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Happy Generosity Day!

When we saw our friends were leading the cause to rethink Valentine's Day, we couldn't help but jump for joy. I mean, Valentine's Day can be great and all, don't get me wrong, but I do think there is something to be done with a day that celebrates love beyond candy hearts and pricey flowers. Enter Generosity Day:

We're rebooting Valentine's Day as Generosity Day: one day of sharing love with everyone, of being generous to everyone, to see how it feels and to practice saying “Yes.” Let’s make the day about love, action and human connection – because we can do better than smarmy greeting cards, overpriced roses, and stressed-out couples trying to create romantic meals on the fly.

How can we celebrate? Take a second to think of an act of kindness you can do for someone around you. Buy a coffee for a stranger. Pay the toll for the car behind you. Bake bread for your neighbor. Let's celebrate love for everyone around us and keep an open eye for opportunities to be generous. It's amazing how one small act of kindness can make someone's whole day. And, you never know, your one action could cause a ripple effect (remember this commerical? it may be a bit cheesy but it always got me!).

Visit the Generosity Day site and join the movement to reboot Valentine's Day.

Let no one ever come to you without leaving better and happier. Be the living expression of kindness... -Mother Teresa

Photo by infomatique

Tags » Community generosity people spread your love (0 Comments)

Running to Support Young Dreams

Right now I am in the process of training for my second year running the World Vision Half Marathon. As I push myself to prepare for the 13.1 mile stretch through Queens' Flushing Park at the end of March, I gain more and more appreciation for the people who run the full 26.2 marathon. The half seems manageable to me (even though the motivation to get myself running on these cold winter mornings has been a little slow coming this time around). However, the full thing? Just don't think its going to happen for me.

That is why I am so incredibly impressed with Robert Reffkin. As you can see in the video, Robert has set the goal to run 50 marathons in 50 states in order to raise a million dollars to empower young people with the resources and tools to realize their dreams. In a sincere and inspiring effort to pay it forward, Robert writes:

My motivation for this stems from the fact that throughout my life I have received help and guidance from my loving mother, inspiring mentors, and outstanding organizations. I am deeply grateful for the assistance that I received and have combined my desire for personal achievement with a commitment to giving others the opportunities that were given to me.

He has already completed marathons in 48 states (that's 1257.6 miles!) and has raised over $750,000! To learn more about Robert, his organization New York Needs You, and how you can donate to his amazing mission, visit Running to Support Young Dreams.

Hopefully one day I will get myself up to Robert's level. Till then, 13.1 it is. :)

Tags » Empowerment inspiring live your dream people (0 Comments)

January 17, 2012
Written by:
Mary Shouvlin
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Common Threads Initiative

We are fervent admirers of Patagonia and their consistent role as an industry pillar for the environment, mindful consumerism, and corporate responsibility. Their latest Common Threads Initiative, and this video put together to promote it, just blew our minds. As a brand that seeks to design with a conscience and produce with a positive impact, this initiative articulates everything that Holstee seeks to be and the lifestyle we seek to contribute towards.

The Common Threads Initative recognizes the need for a dramatic shift in the way in which we consume, realizing the responsibility to protect the world around us through the decisions that we make:

Our Common Threads Initiative aims to close the loop on the product life cycle - to make old clothes into new and keep them from ever reaching a landfill or incinerator. Reduce what you buy. Repair what you can. Reuse what you no longer need. Recycle what's worn out. Reimagine a sustainable world. -Patagonia

Adapting this way of thinking and living is not only better for the world around us, it is better for us. Dr. Andrew Weil recently wrote an article that was featured in Newsweek entitled "Spontaneous Happiness: Our Nature Defecit Disorder." In the article he notes the finding that the more stuff we have, the less likely we are to be happy. Instead, happiness is found in what cannot be bought--relationships and nature--and all of the benefits to be found as a result of cultivating the place of each within our lives.

At Holstee, we want the products that we offer in our shop to not be things that you buy on impulse. If you don't need it, don't buy it. We do not want to exist to add more stuff to the world. We want the products that we design to contribute to the values we want to incorporate into our lives. This means first and foremost that everything we make is produced in such a way as to respect the environment and create a positive impact. It also means that we want each purchase to be made as mindfully as the product was produced. Together we can make this world a better place, reduce our footprint, and live fuller lives based on more than the "stuff" we acquire.

Tags » happiness people planet product sustainability (2 Comments)

Support Crowdfunding

One of the most encouraging and exciting things for all of us at Holstee is to connect with other small businesses and entreprenuers who are following their dream. We have seen firsthand how amazing it is to start small and grow, and we are so energized by the start-ups and small companies that are on the same path.

The reality, of course, is that money is needed in order for these businesses to grow--and in turn create the jobs and goods that stimulate the economy. In an economic climate where financing for small business is becoming harder and harder to come by, crowdfunding has become a great alternative for start-ups to aquire the capital needed to thrive.

Similar to a microfinance system like Kiva.org where many individuals each give a small loan towards a larger goal, crowdfunding allows entrepreneurs and growing companies to raise money through small investments by a large number of people. Unfortunately, there is a great amount of red tape and longstanding regulations that have made it super difficult for this to happen--leaving many entrepreners unable to bring their ideas to life.

Right now, a bill is currently in the works that seeks to remove the red tape, strengthen crowdfunding, and get behind growing business and increasing jobs. To learn more about the details surrounding the bill, check out this post by our friends at ProFounder and this article discussing the progress. You can also discover more about crowdfunding by taking a look at the petition here (your voice is needed!).

Photo credit.

Tags » Community business crowdfunding entrepreneurship people (0 Comments)

Are You in for the Challenge?

Have you heard of GOOD's 30-Day-Challenges? I have been loving the motivating goal behind each challenge: "a monthly attempt to live better." Each month, the team at GOOD proposes a challenge to focus on improving ourselves and the larger community around us. Past challenges have included going vegetarian for a month (I discovered a newfound love of garbanzo beans), driving less (my bike and I became best friends), and reducing waste (I found this great bamboo utensil set and stopped using the plastic ones).

These challenges are wonderful for many reasons: they push us to be more conscious of our habits, allow for the ability to discover new things, and teach us more about ourselves. There also is a great sense of fulfillment that comes from accomplishing each challenge.

I recently listened to Matt Cutt's TED talk on the benefits of trying something new for thirty days (a super short talk well worth the watch). He reflects that by consciously pushing himself to embrace a new habit, hobby, or life change for 30 days, he surprised himself with how many things he learned. The challenges allowed him to get out of a rut by finally attempting the things he had always wanted to add to his life, making the days more memorable and increasing his self confidence.

The same idea applies to each GOOD 30-Day-Challenge and I have loved the ability to take each challenge as my own. This month the challenge is Connect with People. Each day, GOOD presents a task to complete like sending a thank you card, saying hi to strangers, or calling a long-lost friend. It has truly allowed me to be conscious of how I do connect with people--friends and strangers alike--and to keep my eyes open to all of the connections to be made and to work to maintain.

You can jump in on this challenge for the rest of September by checking Good.is for each day's new task, and stay tuned for the challenge for October. Be sure to share with us, too, we'd love to hear your thoughts and your journey. :)

Tags » Community GOOD challenge connect people (1 Comment)

Guest Post: Manifesting the Holstee Outlook in Cork

Below is a Guest Post from the Holstee Community, written by Billy Boucha from Cork Ireland. Thanks, Billy!

Three months ago my life was in crisis.

My partner of five years had moved out and left me for a younger woman. For the two years prior to this I had been suffering from a depression that wouldn’t lift. Everything felt heavy and tiring and disconnected. I took medication, went for counseling, changed my diet and began exercising and still the dark clouds stubbornly remained. I contemplated suicide only because I was suffering with so much torment. Luckily, there were people (and a lovely loving dog) in my life who needed me and so I stayed alive for them, but not for me.

In this black haze I came across two pieces of writing that gave me the motivation to live and to live with purpose. The first piece of writing was Tracey Emin’s autobiography Strangeland which I found on sale for €2 in a socialist worker’s bookshop. I found the second piece of writing on the Facebook wall of the lecturer who had supervised my university MA. It was called The Holstee Manifesto. Being attracted to any grouping of words that inspire a positive outlook I read it, fell in love with it, printed it out and began to share it with those close to me, many of whom asked me for a copy. And so I began making copies and giving them out, and it always heartened me to call over to a family member or friend’s household to find they had The Holstee Manifesto hanging up somewhere in the household; on the fridge door, the bathroom mirror, the bedside wall, above their desk. Something about this manifesto spoke to me and the people in my life in a very direct way. There was no pussy-footing about. It was clear and gave instructions; DO, CHANGE, QUIT, STOP, START, APPRECIATE, OPEN, ASK, TRAVEL, SEIZE, START, LIVE, SHARE.

Three months ago, I took The Holstee Manifesto and Tracey Emin’s Strangeland back to bed with me and by the time I next left my bed, something had awoken in my consciousness; a need to express myself in ways I hadn’t contemplated before. Up until then I had mainly worked as a journalist and writer. I had one non-fiction book published and had half-written various plays and books that never made it to fruition due to my depression or just plain laziness.

Words have always been important to me. I always find it incredible that just looking at the word EXCITEMENT or COSY can make me feel just that; excited or cosy, if only for a short time. And so I knew that while my new need or my previous untapped need to express myself in new ways would include the use of language, I also knew it wouldn’t be through the structured rhythms of writing I was accustomed to when writing for newspapers and magazines.

But what is it I wanted to communicate? The answer to this was written on the forlorn faces of the people I queued with in the rain every month at the dole office. Cork, being the largest county in Ireland, has been badly hit by the recession over the past few years. Teenagers morosely make their way from their school line to the social welfare line where they watch older generations, disenchanted with political and religious scandals, grimly accept their unfair fate. It’s said that in every recession, two areas of industry prosper; organised crime and entertainment, both of which often overlap. Entertainment is a form of escapism; something to soothe the panicked minds of the masses. And Irish people are great at escapism; which is probably why there have been so many literary greats born or bred in this country. However escapism doesn’t solve problems, only avoids them so I wanted to work on projects that would cut into the reality of people’s lives and offer them positive words of wisdom for the real world. I wanted to say - be grateful for what you have, try find the positive in every situation, keep your head up, do or learn something new.

I started with a project called Affirmative Elephants. Over the years I had collected 55 different types of elephant ornaments from my travels or as gifts. I paired each of these elephants with a Louise L. Hay positive affirmation card, and began leaving these at random locations throughout my home town. My hope was that whoever would come across these Affirmative Elephants would feel like they had been given a gift, and that maybe someone might be having a hard time but upon finding the Affirmative Elephant would be lifted out of their burdens for a moment.

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Looking and being inspired daily by The Holstee Manifesto that hung on the wall beside my bed I decided my next project would be to print 101 copies of this, laminate them (to prevent rain damage…it rains all the time in Cork!) and hang them up at random locations throughout Cork city. Accompanied by my lovely dog Roxy and my grumpy 9 year old cousin Cian, the three of use took to the streets armed with 101 Holstee Manifesto’s and two rolls of sticky tape. I hung up Manifesto’s on bus stops, school gates, park bench’s, lamp posts and every other available surface. I called into grocery shops and hairdressers and asked if they would stick one up to inspire people. I put some through random letter boxes and handed others to people on the street. I handed one to a tall forlorn French man on a bridge and he gave me a hug. I handed one to a hairy busker who put it in his guitar case. I handed three to three art students who kept repeating the word ‘amazing’ while reading it. One woman I handed it to looked at the word ‘LIFE’ in large lettering and assumed it was something to do with the pro-life movement so shoved it back in my face. I eventually persuaded her that it was pro-life, but not in the way she thought.

I’m a quiet person who avoids crowds, public spaces and talking to strangers at all costs. However, my enthusiasm to spread the word of the Holstee Manifesto gave me enough courage to do all three with gusto. I know now that one sure way out of apathy and inaction is to take action; to DO, CHANGE, QUIT, STOP, START, APPRECIATE, OPEN, ASK, TRAVEL, SEIZE, START, LIVE, SHARE.

Tags » Community guest post ireland manifesto people (6 Comments)

Caine's Arcade

Make People the Focus

The Most Astounding Fact