07/24/2026
đ¸ "The hardest part of my job isnât the physical labor..."
I donât usually make posts like this, but there is a truth about this work that needs to be brought into the light.
The hardest part of my job isnât what it does to my body. It isnât the heavy furniture that strains my back, or spending eight grueling hours on my hands and knees pulling weeds under a scorching, unforgiving sun. It isnât the carpal tunnel flare-ups from scrubbing showers, the awkward movements from hauling heavy equipment, or even the throbbing ache that settles deep into my muscles when the day is finally done.
The hardest part of my job is simply saying "no."
If you know me, you know that word catches in my throat. I almost never use it. When I do say no, it isnât because Iâve stopped caring, because I donât want to help, or because I take your business for granted. I say no because I have reached a point where a "yes" would be an empty promise.
Behind the Sea Shine name, I'm just a single human being.
Most mornings, I spend my earliest hours in the quiet of my gardens, clipping fresh flowers for the day's clients to bring a touch of beauty into their world. Each bouquet is cut with thought and intention; honestly, it's the most peace my days have right now. On my way to my first job, I'm constantly multitasking; answering phone calls and balancing schedules. Then comes sometimes an hour of driving, followed by intense cleaning, organizing, folding laundry, and checking in with the client to see if there is anything extra they need during the visit. When that's finished, it's time to pack up and head straight to the next one, praying the traffic isn't too chaotic.
This process repeats until it's time to head home and prep for the next day. It is often long past dinner, at an hour when most people are watching their evening shows or sitting by the fire enjoying the summer nights. Toss in caring for my own home and animals, and by the time my head finally hits the pillow, the clock reads 2:00 or 3:00 AM. Then, the alarm rings, and I do it all over again.
I have never measured my success by my bank account; and if that day ever comes, I'll probably close this chapter entirely. I measure it by the relief on a client's face and the flawless quality of the space I leave behind.
That is exactly why this hurts so much.
This week, after the emotional fallout of finally drawing a line and saying "no" more than once, I walked into a regular clientâs home running completely on empty. My eyes were heavy, my mind was a fog, and because I was moving on pure exhaustion, I missed things. Small details. Things I would normally catch in an instant.
My client wasnât angry. She looked at my work and knew instantly that something was deeply wrong, because she knows the standard I hold myself to. Her kindness actually cut deeper than anger ever could. It broke my heart, because that exact drop in quality was what I was fighting so hard to prevent.
When I say no, it is because I refuse to let the people who already rely on me receive anything less than my absolute best. I don't want to give anyone subpar service. I shouldn't have to lay bare my personal hardships or dissect my private life just to justify a boundary. "No" should be allowed to stand on its own as an honest statement of human capacity.
I am a human being before I am a business owner, and my energy is not infinite. I foolishly run on Red Bull because Dunkin' is just too time consuming, but even that can only do so much.
If you have ever received a "no" from me, or if you ever do in the future, please know it wasn't casual. It tore me up to say it. I probably spent a good amount of time trying to figure out what I could sacrifice personally just to accommodate you. But I would rather disappoint someone once by turning down a job, than sacrifice my quality of service or fail a single one of youâespecially my loyal clients who have already trusted me with the keys to their homes.
To those of you who see this, who understand this balance, and who extend grace to me: thank you. You are the reason I keep going.
And to the ones who don't know me yet, who are trying to get on my books and might have felt pushed aside by a "No" I hope you see this and realize that your time, your home, and your business matter to me too much to ever give you less than my absolute best!
