26:I[56264,["/_next/static/chunks/3fntmmi971322.js","/_next/static/chunks/1ymt1shyhmu-4.js","/_next/static/chunks/291ciwmgtp_xc.js","/_next/static/chunks/2owa30hnifmhr.js","/_next/static/chunks/2tie5rqwdsi89.js","/_next/static/chunks/2dnipz2c0692b.js","/_next/static/chunks/1mf5iq195c2sn.js","/_next/static/chunks/03wn0-bzh3abk.js","/_next/static/chunks/0_02m0ghanddv.js"],"GuestHistoryRecorder"] 27:I[3004,["/_next/static/chunks/3fntmmi971322.js","/_next/static/chunks/1ymt1shyhmu-4.js","/_next/static/chunks/291ciwmgtp_xc.js","/_next/static/chunks/2owa30hnifmhr.js","/_next/static/chunks/2tie5rqwdsi89.js","/_next/static/chunks/2dnipz2c0692b.js","/_next/static/chunks/1mf5iq195c2sn.js","/_next/static/chunks/03wn0-bzh3abk.js","/_next/static/chunks/0_02m0ghanddv.js"],"EmailPreview"] 2a:I[27201,["/_next/static/chunks/3fntmmi971322.js","/_next/static/chunks/1ymt1shyhmu-4.js","/_next/static/chunks/291ciwmgtp_xc.js","/_next/static/chunks/2owa30hnifmhr.js"],"IconMark"] 28:Tbb40,

The difficult-customer list.

For a few years now, the same company has put up our holiday lights. Our house is tall, we're both getting a little old for ladders, and every October a crew shows up, gets the lights on the roof, and I get to flip them on whenever the holiday spirit sparks.

This year, I made them work for it. Not on purpose.

It started over the summer, when the offers came to book early and lock in my rate. I didn't answer. A kind text from Hannah came in September, then a call, where I apologized, told her I'd been sick, and admitted I was dragging my feet on whether we could justify the lights this year after an unplanned kitchen project. I promised to decide and get back to her in a day or two.

I didn't.

Another text came in October. I let that one sit too. I wasn't ignoring them. I was overwhelmed, honestly torn about the money, and every unanswered message made the next one harder.

By the time the owner reached out himself, I was sure I'd blown it. Lost my rate and earned a spot on the difficult-customer list.

So when I finally wrote back to say yes, I over-apologized and offered to pay on the spot, like paying fast could make up for going quiet.

He wrote back: "Take your time with the payment. I understand life happens. Pay when it's convenient for you."

No penalty, no guilt, no lecture. Just a person being decent. That was this week. The lights went up the next day.

I was so surprised that I told my husband, and he was just as floored. We kept saying it to each other. Wasn't that nice? Wasn't that so nice?

And that's the part that got me. Not that it happened, but that it surprised us so much.

We've gotten so used to being processed, upsold, and hurried along that plain human kindness now lands like a small miracle.

It shouldn't be remarkable to be treated like a person. But it is.

And when someone pulls it off, you don't forget them. You hand them all your business and tell everyone you know.

In that spirit, a small thank-you from us:

Every year around now, we send one to this community. Here's this year's. A $10 gift card to the Holstee shop, code ThankYOU26, good through December 31st.

No pressure, no catch. Use it on yourself, on someone else, or not at all. We're a small team, and you're the reason we get to keep doing this.

Thank you for opening these, and for reading all the way to the end.

JOIN THE CONVERSATION →

Kim
Community, Holstee

THE FLOURISHING LIFE BY HOLSTEE

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29:T112f,[HOLSTEE] [The difficult-customer list.](https://community.holstee.com/c/reflections-emails/the-difficult-customer-list) For a few years now, the same company has put up our holiday lights. Our house is tall, we're both getting a little old for ladders, and every October a crew shows up, gets the lights on the roof, and I get to flip them on whenever the holiday spirit sparks. This year, I made them work for it. Not on purpose. It started over the summer, when the offers came to book early and lock in my rate. I didn't answer. A kind text from Hannah came in September, then a call, where I apologized, told her I'd been sick, and admitted I was dragging my feet on whether we could justify the lights this year after an unplanned kitchen project. I promised to decide and get back to her in a day or two. I didn't. Another text came in October. I let that one sit too. I wasn't ignoring them. I was overwhelmed, honestly torn about the money, and every unanswered message made the next one harder. By the time the owner reached out himself, I was sure I'd blown it. Lost my rate and earned a spot on the difficult-customer list. So when I finally wrote back to say yes, I over-apologized and offered to pay on the spot, like paying fast could make up for going quiet. He wrote back: "Take your time with the payment. I understand life happens. Pay when it's convenient for you." No penalty, no guilt, no lecture. Just a person being decent. That was this week. The lights went up the next day. I was so surprised that I told my husband, and he was just as floored. We kept saying it to each other. Wasn't that nice? Wasn't that so nice? And that's the part that got me. Not that it happened, but that it surprised us so much. We've gotten so used to being processed, upsold, and hurried along that plain human kindness now lands like a small miracle. It shouldn't be remarkable to be treated like a person. But it is. And when someone pulls it off, you don't forget them. You hand them all your business and tell everyone you know. In that spirit, a small thank-you from us: Every year around now, we send one to this community. Here's this year's. A $10 gift card to the Holstee shop, code ThankYOU26, good through December 31st. No pressure, no catch. Use it on yourself, on someone else, or not at all. We're a small team, and you're the reason we get to keep doing this. Thank you for opening these, and for reading all the way to the end. [JOIN THE CONVERSATION →](https://community.holstee.com/c/reflections-emails/the-difficult-customer-list) Kim Community, [Holstee](https://www.holstee.com)[](https://myyear.review/) THE FLOURISHING LIFE BY HOLSTEE Enjoy 20% off all items in the Holstee shop when you join The Flourishing Life—the perfect way to bring more meaning and mindfulness into your everyday life with tools and products designed to support your journey. ✨ Join The Flourishing Life to access monthly lessons, reflection prompts, community gatherings, Reflection.app Premium, and a supportive community—all crafted to help you live with greater intention and connection. [JOIN THE FLOURISHING LIFE →](https://www.holstee.com/pages/membership) 🤗 Enjoy reading this Reflection? Forward it to a friend. 💌 This email is one in a series of Reflections. Through the series, we share bite-sized stories and learnings from our own journeys to live a more meaningful life. [Sign up for 30 days of our favorite Reflections →](https://www.holstee.com/reflections) [Custom](https://www.facebook.com/holstee) [Custom](http://instagram.com/holstee) [Custom](https://www.tiktok.com/@holstee1) [Custom](https://www.pinterest.com/holstee) [Custom](https://www.youtube.com/user/holsteeTV) [Custom](https://www.linkedin.com/company/holstee) We hope our emails bring a dose of reflection and inspiration to your day. If they do not, please reply and let us know how we can improve. Update your [email frequency](http://holstee.myklpages.com/p/unsubscribe?a=c2MSrU&c=01KZJ4XK2G8HN27JVVV1JYZZ9S&k=66e5568fd1c715500c1e31f9854256ad&se=holstee%40mailspo.com&m=01M4MMEJPZWHY3VX3498BWTYAE&r=01M4PJ8021Y5S2FJ7S72PMKA2B), or [unsubscribe](http://holstee.myklpages.com/p/unsubscribe?a=c2MSrU&c=01KZJ4XK2G8HN27JVVV1JYZZ9S&k=66e5568fd1c715500c1e31f9854256ad&se=holstee%40mailspo.com&m=01M4MMEJPZWHY3VX3498BWTYAE&r=01M4PJ8021Y5S2FJ7S72PMKA2B). 1f:["$","article",null,{"className":"min-w-0 flex-1 overflow-hidden","aria-label":"The difficult-customer list.","children":[["$","$L26",null,{"emailId":"04900c00-a64f-4b87-89c6-c62710b56c4e"}],["$","$L27",null,{"email":{"id":"04900c00-a64f-4b87-89c6-c62710b56c4e","subject":"The difficult-customer list.","previewText":"[HOLSTEE]\n\n[The difficult-customer list.](https://community.holstee.com/c/reflections-emails/the-difficult-customer-list)\n\nFor a few years now, the same company has put up our holiday lights. 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