How the name “Just Bee” came into existence:

It all happened one day over spring break during my senior year of college. I had just realized that my personal-journal-type blog would soon have an outdated name and an outdated college-life focus. I wanted to move forward with blogging, but in a different direction. The next morning, I sat straight up in bed and said, “Just Bee! That’s it!” I guess my brain had been mulling over bloggy ideas overnight! So, like anyone would do if they woke up with an interesting early morning idea…I wrote it down.

In regards to the “bee” part of it… “Bee” is a name. It’s also, in a way, a philosophy! My full name is Hannah Brittany, and my grandpa (who passed away when I was in 4th grade) used to call me “Hannah B.” It was a special nickname, only used by Grandpa. The “Hannah B” had a double meaning. He didn’t just mean the literal “Hannah B” – Mom later explained to me that he also meant, “Hannah, just be. Be yourself.” It reminds me of that quote, “Whatever you are, be a good one.” Just be! What a fresh, simple take on life and identity!

Years later, my boyfriend (now husband) Bjorn actually used “Hannah B” as his own nickname for me. He didn’t even know of Grandpa’s special name for me! Bjorn must’ve subconsciously known that it was special… 🙂 I was “Hannah B” for a while and then it just got shortened to “Bee.” Now, he calls me “Bee” so often that I hardly remember it is just a nickname. Over time, these special nostalgic names from both Grandpa and Bjorn have been woven into my current nickname! I love being just “Bee” – and I hope that the name of my blog acts as a little special reminder to you too, whenever life seems to be just a bit too complicated. I am just “Bee” and I am joining you in the venture to “just be.”

And that is the story of how my Just Bee blog came to…bee. 😉

bumble_bee