Hello fellow Eccentric souls and Fae folk from Vancouver Island and beyond!
This section of my website has long been whispering to me, calling to me and asking that I finally utilize it and show it off to the world. It wasn't until recently that I realized what I should even talk about here though, but it came to me in a strange place, as most of my ideas do.
As I spend my time reacquainting myself with the island after a brief (and ill-advised) move to the mainland, I have been finding myself enjoying the unusual delights found in small, unique shops that are hiding on the island. The kind of shops that are truly one of a kind, and run by people like you and me, the colourful, bright and positive people that add so much to our little communities.
This isn't going to be a full review of shops, I'm not going to tell you the bad, or be critical, but I'm also not going to lie about the places I explore. If I mention a shop here, it is because I truly enjoy the products they sell and the overall atmosphere.
I'm also only going to be talking about small businesses, because we should all try harder to support the small businesses around us. There really is something special about walking into a store that has been built, not by a large billion dollar corporation who sees their employees as just numbers on a computer screen, but by people who are looking to make a living doing what they love within their community, while also providing a service or product that can put a smile on the face of others.
I was recently reminded of the impact of the amazing humans in our community when a small business owner of a wonderful shop (that I will be sure to mention in this blog at some point), convinced me to talk to my doctor about getting bariatric surgery (weight loss surgery). It is something I didn't truly consider before but she persuaded me to focus on my health, and recommended that I at least get myself on the years long waitlist so I have the opportunity, should I decide it is right for me.
If you don't know me personally, then it may come as a surprise that I live with disabilities and have a few conditions that cause chronic pain and fatigue. My weight has really started contributing to the pain that I live with every day, and makes it even harder for me to do the things I need/want to do. I love the way I look now, I have finally grown to accept that I am allowed to love myself even if I do not fit the standard of beauty that is sold to us by the media, but now I have to love myself enough to do what is right for my health and wellbeing.
That is something you just won't get from a big corporation; store owners that genuinely care about their customers and the community around them.
So this is my current plan, hopefully you will find some enjoyment in my journey to explore all the unique shops I can find. If you have any recommendations for places near or far that I should add to my list, please let me know. If you are a small business owner and would like me to review your business, please send me an email!
I hope you all have a beautiful day full of inspiration and humour!
-Erin