The Whirlwind

Managing a small candle business can feel like herding cats during a fireworks show, structured chaos at its peak. Your shop surges with orders just as your supplier says there is a delay on a fragrance shipment, leaving five frustrated customers waiting for their “Mango & Coconut” fix. The printer jams, spitting out your “Mermaid Mist” labels with what appeared to be an ancient Egyptian language, and a misplaced delivery box—compounded by your attention-seeking dog—results in a broken toe and a string of muttered cuss words. Your inbox is full with questions like, are the candles are “gluten-free,” while your other dog cries under your chair at each thunderclap. At day’s end, a quiet laugh is the only response to the whirlwind. As Scarlett O’Hara said, “Tomorrow is another day”—though she should have added, “and I’m sleeping in.”