There’s a series on Hulu called The Bear, and it’s about restaurant life. I made it through the first couple episodes, and then I had to stop.
It just hit too close to home.
The daily drama of owning a restaurant is something only those in the industry can understand. Working a series of tough shifts unlocks a spirited and scrappy part of yourself that you never knew existed. There is so much joy…but there is so much silent suffering.
Last week was the latter. Between refrigerator condenser coils freezing over, leaking grease from the ceiling, running out of product on a holiday weekend, and chemical burns on my feet, it was a hard one.
But I’m familiar with these terrible days. They all roll out the same way: I cry a little, put on my big girl pants, make myself an espresso, and fix things. Today, I’m feeling a bit better.
Reader, miserable days abound, and there’s no escaping them. Not with optimism or avoidance or a positive attitude or really good scotch. There’s just believing you can do it. Even with no one around, you have to believe in your ability to make it through.
I wish you fortitude this week, and I’ll continue to believe in myself as well; I’m playing my first shows since I dislocated my finger. I still don’t have much use of my right hand, and I can’t use my pinky at all. But I’m sure gonna make it through it.
Let’s all get out there and be The Bear this week. We’re stronger than we know. See you in real life at a show or here at my blog next Monday. -Em
