The Gift?

I am sure that Arizona has wondered why I have not put a picture up and blogged about her shop warming gift to me.  The reason is, I could not put it up myself.  My door needs special screws and drill bit to put it up.  That meant, Coach had to do it for me.  Unfortunately, Tru Stories had a long list of things for Coach to do.  On top of all the many things going on in their home on a daily basis.  So I have waited patiently, (not super patiently) for the gift to be mounted on the door.

Arizona and I love to buy gifts for each other.  It is not about how fancy the gift is.  It is about how perfectly it fits into the other person's life.  I know Arizona put quite a bit of thought into this gift.  I had not even thought of looking for one.  For Arizona this gift has bonus points.  She knows I will think of her many times a day when it rings.  I might not think nice thoughts during really busy times.  She won't care.  I bet she has a smile on her face right now knowing in a way, she is a part of my daily life.  We are long distance friends that work hard at staying in each other's lives.  After listening to the bell she might be inserting herself a bit too much into my day!
Ironically, the first person in my shop was deaf.  She closed the door softly and it only rang once.  Otherwise, she would have heard it.  I might need to tone it down a bit.  The next group in was someone that is a regular.  He thought it was a bit loud.  He suggested taking it down.  He also shook the door laughing when he left.  It did not ring when someone came in that shut the door softly. 
Fun stuff at Coco's.  Thanks, Arizona.  Love you!

Update:  My granddaughters and some of their cousins were just in the store.  They are madly in love with the bell.  Cannot get enough (that's enough of the bell, get out) of it.  What a surprise they had when they opened the door and the bell rang.  Fun stuff!!

Support System

Hubby might not have jumped on board with my BIG Idea but many people did.  I have this fantastic support system.  So many women that give me such positive feedback and support.  Over and over I have heard, "I'm so proud of you.  You are so brave."  Still hear it.  Friend immediately offered to come and help me.  That is a great feeling.  Three friends were in a race in a morning and came to my shop to help paint in the afternoon.  They drove about two hours to do it.  I feel so blessed.
I was in a very negative work environment for a very long time.  That said, within that work environment I built so many great and lasting friendships.  I met so many strong and impressive women.  I feel like knowing all these women helped me to find the strength to make the huge life change I needed to make.  I could (maybe I will) write several blogs about the great women I know.  All of us have obstacles we work to overcome.  Most of us do it with the support of other women.  I think that is because it is easier for women to make decisions based on passion.  Men make decisions based on facts.  I get that is the wise way to do it.  It just holds people back from going after their dreams. 
It isn't just my friends and some of my family that have been supportive.  People in my town have been supportive.  People tell me how happy they are I opened a business.  We need more people to trust that they can open a business and have it survive in our little town.  I miss a downtown that had retail stores.  We have bars, restaurants, and businesses. 
I am still getting support.  I have people come by to see what changes I am making.  My very good friend I grew up with comes to the shop every Saturday to hang out.  She loves the shop almost as much as I do.  Friends come long distance to see the shop and congratulate me.  That is so awesome. 
Several times a day people come into the shop and compliment me on how cute it is.  What a nice job I did.  It gives me added strength to keep going.  To know I am on the right track.  From Day 1 I have felt that I am on the right track.  This is what I am meant to do.  I need to have the strength to stay with this.  Makes changes to improve on what I have started.  Keep researching and working hard.
We have all seen that saying: 
Find something you love to do and you will never work a day in your life.
I get it now.  Even when I come home I am on the computer researching.  I spend so much time thinking of ways to improve it.  I miss my shop when I am not there.  It is not all fun and games.  There are days I come home and I am emotionally and physically exhausted.  In a good way!!
I have told my friends that are still in the place I left that I feel guilty.  There is not one of them that enjoys what they are doing.  In the two months I have been out of there, it has gotten even more stressful.  I feel like I was a POW that was released.  I have this new and wonderful life.  But, I left the rest of my troop behind.  Not a good feeling.  I want everyone to do something they love.  At least something they know they were meant to do.  I know some smart and talented people.  They could be doing so much more.  They should be appreciated.  Sometimes it is not about the great benefits and good pay.  That cannot always make up for the fact that managers make employees feel like they are not good enough, not appreciated, just not........  So much negative is not healthy.
I have so much positive energy now.  Several times a day I think to myself there is not a bad day in a candy shop.  (Well financially there is.)  I love my job.  That makes me a lucky person.  Tomorrow I get up and do it again.