What Does Gratitude Look Like?
Gratitude is an easy word to throw around. Toss it in a work meeting, a marketing newsletter, or a casual networking conversation; it helps us sound humble, which wins us brownie points. When you approach the idea genuinely, you open a door for real connections. Starling Salon makes a conscious effort to do that with every guest, not by forcing it, but by cultivating an environment that attracts those who practice gratitude. Some people show they’re grateful for their jobs by showing up on time and prepared with their best foot forward. Some people show their partners they’re grateful for the companionship by cooking dinner or spending time doing things their partner likes. These people don’t think, “How do I show my gratitude?” They instinctively respond with it.
None of that means taking up space to express your gratitude should be frowned upon. Even though this little Denver salon oozes with appreciation and grace, wrapping up a challenging year feels like the perfect time to acknowledge what and who lifted the team when they needed it. Drop your shoulders and release that weight, because this is now a stress-free space.
One huge reason people are grateful for Colorado: the majesty.
Grateful For? Colorado
To start, this team acknowledges how lucky they are to live in Colorado, specifically Denver. Everyone else living here knows exactly why, but for argument’s sake, here are some outdoor-loving, cowboy-dressing, cool-kid highlights:
· “I can do all the outdoorsy stuff I want.” Kate Davis, the girl hopelessly in love with a rugged hiking trail, wouldn’t survive in one of those flat states.
· “I love the people.” Emma Stewart might be a sucker for nature, much like Kate, but the right crowd draws her in, too.
· “I like how chill Colorado is.” Maybe all those cool people enjoying the mountains make for one of the most relaxed and down-to-earth cities. Either way, Brianne Wilson appreciates living in one of the calmer big cities.
Gratitude’s just spilling out of her, she loves her work so much.
Grateful For? The Career
While some people feel obligated to remind hair professionals that it’s not “real” work, the guests at Starling Salon know otherwise. Despite dodging stereotypes and trying to impress their value upon friends and family, hair artists know their worth and love their work. Most are self-proclaimed people pleasers, but it goes deeper than that. Have you ever watched a hair tutorial on YouTube, thinking it looks pretty easy, and paused to consider how much chemistry went into that influencer’s formulation? When you see someone flip their hair forward, stuff it into a hair tie, and start hacking off that horsetail with no precision, do you think about the geometry professionals apply to creating that same haircut?
If you ever thought doing hair looked fun, plenty of the pros agree with you. The Starling stylists finish their days with smiles, even when they face challenges. Their work also creates an artistic outlet (even a structural and scientific outlet for some). In a world where creative jobs are dwindling, hair professionals will be some of the first to tell you how much they appreciate the chance to make a living doing something fun and artistic.
Grateful For? The People
This guest is grateful Sonia cares and listens, otherwise she’d be stuck looking like Joe Dirt.
When you’ve been doing hair for a while, you can’t help but build relationships with your guests. After all, the bare minimum salon exposure might look like one hour every two months. That’s six hours per year, and whether that sounds like a big chunk of your time or not, sitting in it feels longer. So, you chat. You get to know each other and, most likely, friendships grow. It’s almost hard to avoid. Your hairstylist might not be your best friend, but some of them know more about you than other circles in your life. What starts as venting to a stranger grows into hairapy, and then, you two are bonded. It means as much to the professionals as it does to you. Sharing their life with you and getting to know the amazing people you are pushes them through the harder days and makes the good days even better. Emma summarizes how so many stylists feel: “At the beginning of this career, the imposter syndrome is really hard. I’m grateful for my guests’ trust.”
All of that gratitude would be for nought without somewhere to practice the craft they love so much. Sonia Nordmeyer designed Starling Salon with spirituality in mind. In other words, she manifests a safe space for everyone who walks through the doors, always with intention. That draws the attention of artists who inherently practice gratitude and guests who appreciate the kind messages embedded in the salon’s work. The number one thing that makes these artists grateful to work at Starling Salon is its openness.
Spreading a little salon magic.
The transparency and comfort provided to and by everyone may sound cheesy when you read about it. Instead, spend a few minutes at your next appointment spotting the signs of gratitude posted all over the place. The people, the building, even the chair supporting you, they’re all grateful you’re there.
Check the events page for upcoming community events.
Expressing gratitude promotes good mental health. Really, these guys say so.