From Corporate Deadlines to Coffee Lines: Finding My Way Back to Community
This is the story of our assistant manager, who traded in the corporate grind for the joy of crafting coffees, chatting with regulars, and bringing a little extra sunshine to everyone’s day.
“For years, my days were defined by meetings, targets, and back-to-back deadlines. I worked in the corporate world, where success was measured in numbers, not names. It was a life that looked good on paper — steady, structured, even enviable. But somewhere between the emails, endless to-do lists, and 8 hours hunched over a desk, I started to feel something missing: a sense of connection.
I missed the simple joy of community. Uplifting conversations, unhurried moments, and the feeling that my work meant something more than the next report or quarterly goal.
Corporate life didn’t suit me so early in my 20’s. I felt like I was ageing faster, my back aching every time I rose from my desk, white hairs gaining from my scalp, dark circles hollowing my eyes. I had to get out.
So when the chance came to return to café life — to the rhythm of the espresso machine and the hum of community — I took it.
It dug a hole in my career, but it lifted my quality of life tenfold.
Trading Meetings for Meaning
The transition wasn’t just a career change; it was a shift in how I wanted to live. Working in a café reminds you that people still crave connection in a world that’s always rushing to do something, be somewhere – be someone.
A familiar face in the queue, remembering someone’s regular order, sharing a laugh on a rainy day — these moments might seem small, but they matter deeply.
Behind every cup of coffee is a story: the early riser grabbing their flat white before work, the friends catching up after years apart, the student finding a quiet corner to study. Being part of that tapestry of everyday life feels more rewarding than any promotion ever did.
Building a Space for Connection
Working at Timber, I’ve grown accustomed to believing that coffee is just the beginning. What really fills our space — beyond the aroma of freshly ground beans and the sound of cutlery clanging — is the sense of life happening.
We see strangers become regulars, and regulars become friends. We see parents introducing their children to their favourite baristas (hehe). We see conversations that start over a cappuccino and turn into collaborations, friendships, even love stories.
That’s what I came back for — to contribute to a place that at its heart is about community, care, and connection.
More Than Just Coffee
In a café, the work is tangible. You see the results of what you do in a smile, a sigh of relief, or a thank-you. It’s an immediate kind of satisfaction that reminds you why spaces like these matter.
Every day, I’m grateful to be part of something so grounded and human. And as I pour another coffee or wipe down a table, I often think about how far I’ve come — not in status or title, but in meaning.
A Warm Invitation
If you’re reading this and you’ve ever felt that same pull — that longing for something more real, more connected — I invite you to come visit us at Timber Cafe in Harrisdale. Have a seat, take a breath, and share a moment with us. Because here, we believe the best things in life happen when we slow down, savour the coffee, and simply connect.
See you around!
-Jaime, Assistant Manager at Timber Cafe in Harrisdale