"The larger the crowds, the smaller our lives. Pliny the Elder once said that the Romans, when they couldn't make the building beautiful, made it big. The practice continues to be popular. If we can't do it well, we make it larger. We add dollars to our income, rooms to our houses, activities to our schedules, appointments to our calendars. And the quality of life diminishes with each addition." - Eugene H. Peterson

The lockdown of cities and streets all over the world has backed us into a place many of us are uncomfortable with. Before we retreated into our homes, we were conditioned to crowds and indulge in many distractions the daily grind and big cities provided. Crowds can be comfortable, an excuse for us to avoid life-giving questions, hiding behind what always seems urgent rather than what's important. We often consume too much not realizing we are simply being bystanders in other people's lives. 

The past weeks changed all of that. We are now exiled from old familiar habits, faced with the quietness of our homes, and the stillness of our hearts. We can choose to continue standing in the sidelines of our lives, complain about what's wrong with the world, or we can take this rare opportunity to listen to that small voice we've been placing on hold. Life's greatest gifts come from discomfort. These moments and realizations that break us usually bring about true freedom, one that is not tied to predictability or circumstance. Passion is an answer to what breaks your heart which often requires sacrifice, and the greater good is made out of a million small passions combined.

Rooted in identity, our mission here at Frankie and Friends has always been tied into exploring and living out purpose and calling, which we believe could be beautifully woven into the art of the everyday. In light of this opportunity to be socially distant and introspective, we are introducing

Small Town Folk

Small Town Folk is a campaign by Frankie and Friends General Store that encourages you to go back to the drawing board and create from your inherent small town stories brought about by this time of reflection in the silence of your homes and hearts. It is a call to rekindle what brings you joy by embracing grassroots, what is familiar and primal, your Why. It could be in the form of writing, singing, drawing, doing, praying, rallying, or just being—however best identifies you. 

Small Town Folk Playlist:

"Look into the sun as the new days rise

There's a rhythm in rush these days
Where the lights don't move and the colors don't fade
Leaves you empty with nothing but dreams
In a world gone shallow
In a world gone lean. 

But there is a Truth and it's on our side

Dawn is coming open your eyes. Look into the sun as a new days rise" 

-Stay Alive, Jose Gonzalez

We also aim to create more awareness on the impact that small businesses and their workers are taking during this crisis by providing opportunities to shop #MeaningfulMustHaves through our platform. Our stores in SM Aura Premier in BGC and Rockwell Powerplant Mall in Makati are home to thousands of small batch products created by local artisans. We will be giving away Cultivate Gift Certificates to support our brand partners. 

Tag us @frankiegeneralstore and Share your thoughts using the template below. Dont forget to use the hashtag #WearSmallTownFolk

How can we be moved to consciously be artists of the everyday instead of being spectators in the crowds? Once we deliberately use this time to look inward, and integrate it to our new normal, these small steps of faith can be huge in coming out of this feeling more alive.

Love and Light,

Jammy 
Co-founder of Frankie and Friends