How to laugh in the face of sorrow: Insights from a Lebanese sweets shop owner

Lebanese sweets shop owner, Nassim Haddad, managed to rebuild his life and successful business amidst various crises using resilience and positivity as coping mechanisms.

The backdrop: Haddad’s long and eventful life includes losing his restaurants and home during the Lebanese civil war, which began in 1975.
* After his businesses were destroyed, Haddad decided to start from scratch, opening Chez Nassim, a sweets shop, in the town of Broummana.

The resilience shown: Through his tenacity and positive outlook, Haddad rebuilt his life amid economic crisis, war, and disaster.
* Haddad choose to live life to the fullest, making the best out of every day with his mantra, “You have to be happy.”

A booming business: After the civil war ended in 1990, Haddad used his savings to open a successful restaurant in Beirut called Place de l’Etoile.
* The restaurant flourished, often filled with prominent figures, including the then Prime Minister Rafic Hariri.
* However, Haddad decided to sell the restaurant in 2008 and concentrated more on his sweets shop, Chez Nassim.

Dealing with loss: Haddad had to deal with the assassination of Rafic Hariri who regularly visited his restaurant.
* He felt great sadness at Lebanon’s situation after Hariri’s assassination but resolved to move forward.

The enduring sweet spot: Today, Chez Nassim remains successful amid Lebanon’s ongoing crises.
* Haddad continues to maintain his positive outlook while running his business, extending his resilience and determination to his employees, whom he’s managed to keep paying despite numerous challenges.

View original article on NPR

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