A Season of Gratitude 🌺 (and Getting a Little Muddy)

Hi friends,

As I write this, I’m sitting in Hawaii, surrounded by the sound of crashing waves, the smell of salty air, and the warmth of my boys close by. We came here to press pause, to breathe a little deeper, and to remember what matters most.

This year, life shook me.

A few months ago, Brian was diagnosed with oral cancer. The words alone still feel surreal. My husband—Mr. 5AM workouts, whole-foods-only, clean-living beast of a man—became a patient overnight. The weight of that diagnosis hit us like a freight train. And yet, in the middle of fear, there was something else: an outpouring of love I will never forget.

So many of you reached out. You sent texts, prayers, voice notes, meals, affirmations, DMs… and I felt every single one.

Thank you. Truly.

This season has taught me that life—just like business—isn’t about chasing more. It’s about anchoring deeper into what matters.

For me? That’s people. Purpose. Presence.

🧡 I’m so grateful for my team at Smile & Co.

🧡 I’m so grateful for every patient who trusts us.

🧡 I’m so grateful for the guests who come on The Making Of and share their startup journeys with courage and vulnerability.

🧡 I’m so grateful for this community. For you.

And in the spirit of doing the things we often talk ourselves out of…

Yesterday, I got muddy. Like, full-on off-roading in an ATV, bumpy trails, through the Hawaiian jungle kind of muddy. It’s something I never would’ve done a year ago. I’m not your outdoorsy, thrill-seeking girl. But I did it—for the memories, for my kids, and to remind myself that joy often lives just outside your comfort zone.

As we head into Thanksgiving and wrap up 2025, I’m holding space for both the joy and the hard. We have so many exciting things coming next year—more episodes, more Retreats, more stories that matter—but we’ll never take a single day for granted again.

We’ve learned the pivot is sacred.
The pause is powerful.
And the people—always the people—are what make it all worth it.

Thank you for being here with me.

With love and gratitude,

Ashley 💛

P.S. Catch up on this week’s episode of The Making Of:

Listen on APPLE HERE / SPOTIFY HERE

Find me @ashleyjovesdds / @themaking.of / www.themakingofpodcast.com

P.P.S. Don’t forget to leave a review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts—it helps other dentists find us and fuels this mission we believe in so deeply.

I want to give a huge shout out and thank you to our incredible partners. Without their support, we wouldn’t be able to connect with all of you. ❤️ Reach out see how they can help support you and your business.