Imagine Lorelai and Rory walking around Walmart.
Fine, right?
But it doesn't give you that magical, homey feeling that you get when they are at Doose's Market with their little basket, bumping into everyone in town. And eating at McDonald's is never going to be quite as charming as eating at Luke's.
Of course, I understand that we can't always shop local, and I'm sure the Gilmore Girls didn't either. I'm just saying that when you can, do it! If no one ever went to Luke's or Doose's they would go out of business and a Rite Aid or Walgreens would move in instead. Fine, right? But not quite the Stars Hollow we are looking for. When you support the local businesses in your own area, you are helping preserve a little more Stars Hollow in the world.
(*And just a note, if there aren't local shops you can support, then by all means, go the Walgreens or whatever, and apply the things we have already talked about: learn people's names, go regularly, get familiar and make it yours. Slow down, sit, notice the people, the music, the colors, the pace, and the mood.)
Yes, things might be a little more expensive at a locally owned place, but it's worth the price! And it might take a little more time and effort to seek out and enjoy these places, but you will be glad you did. We need to slow down and explore a little more anyway.
Think of all the enchanting small towns you've ever been to. Even if they were just tourist towns, they felt different because they weren't just full of big box stores. We all love the convenience and savings of cheap, big stores, but we are on this blog together because WE LOVE INTIMACY! We love the intimate shops, restaurants and people in Stars Hollow.
The places you go won't be perfect, and probably won't feel much like Stars Hollow at first. But keep choosing to go to those places and over the weeks, months, and years they will become your Stars Hollow. You will start to become more familiar with the local faces of your community this way too.
Take note of local grocery stores, restaurants or bakeries today as you drive around! And then make plans to stop and check one of them out this week. While you are wandering around inside, smile and think of yourself discovering your Stars Hollow for the first time, like Rory and Lorelai wandering into town for the first time.
They probably thought Stars Hollow was a little funky and less than perfect at first too, but it became "their place" over time, and so will your Stars Hollow. The more you look for the interesting, the quirky, the beautiful, and the good, the more you will start to enjoy the life you are living right now and see the Stars Hollow in it.
