Life is funny sometimes! The same day that Knack Shops invited me to collaborate on Spread Joy day is the same day my husband gave me an article to read first thing in the morning. He usually lets me be in the AM, since I’m not a morning person but that day he said “you should read this, babe!” Surprisingly, I put everything down and read the article. It was called “Beyond the Digital Revolution; The Need for Militant Optimism” by Wired Magazine, one of the few magazines we both read, he with far more frequency. The gist of the article is that one has to deliberately decide to look on the bright side despite all the negative noise flying our way, in every which way. Ironically, one of the bright sides is the digital revolution. It is rather stunning that we can function at all with all of the social media, podcasts, emails and texts (anyone get a new one this week?!) literally vying for our attention and up oneing each other to get into our brains and ultimately our actions. The wanna be Wall Street trader in me has been guilty of consuming the news cycle at a ferocious pace, so much that it wears me down, depresses and suffocates me. My husband, in his infinite wisdom (don’t tell him I told you that :)), has always been disciplined about his consumption of media and objectively regards the intention behind every piece he comes across. When I read this article, it summarized everything he’s been trying to tell me for the last couple of years when the news feed has taken a turn for the worse. But back to Spread the Joy Day!
So that same day, I got an email from Knack Shops about Spread the Joy Day! It’s a female owned, highly creative and unique company that I’ve worked with before, that impressed me with their fine tastes and delectably curated array of gift packages. What they are proposing on October 11th, is that we Spread the freakin JOY! I couldn’t believe that the same message had aligned for me that same day from an entirely different source! The article had deeply inspired me to not be emotionally manipulated by the news cycle and Knack was proposing that we celebrate all the good in life and precisely “stop focusing on negative news feed!”. I thought it was meant to be and I have never wanted to participate in a “branded day” as much as this one. We need each other to be contagions of joy and remind one another of all the good we do have.
I will be selecting 5 friends to receive a gift from Knack and choose whether to gift it to a friend or keep for themselves! So head to my Instagram post and let me know what you do to help spread joy! Knack will giveaway 1,000 free gifts worth over $80 to anyone willing to share their gift message. Join the movement and head over to their page to see how you can send (or receive) this gorgeous gift as well! Head to their page to get the link for a free gift for you or a friend.
I hope that you can get in on this wonderful movement remember to encourage each other to say not to negativity. It can be your co-worker, a stranger in line at Starbucks, an enemy, anyone! Yesterday I read a wonderful passage from Gisele Bundchen’s new book Lessons, where she hits on a similar chord but really turns the table on herself. She wisely points out that if she doesn’t work on herself and does what helps her get to good (for her it’s eating well, meditation, exercise) then she can’t be the type of mom and wife she so badly WANTS to be. As the mom and wife, we are the emotional compasses of the family and everyone is looking to us for emotional leadership. So let’s start with little actions and do small things with great love! XO, Z
Pictures by Samir Abraham, Chicago
