A space to learn how to enjoy your own company and make life less scary and more exciting.
🌻 8 Easy, Affordable Ways to Support Local Businesses—and Why It’s Important
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Shifting just a few purchases to locally owned stores makes a difference as we fight the good fight against mass production and megacorporations. In the last quarter of 2025, in a turn of events that stunned no one, OpenAI announced its move towards agentic commerce, allowing U.S. ChatGPT users to buy items directly in the chatbox. As an aside, let’s not forget that ChatGPT’s self-proclaimed mission is “to ensure that artificial general intelligence benefits all of humanity.” How encouraging people to buy more things they likely don’t need benefits humanity is beyond me. But what do I know? Embarrassingly for Mr. Altman, ChatGPT apparently isn’t even useful for shilling products. Per researchers at the University of Hamburg and the Frankfurt School of Finance & Management, organic Large Language Model traffic (oLLM) traffic performs “below all other traditional channels,” save paid social. But I digress. While I love to roast Big Tech and drone on about the environmental and humanitarian implications of shopping via Amazon Prime, today, as for all days, the focus is on what small steps we can take to make life more enjoyable. One easy but impactful way to support your community and your own wellbeing is to shop local—and you don’t have to break the bank or otherwise inconvenience yourself to do it. THE SHORTLIST: 8 ways to support local businesses (without spending a lot of money)Buy coffee beans or grounds from a local shop instead of a grocery store Get groceries at your local farmer’s market Buy books from a local, in-person bookstore (not Amazon) Shop clothes from local boutiques instead of name-brand stores or online Eat at local restaurants instead of chains For gifts, check out local shops instead of ordering online Follow local businesses on social media—and tell friends When in doubt, ask yourself this question THE SHORTLIST: 5 reasons why you should support local businessesYou keep money in your local community You build your community’s cultural identity You (usually) get better customer service You support skilled artisans instead of mass production You give money to working people instead of celebrities and billionaires PLUS:5 ways to discover local businesses near you to break free from algorithm-led recommendations 6 quotes to remind you to support local businesses 2 quotes to inspire you to keep going with your own project (even if it feels like you’re not getting anywhere right now)
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Merry of "A Merry Loner"
A space to learn how to enjoy your own company and make life less scary and more exciting.
Did a friend forward you this newsletter? You can get your own, for free. Just subscribe here. Need to take a break from emails? That's okay. You can change your email address or unsubscribe. Hello, Reader. It's Merry here, the American-raised, Paris-based writer with another message about finding confidence and comfort in your own company, so you can stop waiting on other people to enjoy your life. Last time, I shared excerpts of poetry from Joy Sullivan about new beginnings and finding the...
Did a friend forward you this newsletter? You can get your own, for free. Just subscribe here. Need to take a break from emails? That's okay. You can change your email address or unsubscribe. Hello, Reader. It's Merry here, the American-raised, Paris-based writer with another message about finding confidence and comfort in your own company, so you can stop waiting on other people to enjoy your life. Last time, I shared six reasons why spending time alone can be good for you. Today, we're...
There are many benefits of solitude, but you have to give yourself the chance to sit there. It’s the tale as old as time: “I’m afraid I will die alone.” While such a worry often comes to us in more dire moments, like when a relationship dissolves or family ties begin to come undone, the fear of being alone also creeps its way into our everyday activities: going to a wedding alone; traveling alone; living alone; even celebrating Valentine’s Day alone. When we compare our inner circle to that...