Fresh Joy, a blog

We're a week out from Valentine's Day (and Singles Awareness Day). While we tend to focus on romantic love this time of year, there are so many other types of love to honor and celebrate as well. In fact, the Greeks actually used eight different words to express the various states of love we can experience: Agape: Universal and unconditional love, such as the love for strangers, nature or "God". It's all about kindness, compassion and altruism. Eros: Erotic love. Eros is a passionate, primal and powerful form of love that tends to burn out quickly. The Greeks considered it a form...

On January 1st, several friends embarked on a social media blackout. For a few, the primary intent was to be more present in their everyday lives. Others simply wanted to free up more time and recharge after the holidays. But almost all  conceded that they also needed a break from constant comparison and pervasive FOMO (fear of missing out).The ever-prescient Teddy Roosevelt nailed it when he said "Comparison is the thief of joy". No matter how confident or content you're feeling, one glance at a friend's engagement, birth announcement, house remodel or exotic vacation photo can bring you down. Or...

One of the best pieces of advice I received while launching my small business was to ensure that it reflects me. This includes everything from product offerings and packaging to communications and customer service. It also extends to decisions about revenue and profit.   There are countless examples of companies using their platform and profits for good. Warby Parker and Bombas follow the buy-one-give-one model popularized by TOMS. Patagonia donated 100% of its 2017 $10M tax break to combat climate change. And thousands of companies have made the 1% Pledge, committing 1% of staff time, product, profit, and/or equity to a charity of...

Many of you know that I'm a big fan of handwritten correspondence. It's a habit I learned young, when my mother "encouraged" me to write thank you cards post Christmas and birthdays. In school, I was always writing notes, folding them into teeny tiny triangles before passing them in class. I even shared a journal with my best friend throughout elementary and middle school. We'd take turns recording our childhood hopes and dreams, worries and heartaches. I can still picture her handwriting in that tattered, wide-ruled, spiral notebook.To this day, my mother has a stockpile of cards at the ready...

It's hump day of what feels like the longest week of the year (aka the first full post-holiday work week). Hang in there; it's allllmost the weekend. I'm focusing on planning this week- looking ahead at the coming year and setting goals for each business quarter, mapping out new product launches, scheduling social media and marketing initiatives, and more. We have some exciting things in store for the year- including expansion into the wholesale market and the launch of custom stationery offerings (think wedding and more!)   Dreaming big and setting goals is one thing, but ensuring that your everyday choices reflect the type of...