I still remember covering Edgewater with flyers, hoping to find my first house-cleaning account. I wanted to build something that would help me create a better life for myself and my kids. At the time, I just needed someone willing to give me a chance.
That chance came from an older couple—two generous, loving people who became my first clients.
I remember walking into their home for the first time with my cleaning caddy in my hand. She looked at me with a smile and said, “You know, I’ve seen a lot of people go through a lot of hard things, but this is the first time I’ve ever seen someone pick up a caddy and just go to work like this.”
Her words stayed with me. She saw my determination before I had built anything. She understood that I was not just cleaning a house—I was working to change my life.
That first account meant more to me than I can fully express. They welcomed me into their home, trusted me with their work, and treated me with a kindness I have never forgotten. Their support helped give Shelton’s Janitorial its beginning and brought me one step closer to the life I was working to build for my family.
I also remember the rumors people spread about me before they really knew who I was. They did not know my story or the person I was trying to become. For all they knew, I could have been a terrible person. People said hurtful things and judged me without understanding me.
But this couple chose to see me for themselves. They gave me the key to their home and trusted me completely. That trust meant everything to me. They believed in me when they had no reason to, and I have never forgotten it.
The sweet lady is no longer with us, but I still carry her kindness with me. I remember the warmth she showed me, the way she made me feel welcome, and the encouragement in her voice when she saw how hard I was willing to work.
Her husband is still someone I know I can turn to. Even now, if I needed help, I truly believe he would be there for me.
Over the years, he became much more than a client. He became one of my best friends—a steady and meaningful part of my life.
Their kindness taught me something I carry with me every day: becoming a better person and treating people with love can give you more than money ever could. Through the years, I learned who I wanted to be. I wanted to be loving and kind. I wanted to understand people instead of judging them. I wanted to love people exactly where they were, for who they were, and for the work they were doing to become better versions of themselves.
There is something different about having to change your whole life. It is not just your work that changes—it is everything. Everything you know has to be reconsidered. You have to learn to walk differently, talk differently, and carry your passion in different ways. You have to become willing to grow into a new version of yourself.
When I think about where this business began, I think about them. Those flyers brought me my first cleaning account, but they also brought me two people whose generosity and friendship would leave a lasting mark on my life. I could never have known, when I first walked through their door with my caddy in hand, how much their kindness would come to mean to me.
No matter how many years go by, I will always be grateful for the chance they gave me, the trust they placed in me, and the friendship that grew from it. Their kindness helped shape not only my business, but also the person I became along the way.
With love and gratitude,
Sara Shelton
Owner, Shelton’s Janitorial