Mindful Matter
Our newest product — for (and from!) young and curious minds.
Two years ago, during a family trip, my then-8-year-old niece, Shireen, came across the deck of Holstee Reflection Cards I had packed with me. She started reading some of the questions for family members to answer: "What message would you put on a billboard for thousands of people to see every day?" then "What in your life are you most excited about right now?" Shireen was immediately captivated by the answers — ideas and stories from people close to her that she had never heard before — and she enjoyed sharing her own as well. For the rest of the trip — in the car, in between meals, even during meals — she’d pull a card from the deck, read a prompt, and engage whoever was near.A photo of Shireen during that family retreat! I gave Shireen’s mother (my sister) an extra deck of Reflection Cards to take home with her. The cards became Shireen's favorite activity to do with her fellow fourth graders! But some time later, on a FaceTime call, she told me, “I use these with my friends, but some of the questions just don’t work for us! Like ‘What would I tell myself 10 years ago?’ I wasn't even alive then!” Fair enough :-), we hadn’t designed the cards with the expectation that kids under age 10 would be using them. Months after the trip, Shireen hadn’t forgotten about the problem she’d found with the cards, and now pressed Dave and me: “When are you going to make Reflection Cards for us kids?!”She was not alone in her request. By this point, we had heard from many of you in the Holstee community asking for more tools for younger minds. It hadn’t been on our roadmap, but then again some of our favorite Holstee projects have come from following unexpected paths. With Shireens encouragement, we decided to embrace this one.We began by asking every kid we knew about the best questions to ask other kids. We also asked their parents, aunts, uncles, grandparents, teachers, and older siblings...until we had a mega-list of fun and engaging kid-oriented questions.To be certain that every question spoke the language of today’s kids, we sought out leaders in the mindful-parenting movement: Hannah and Kelty of Upbringing.co. With their guidance, we narrowed down the list of questions and tweaked the language until each one was pitch-perfect for young and curious minds. Hannah and Kelty of Upbringing.co. Now, a year-and-a-half later, we’re proud to present the most fun product we’ve ever made: Holstee Reflection Cards for Kids, made especially for Shireen :-) — and everyone else age 6 and up! Looking forward to hearing the stories these decks spark with the young and curious minds in your life! Mike Radparvar Co-Founder, Holstee & Reflection.app P.S. For those who have been following Holstee since the early days, Shireen may look familiar! As a one year old, Shireen was one of Holstee first models showcasing our Holstee Bib. It's incredible to think today she is helping guide our product roadmap — time flies :-) Here is an old screenshot of the Holstee shop with Shireen rocking the Bib those many year ago:
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Digital Minimalism.
"They joined Facebook to stay in touch with friends across the country, and then ended up unable to maintain an uninterrupted conversation with the friend sitting across the table." — Cal Newport, Digital Minimalism I know, you know, we all know — there are better things to do with our time than peruse social media. Despite knowing this, I had to reel myself back from multiple digital distractions while writing this. Pandemic life over the past year certainly hasn’t helped. Reports show that in past months usage of Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, and other platforms have increased significantly. So, in light of this knowledge and this month’s theme, Simplicity, I invite you to visit (or revisit) author Cal Newport’s idea of digital minimalism with me. According to Cal, “the cost of social media is not so much what you are doing, but what it is pushing out of your life” — and for many of us, that is high-quality leisure activities and learning how to be alone. While always-available apps and social media have their merits, they also enable a unique form of “low quality distraction”, giving us a ready escape when we might otherwise be processing important problems, gaining insight, or practicing the lost art of simply being. Over time, this leaves us feeling impoverished. Enter Cal’s Three Principles of Digital Minimalism: Clutter is Costly — Which apps are critical and support your values?Cal draws a parallel to how hoarders can point to any single item in their collection and give a reason for why that item needs to stay in their life. The same can be said for our digital lives. Each app is working to dictate how you spend your time. Optimization Matters — How can you make technology support, rather than dictate, your schedule? For example, if you are a member of a community that uses Facebook groups, you can exercise digital minimalism by deciding to not have the app on your phone or only check the group on Sunday and Wednesday nights. Intentionality is Satisfying — What are ways that convenience is getting in the way of your intentions?It’s easy to worry that adopting digital minimalism might lead to temporary inconveniences, like not being 100% up-to-date on the latest news or updates from friends. Cal argues that this is OK because the positive overall value of being intentional and taking back control of your presence far outweighs any marginal benefits gained from sporadic updates. After revisiting digital minimalism, the question I keep returning to is: How can technology support me, rather than dictate my attention? I plan to use this month to identify the apps which are critical to my well-being and remove those that are just convenient. At the end of the month, I may add some non-critical apps back in, but at the very least I’d like to challenge myself to live like a digital minimalist for the rest of May — want to join me? For those joining the Member Gathering on the 20th, we will touch base on how it’s going and share takeaways from our experiences. To a month of less, but better... Mike RadparvarCo-Founder, Holstee & Reflection.app P.S. Digital minimalism is one of many ways we explore the theme of Simplicity with our members. Download our 25-page Digital Simplicity Guide PDF for more concepts, activities, and inspiration on living a simpler yet more meaningful life. Photo by Brad Javernick of Home Oomph
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In sickness and in health.
Two weeks ago, Shilo, our 9-month-old, came down with a fever and a bad cold. At first it was just Shilo not feeling well, then my partner, Jess, and not long after, I picked it up as well. This was Shilo’s first time getting sick and it was hard for us to see him so uncomfortable, especially without knowing exactly what he was going through. We couldn’t tell if he had a headache like Jess, or if he had a sore throat like me. We could only be there for him, tuning in to his needs and doing our best to comfort him. Jess and I took turns resting and caring for Shilo — and each other — over the course of 10 days. It was a challenging time for each of us. Toward the end of the first week, I began thinking about the time we spend caring for each other. A friend (thanks, Fabian :-)) shared a podcast interview with child psychologist Alison Gopnik by journalist Ezra Klein with me. The entire conversation was thought-provoking and a joy to listen to — but one line in particular stuck with me. Gopnik shared the idea that “we don’t care for children because we love them, we love them because we care for them.” Reflecting on my first 9 months of fatherhood, I realized how true this rang for me. When Shilo was first born, I experienced the common-though-rarely-shared sentiment of not immediately feeling a special connection to our newborn. I had a deep sense of responsibility and a desire to care, but not a strong sense of connection — not at that time. But that sense of connection, and a sense of love, grew with time, and with care. As we explore the theme of Compassion this month at Holstee, I also wonder what Gopnik’s words might mean in a broader sense. What if our capacity for loving each other, even those we feel distant from or opposed to, was unlocked by the opportunity to care for one another? To embracing the unexpected paths to love, Dave RadparvarCo-Founder, Holstee & Reflection.app P.S. Speaking of kids… we are preparing to launch our first ever product designed especially for children! Get a sneak peek and sign up to be notified of our discounted early-bird launch → P.P.S. If you want to dive deeper into this month’s theme, our 30-page Digital Compassion Guide includes poetry, philosophy, and a range of activities to help you reflect on the role Compassion plays in your life.
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A holistic approach to Wellness.
According to the The National Wellness Institute, “Wellness is an active process through which people become aware of, and make choices toward, a more successful existence.” I love how this definition acknowledges both the awareness and the proactive effort required. Our holistic health is important, but often we don’t prioritize it until we notice something is seriously wrong. This month’s Digital Wellness Guide includes a self-check across six dimensions: Mind: I am aware of my emotions. I engage in creative and stimulating activities. Body: I am physically active, eat mostly whole foods, and prioritize my sleep. Soul: I feel both a sense of awe and connection to the world around me. Work: I gain personal satisfaction and fulfillment from my responsibilities. Play: I make time for activities that spark joy in me. Love: I nourish and am nourished by the people in my life. Here is peek at how this self-check looks in this month’s Digital Wellness Guide: These wellness dimensions are not something we do or don’t have — they always exist on an ever-changing continuum. By bringing self-awareness to each dimension, you can get closer to feeling whole. We share this practice annually, and encourage you to revisit it as often as you feel called to do so — wellness is not a goal, it's a practice. Wishing you wellness by every measure, Dave RadparvarCo-Founder, Holstee & Reflection.app P.S. Thanks to Holstee’s talented designers, Nicole and Carrie, you can have these six dimensions, as well as many other concepts, in beautiful, bitesize infographics. P.P.S. We believe that this wellness practice is so important that we’ve made it a cornerstone of our Reflection.app. Every month, in your Monthly Review, you are prompted to reflect on each dimension — with the app automatically surfacing your journal entries tagged by dimension. Reflection.app and these built-in Monthly Reviews are free, and you can access the app on web, iOS and Android.
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What would you stop doing?
I was recently listening to a Tim Ferris podcast interview with author Jim Collins that was filled with nuggets of wisdom. Toward the end of the nearly three-hour conversation, Jim recalled a college class in which his professor, Rochelle Meyers, asked students: “If you woke up tomorrow morning and you discovered you had only 10 years to live, what would you stop doing?” (Journal your response in Reflection.app →). This question stuck with me. I have a tendency, especially around New Years, to think a lot about the things I want to do. But I reflect less frequently on the things I would like to stop doing — especially on a 10-year scale. While many of us hope, plan, and live as if we have longer than 10 years left, the scary truth is that none of us know that for certain. The fragility of our lives is a reality that COVID-19 has brought to the forefront for many of us. The only way to make time for what you want and need, is to let go of things that no longer serve you. What will you stop doing this year so you can live your life to its fullest? To living every year with intention, Dave RadparvarCo-Founder, Holstee & Reflection.app P.S. Another nugget from this conversation that stuck with me was the response Jim received after sending an unprompted letter of gratitude and admiration to Fred Hargadon, the former Dean of Admissions at Stanford University. Hargadon’s words left a lasting impression on Collins, and on me. And perhaps they will on you as well. He wrote: “The most treasured gifts in the world are kind words spontaneously tendered.” I don’t have many resolutions for 2021, but inspired by this, I do hope to share more unprompted words of kindness with those that have made an impact on me.
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Becoming.
“For me, becoming isn’t about arriving somewhere or achieving a certain aim. I see it instead as forward motion, a means of evolving, a way to reach continuously toward a better self. The journey doesn’t end.” ― Michelle Obama, Becoming I generally find uncertainty a bit unsettling. The wideness of the unknown makes me uncomfortable, even if the outcomes aren’t necessarily bad. But I am beginning to understand that everything in life is slowly revealing itself, like a flower slowly unfolding. I am learning to see beauty in the blossom, to appreciate the magic within the mystery. We are, in the words of Michelle Obama, constantly becoming. As I set my intention for 2021, I realize there will be much that happens beyond my control, so I am also reminding myself to be patient, curious, and welcoming of what the year has in store for me. Whatever the year ahead brings, I hope it unfolds beautifully and gracefully for you. Happy New Year, Dave RadparvarCo-Founder, Holstee & Reflection.app
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Holstee 2020 — Our Year In Review (and a peek ahead to 2021!)
In this final Reflections email of the year, we want to say thank you. Holstee wouldn’t have survived this year without your participation, and we are incredibly grateful for the many ways you supported us. This year was not without its challenges, both for our business and for us personally. But reviewing our year has given us the chance to celebrate our wins and make peace with some of the harder parts of this year. Here are a few highlights that came up for us: Our team. Getting to work with brilliant and passionate people is hands-down one of the things we love most about our work. Our small team spans three continents, six countries, and seven time zones. Thank you Massiel (Spain), Nicole (Maine), Bryan (France), Carrie (North Carolina), Sarah (Washington), Britannio (United Kingdom), Edward (Colombia), Madison (Colorado), Leah (Vermont), and Payton and Rachel (Arizona) for pushing us and Holstee forward this year. A few of us on a team call earlier this year. Going deeper with our Holstee Members. When COVID first started impacting our community, we decided to host an online gathering for our members as an experiment. Now it’s one of the things we most look forward to every month. Each call is a reminder of the kindness, wisdom, and compassion within this community, and reinforces why we do what we do. To complement these calls, we also built a dedicated online forum for members to foster even more connections so that we can continue to learn from each other. Launching new partnerships and products. This year we collaborated with Casper ter Kuile on our Ritual Life Planner, a product that we thoroughly enjoyed making and now get to use ourselves. We also launched our Coaches Kit, which bundled two of our most popular products, Reflection Cards and the Greater Good Toolkit. Building Reflection.app. In 2020, we launched Reflection.app for iOS and Android. We also introduced Reflect & Reset, a 14-day guided journaling experience within the app. And we added advanced features through a Premium option, which is now an added perk of Holstee Membership. A year ago, when Reflection.app was still in beta, it had just over 1,000 users. Today, we have more than 8,000 users who have created over 49,000 journal entries! We had some lowlights as well... While we feel grateful for so much this year, we certainly experienced challenges. Due to COVID, many of the small brick-and-mortar shops that carry Holstee products closed — some temporarily, others permanently — and we felt the impact as our wholesale and partnership sales slowed to a near stop. Additionally, a few of our production partners experienced significant hardships as they were forced to reduce staff or close their facilities. While we understood the need to prioritize safety above all else, these interruptions caused some supply chain issues for us, which, in turn, affected our customers and our sales. These setbacks brought stress and financial uncertainty to this year — but all things considered, we feel fortunate. We weren’t forced to make cuts to our team. Instead we were able to shift our attention and resources to parts of our business that we could push forward, preparing for a big 2021. Looking ahead... We are very excited about the coming year and the new opportunities it will bring. Membership updates. Our Membership benefits are constantly evolving to make the experience more meaningful and valuable. In 2021, we are changing the format of our Complete Membership, replacing the Pocket Journal with a larger Activity Booklet and updating our Digital Guides. We also have an incredible selection of art lined up for the year — seriously, this year’s art may be the best yet! New products. We are currently exploring three new products for 2021. We don’t want to spoil these surprises, but we will say that one of them expands on a product you likely already own and love! Oh, and this will also be the first year that we are designing a product for kids... OK, we are horrible at keeping secrets... No more hints! :-) Continuing to develop Reflection.app. This year we will be incorporating Holstee Themed Guides into the app so you can reflect on each month’s theme directly in your journal. We are also preparing to improve analytics and journaling insights, and launch desktop apps later in 2021. Taking the time to reflect on the past 12 months felt especially necessary for us this year. We hope you’re able to make time to do the same. We wish you and your family peace and joy as you celebrate the end of this year and welcome the year ahead. Thank you, again, for joining us on this journey. Mike and Dave RadparvarCo-Founders, Holstee
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Reflecting on our roots.
If you haven’t already noticed, it seems that nearly everything we do at Holstee revolves around the word “reflection”. We have Reflection Cards, a Reflection Journal, and a recently launched Reflection.app. This month’s Holstee Membership theme is Reflection. This email is part of our Reflections series. Even the words of the Holstee Manifesto, the poster that started it all, began as a reflection on what success means to us. We can’t escape it — reflection is baked into the bones of Holstee. Since the foundation of Holstee took shape through some deep personal reflections, on what we wanted from life and our budding company, I believe our work will always be rooted in it. We have experienced first-hand that when we take time to look back on and process our past, we open ourselves up to a more informed and intentional future. We are able to learn from what worked, what didn't, and what was missing all together. Life moves incredibly fast, and each year seems to move faster than the one before. Reflection gives us a moment to check back on the map of where we have been and reorient our compass to where we want to go. The perspective and clarity that comes with reflection has the power to change lives; it certainly changed ours. If Holstee leaves one imprint on the world, I hope that it is the reminder that we each have some control over our destiny — and that through reflection, and the learnings we glean from it, we are able to better guide the trajectory of our lives. Remember, this is your life. Dave RadparvarCo-Founder, Holstee
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How do you measure a successful life?
A few days ago I was walking and listening to some music when a song called “We Got Love” by Teyana Taylor came on. The song is upbeat, high tempo, and as the title suggests, it’s full of good vibes and, well… love :-). Near the end of the song, I heard an interlude (at 2:57) that I hadn't really listened to before. It was a heartfelt message from fellow musician Lauryn Hill, which I later learned was sent as a voice note to Taylor before the release of her new album. “Above all, you keep your clarity,You keep your focus,You keep your sense of love,And you keep your sense of purpose.Those are, they're integral, you know, they're key.…A lot of people define success differently...You know, for me, you can have everything,You can have all the money in the world,But if it's not enjoyable, if it's not sustainable,If you can't be a person of integrity while having all of these things —What does it matter? What does it mean? The value is internal.Your value is internal.” What an unexpected hit of inspiration, wisdom, and delight. And a perfect tribute to this month’s theme of Integrity. Media and materialism tempt us to use fame and fortune and other external signs as indicators of success. The truth is, as Hill says, we each have the ability — the choice — to define success for ourselves based on our internal values. I am beginning to think that perhaps integrity — the extent to which we live in accordance with our own values — is the best measure of a successful life. How does this definition of a successful life sit with you? How do you measure success in your life? Wishing you success by every measure, Dave RadparvarCo-Founder, Holstee
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