Today.

I know I say a lot on this blog, on my instagram, on my Facebook and Twitter that I love my job. That I love being a small business owner and I do. But that doesn't mean there aren't hard days. That doesn't mean it's all easy and wonderful. A lot of the time I feel like we post what we want people to see. The happy side of our lives. Today has not been a happy business owner day for me so far and I'd like to share that side today.

I already didn't feel like going into work today. Luckily, I had an amazing employee who came and opened the store for me so I could come in an hour later. I thoroughly enjoyed that extra hour of sleep!

As soon as I walk in the door, there's a customer on the phone wanting to speak to me. Those phone calls usually aren't nice. This one was not the exception. This person berated me for about 15 minutes for not carrying only compostable plates. Forget the fact that we actually do carry compostable plates, just not all our plates are compostable. Forget the fact that licensed plates (like Frozen or Despicable Me) are not made that way. Forget the fact that I am not the manufacturer and I have NO control over how the plates are made. No it is ALL my fault that these plates are not compostable and we are killing Mother Earth. For 15 minutes (which seemed like a lifetime) I had to sit and listen to this person tell me it is all my fault. I had to listen to my store (my baby) be insulted. All the hours I have spent here, setting new sections, all the time I spend at home bringing in new items, making my store the best I can all seemed wasted as I listened to this person. I was near tears by the time I was able to get off the phone. I felt my depression overcoming me. I started to feel worthless, to feel like nothing I ever did was good enough (depression sucks). I called my husband who listened to me and tried to calm me down. I repeated my favorite quote over and over to myself "it's just a bad moment, not a bad life". For the last 30 or so minutes, I have let this ONE person ruin my day so far. And I finally said ENOUGH. One person's thoughts do not define me. They do not define my store. They do not define everything I've put into this over the last TWO years. Don't let ONE person ruin your day today. Don't let ONE persons opinions ruin something you're passionate about, something you love, something you've put your heart and soul into.

Everyday is not easy and happy. Some days are HARD. Working in retail is HARD. Running a business is HARD. Struggling with depression is HARD. Struggling with infertility is HARD. But every day I wake up is a new day. I don't know what that day will bring but I know that I will NOT let ONE person's opinions ruin my day. A day can start over at any point. I choose to start my day over NOW. Today (even though it's 10:30am) will be a happy day for me and I hope it is for you too!

xoxo,
nikki