What If You Just… Let Them?
Lately, I’ve realized something: I was letting everything get to me. The tiniest little things would set me off—the slow cashier, the person cutting in line, the customer who ignores my greeting at the market. And somehow, instead of shaking it off, I’d let it fester. I’d hold onto it, stew over it, and worse—waste my energy complaining about it.
And then I read The Let Them Theory by Mel Robbins, and it was like a slap in the face (the good kind).
“Modern life can feel like death by a thousand cuts—one thing after another that slowly drains your energy and stresses you out. It’s not only easy to let it get to you, it’s dumb.”
That hit hard. Because I realized that’s exactly what I was feeling—death by a thousand cuts. I was handing over my peace to things and people that didn’t deserve it.
So I stopped.
I stopped focusing on ridiculous little inconveniences that I have zero control over. And now? It’s incredible how often I find myself saying Let them—and feeling completely free because of it.
A perfect example?
At the store or the market, I say hello to someone, and they:
- Ignore me.
- Say, “I’m just looking.”
- Hold up a hand, silently dismissing me before I can even finish my sentence.
Before Mel Robbins? My blood would boil. That one person could ruin my whole day.
Now? I shrug, laugh, and say, Let them.
Let them be in a bad mood.
Let them rush past.
Let them carry whatever energy they want—I’m not carrying it for them.
I shared this with my sister, Samantha, in Ottawa. She was feeling the same—drained, quick to anger, weighed down by every little thing outside her control. Turns out, I was the second person to mention this book to her in as many days. So she read it.
And within days, she started applying The Let Them Theory in her own life. And you know what? Not only did she feel different, but the people around her noticed, too. Her friends. Her family. Everyone close to her could see it—this shift was real.
And the truth is, this mindset doesn’t just apply to people. It applies to business, too.
“The people and situations around you are like the weather. The fact is, you can never control other people—how they think, how they act, whether or not they love you, or how fast they check you out at the grocery store.”
That’s when I realized: Let them applies to where I spend my money, too.
Large corporations choosing profits over people? Let them.
Big box stores undercutting small businesses with mass-produced junk? Let them.
Multinational conglomerates funneling their profits anywhere but here? Let them.
But then—Let me.
Let me shop local.
Let me support small businesses.
Let me cheer on other refilleries.
That’s exactly why Mat and I opened Greenbriar Market. We wanted something different.
Let me open a store that focuses on Canadian products.
Let me support local artisans and makers.
Let me give a damn about the environment.
And that’s exactly why a day like Economic Blackout Day matters:
Economic Blackout Day started as a direct response to the ongoing threats of tariffs and economic policies that undermine Canadian businesses in favour of large multinational corporations. It’s a movement that encourages people to pause their spending at major corporations and, instead, support small, independent, and ethical businesses. Or, in some cases, not spend at all.
It’s a reminder that every purchase we make is a vote for the kind of economy we want to see and the kind of world we want to live in.
So if you’re shopping today, we’d love to see you at Greenbriar. And if you’re not? That’s powerful, too.
Because where we spend our money matters.
Until next week,
Shawn
Save the date! Next month, Greenbriar turns 4 years old! To celebrate, we’re hosting a special after-hours event on Thursday, March 13th.
Details are coming soon, but expect a fun evening with great company, special surprises, and a few treats to thank you for being part of our journey.
