Until My Puppies Told Me I Was Broken
This is a powerful story—and it’s real.
A raw and honest story from a café owner in Caversham about burnout, mental health, and how even puppies can remind us to reset. You’re not alone—come in for a chat.
The reality of cafe life
There’s something about running a café that people don’t always see.
The early mornings.
The late nights.
The invoices.
The staff.
The customers.
The pressure.
For me, it became 80 hours a week… 7 days a week.
No off switch.
No reset.
Just go, go, go.
When Everything Hits at Once
If you’re in business, you’ll understand this part.
It’s never just one thing.
It’s everything… all at once.
- End of month bills
- Suppliers needing payment
- Staff needing support
- Customers needing attention
- Problems stacking up
- And expectations never slowing down
And then there’s PR… showing up smiling, being “on,” being the face of the café.
But sometimes… you’re not okay.
And people notice.
My regulars notice.
They see the shift before I even admit it to myself.
The Moment It Hit Me
This is where it gets a bit unexpected…
At home, my partner deals with psoriasis.
And our puppies? well, They would constantly lick his legs.
it was something we laughed at, being annoying as it was.
But one day… something clicked.
Because those same puppies started licking my legs too.
And not just randomly.
They did it when I was at my lowest.
When I was overwhelmed.
When I was carrying everything.
When I was mentally drained.
It was like they knew.
And in that moment, I realised something I didn’t want to admit:
I was broken.
The Reset
Now, every time it happens… I stop.
I don’t ignore it anymore.
I adjust.
I check myself.
I breathe.
Because if I don’t reset… I can’t show up the way I want to—for my team, my customers, my café, and my community.
Experience Means Help
Here’s what I’ve learned after years in hospitality:
Experience doesn’t just mean knowledge.
Experience means understanding.
Understanding means connection.
And connection means… you’re not alone.
Because the truth is:
A lot of people walking into cafés aren’t just there for coffee.
They’re carrying things too.
Stress.
Pressure.
Loneliness.
Burnout.
Just like I was.
What Caversham Café Really Is
At Caversham Café, we’re more than food and coffee.
We’re:
- A place to pause
- A place to reset
- A place to connect
- A place where you don’t have to pretend you’re okay
Because sometimes, all you need… is a conversation.
Come for a Chat
If you’re feeling overwhelmed…
If life’s stacking up…
If you just need a moment to breathe…
Come in.
Grab a coffee.
Sit down.
Have a chat.
No pressure. No judgement.
Just real people, real conversations, and a space built on community.
👉 Visit us at Caversham Café and take a moment for yourself
👉 Bring a friend, or come solo—we’ll make you feel at home
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