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
⚠️ Trigger Warning: Suicide Loss
The following shares personal reflections on the passing of my son by suicide. Please take care while reading.
The passing of my son by suicide is the moment that has most deeply shaped how I see the world. It is the greatest challenge I have ever faced—and one I will carry with me always. That loss has transformed how I live, reminding me that life is unimaginably precious and that each moment holds even more weight than we often realize. I’ve also come to understand that life does not end after a physical loss; the love, connection, and lessons continue in new and often unexpected ways.
While the grief is ongoing and the process still unfolding, I’ve found a valuable lesson in this journey: the importance of slowing down, being patient with myself, and dedicating time to creating safe spaces where others can build their lives around hope and meaning. In honoring my son’s memory, I’ve returned to wellness coaching professionally and now also work part-time at a recovery center, supporting individuals in partnership with therapists as they navigate mental health challenges. In addition, I volunteer with an organization that offers listening lines—spaces where anyone can call in simply to be heard.
Though some days are more difficult than others, this work has been an anchor for me. It has become both a way to heal myself and a way to help others, a living practice of turning loss into something meaningful, compassionate, and life-giving.
If you or someone you know is in crisis, please dial 988 in the U.S. to connect with the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline and speak to someone right away. You are not alone.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
Yes — there was a time I almost gave up. After my son, A’Van passed, I wanted to close the doors, stay home, and step away from the business entirely. I was grieving deeply, and there is grace in that space of loss; still, I seriously contemplated shutting Violets in Bloom down.
What pulled me back was remembering why I opened Violets in Bloom in the first place: to be a beacon of light and hopeful energy for others. I held onto our mission statement — your mind is your greatest weapon — and realized I needed to offer that same compassion and courage to myself. I chose to see my path as still vibrant and to trust that I could continue serving others, even while carrying this loss.
I also wanted to remain within reach — to keep living for my son in the many ways he lived, and to let my presence in the community be part of his legacy. Staying open has allowed others to witness grief and resilience side by side, and has become, for me, a way of honoring him while continuing the work I love.
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. What’s a belief you used to hold tightly but now think was naive or wrong?
I chuckle when I think about this question, especially given the work I do now. For a long time, I didn’t believe in unconditional love. I thought it was impossible, because as humans we are fragmented and flawed — how could we possibly embody something so pure? To me, it felt like a phenomenon too far out of reach.
But recently, during one of the circles held at Violets in Bloom, I sat with this very question in community. What was revealed for me is that conditions are already woven into our lives to help us arrive at unconditional love. For example, the love for a child feels natural and instinctive, almost like a portal into that state. The deeper invitation is how to extend this unconditionality toward others.
What I’ve come to see is that it begins within. We must first “condition” ourselves with self-forgiveness, compassion, patience, and kindness. These qualities form a foundation on which love can rest — love without expectations or limitations. The circle helped me realize that unconditional love isn’t about perfection, but about practice.
I’m deeply grateful for these gatherings at Violets in Bloom, where we all come as both teachers and students, continually learning from one another.
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
I hope the story people tell about me is simple and true: that I made them feel seen, held, and a little more whole. As cliché as it sounds, the way I showed up for others—this matters more to me than any accolade. I want to be remembered as a genuine, human person who didn’t always get it right, but who kept showing up, trusted the work, and saw things through.
Beyond those moments of care, I hope my life is remembered as one that built a family legacy of love and courage—someone who chose presence over perfection, who modeled resilience for my children and their children and within community. I want people to recall how I poured my heart into creating safe, hopeful spaces through Violets in Bloom: and beyond, That I shared, listened and help create projects that lifted small businesses and practitioners; and writing and service that opened doors for others.
Mostly, I hope my story is one of giving back—of using what I learned from loss and life to nourish others, to make the community gentler and braver, and to leave behind a ripple of kindness that keeps growing after I’m gone.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://myvioletsinbloom.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/violetsinbloom_/#
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/avaadames/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/myvioletsinbloom/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@violetsinbloom2025
Image Credits
Aiphotografics
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