Here’s the hard truth: the holidays are coming fast and we’re all trying to figure out how to make them feel meaningful without losing our minds. I’ve been thinking a lot about where my dollars go this season and it hit me, every purchase is a vote.
Gratitude in action. Choosing to invest our attention, our time, our dollars in the people and places that make our neighborhoods what they are. When we do that, we’re not just supporting a business. We’re supporting each other. We’re reinforcing the values of generosity, care, and resilience that the holidays are supposed to celebrate.
So, here’s my friend-to-friend plea: look around your neighborhood. Meet the makers, the bakers, the shop owners, the artists who put heart into their work. This holiday, let’s make local the first stop, the first choice, the
first story we tell. Because when we lift them up, we lift ourselves up, too. Yeah, I know we say this every month, but it’s something I won’t stop hammering on about. I realize that amazon is convenient, clicking “buy now” is tempting, but a small choice to shop local can ripple far beyond your purchase. And might we add, that our friends who own restaurants and shops on Colfax, need our support big time.
The holidays should feel warm, not hectic. They should feel thoughtful, not just transactional. And they should feel like us, together, showing up for the people and places that make this city feel like home.
Your neighbors,
Shaleen and Sam DeStefano