If you were going to open up a shop, what would you sell?
Once again, Day One Prompts saving a sister. This is actually the prompt from August 10th. Either I didn’t pay attention to it on that day, or I had something more important to talk about. Who knows? I guess I can always go back and see what I did talk about on the 10th.
Seven years in the future, I am unlocking the door to my coffee shop, Café Librero, in Tulum, Mexico. The smell of coffee greets you as you walk through the door. There are small circular tables with comfortable, plush chairs. Along the left wall are bookshelves filled with books showing Spanish and English titles. On the right wall, there are mugs with Spanish sayings and shirts to match. The walls are beautifully painted in a rusty orange with floral designs that looks real enough to touch. The barista calls out a greeting in English followed up with the same greeting in Spanish. You approach the register to place your order, knowing that you will be understood in either language. You speak slowly, using choppy Spanish, because you are still learning, and you are happy to have a place to practice.
As you wait for your order to be prepared, you browse the books on the shelves. You find the latest romance novel by Jasmine Guillory and tuck it under your arm. You have been looking for this book, but have been unable to find it at any of the other bookstores. You grab a seat at a yellow table with a mandala design painted on the top. The orange and yellow chair you sit in is made for chilling and reading a book. Another worker brings your order to your table, and you have another opportunity to practice your Spanish. They are patient with you as you speak and offer encouragement on what you did say right. You laugh, a little embarrassed, but happy to be getting real-world experience. As you sip your hot, but not too hot to drink, coffee, you dive into the first chapter of the book.
My dream is to retire at 55, move to Tulum, Mexico, and open up a coffee shop. I want to sell coffee, mugs with Spanish sayings and t-shirts. I want to allow people to borrow and purchase books in English or Spanish. My cafe will be advertised as a place for new Spanish speakers to come in and get an opportunity to improve their Spanish by speaking with the workers and others who frequent the establishment. I know Duolingo isn’t the way to learn, and others have stressed how important it is to immerse yourself when learning a new language. My café will be a stop on your journey to mastering a new language. What I’m really selling is an experience. One that you will remember long after you return home.
Your turn. What would be the name of your shop? What would you sell? Tell me your wildest dream. I’m nosy and I want to know. Be well and whole. Much Love 🧡 💚