Running a small business sometimes feels more like a lifestyle than an occupation. It can influence your thoughts, decisions, and how you spend your time. And for all the joy it brings, sometimes, work may get in the way of your health.

Local, family-owned businesses add character to our communities. Most of us feel nostalgia for small downtown shopping areas - the tree-lined streets, the bustling shops. What comes to mind first? The mom and pop bakery where you bought your sister’s birthday cake? The cozy pub on the corner? The florist that always had fresh hydrangeas? Chances are, these small businesses and the familiar faces that run them are staples in your community.