Yesterday, my dear friend @melissa__cole and I had a writing date at one of our favorite places, @beanzandcompany . Melissa, on the right, is an amazing writer who focuses on supporting and building up local businesses. And Kim, in the middle, is one of the owners of Beanz. Her and her husband, Scott, for years owned @nepastaco When their youngest daughter, Meg, who was born with Down syndrome, was getting close to twenty-one years old, they recognized there were barely any places who employed people who have intellectual or developmental disabilities.

So they chose to do something about it.

They opened Beanz, a cafe in Avon, that employs people with intellectual and developmental abilities. When you go, it’s like how it should be, people being kind, patient, understanding, and accepting of one another. Whenever I leave, I feel nourished in every way.

Their mission has been such a success that they just opened a second Beanz inside the Hospital of Central Connecticut in New Britain. @beanzandcompanyhospitalcafe

I just love these two ladies and how they are both focused on building others up in the work they do.

If you don’t currently follow them, I encourage you to do so.

Also, I invite you to join me to…

pause. breathe. pray.

More important than following their socials, may we follow their examples of lifting others up. Because when we do, we are living aligned with our greater purpose in life, to love others well.

With love and hope,
Shawn

“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.”
-1 Thessalonians 5:11