A Compliment That Changed My Attitude

I live in Montreal, which was considered one of the cheapest places to live in Canada. This has been slowly changing and this year the rent has gotten a lot more expensive, along with groceries.

I own a used bookshop, where the rent is also going up and it has changed my quality of life. I am fighting to make things work. I have some wonderful, creative people renting part of the store to sell handmade products such as clothing, home decor and accesories. I have also been making handmade jewelry and selling second-hand clothing. These changes have helped me, but they also leave me feeling overwhelmed at times.

This week, one of my regular clients came in and he told me that he admires my creativity and resourcefulness when it comes to keeping the store going. He said that human connection is so important and that I continue to provide a welcoming atmosphere where people can feel comfortable to interact and be social. I felt so touched by this. While this job is very difficult at times, I feel it's very important work and it fills my soul with joy to know that I have created a space that's important to people.