One of the most important lessons I have learned as an adult is the concept of universal love. The ability to love every single person, animal, moment, and experience that I encounter without attachment or judgment. Often, I find that we are taught and conditioned that we should love our family, our friends, our pets, our significant other and that’s it. As if there were limits on how much love exists within us. What a funny notion.
What does that look like for me you ask?
It’s really about being present for me at the end of the day and giving whatever is in front of me my full attention, support, and positivity. I’m not sure if I have this right but I heard a comedian say that love was just lots of vibrating energy and that really stuck with me.
Because never in a million years did I think that I would be 34 years old writing from my 2 bedroom bungalow in Austin, TX with a sustainable towel business. It’s funny how life works. The one thing I can say is that while I long to have a partner in life and a family to raise and pass along the attributes of my family that I love the most… I can’t help but think that the experience of not having that has allowed me to experience a greater love for those around me and in return - receive love from the most unexpected of places.
It’s like the opening line in Love Actually, “Whenever I get gloomy with the state of the world, I think about the arrivals gate at Heathrow Airport. General opinion's starting to make out that we live in a world of hatred and greed, but I don't see that. It seems to me that love is everywhere.”
Happy Valentine's Day!
Love,
Brianna
That really hit me. It wasn’t about the biggest dream per se, but the strongest dream — and who believed in it.
My dreams of Anact started in 2017 and have been carrying me through life for almost 7 years now. The vision I had driving down the PCH one day is a vision that has never left me. Even in the darkest moments, when my back is up against the wall financially, emotionally, physically, and more… I haven’t caved. The skills that I’ve learned from those experiences are grit and strength. The ability to play the hell out of whatever hand of cards I have and make it out on the other side unscathed. Equally important to mention is the resistance to when things come easily. The challenge is to not turn away but to accept them as gifts. If it feels counterintuitive — it’s normally right. Trust the process.
All that said, I want you to know that I still battle with voices in my head telling me I’m unworthy, not good enough, and out of place on a daily basis. Everytime I go to do something new, whether it’s a tough work-out, or a hard conversation — I have to actively draw strength from the “good wolf” in my head to make it through. It doesn’t come naturally to me to believe that everything will always work out when I’m scared — I have to practice mantras and live in discomfort most of the time. I’ve just gotten comfortable being uncomfortable and I make myself do the thing regardless of my fear. If my 80 year old self would be proud of me for doing something — I do it. And you know what’s funny… I’ve spoken at Harvard, run the NYC marathon, started a business from scratch, traveled to 40+ countries, passed legislation to legalize hemp, and so much more, and yet I still feel like it’s not enough. I’m always wanting to climb higher mountains and challenge myself even more.
One of the hardest parts of that process is the ego check of your reality. Not the reality that your parents/extended family/loved ones want to create for you but the reality of what you stand for and where you stand as a person in a world of 8 billion people. I suppose that is why I was so attracted to entrepreneurship. I was curious to find out who I was when all of the layers and masks were shed. It’s given me a level of confidence in the type of leader and woman I am in a way that no other experience has given me. My mom said the other day that the downfall of America was when we started giving soccer trophies to every kid on the team. She said it prevented kids from knowing who was putting in the work and who wasn’t. But most importantly, it stalled the collective’s growth.
Because being burned by employees, receiving surprise invoices, and getting told ‘no’ by buyers and investors (or not getting a response at all), is not for the faint of heart. It’s funny, my mom recently asked me how I deal with it, considering I’m such a sensitive soul. To which I responded… not well. It takes a toll on me mentally and physically, which is why I’ve started to really focus on optimizing my health, so that I can take on all that is required of me as the captain of Anact.
There are a lot of things I want to do in this life and I want to feel good doing them. Plus, I’m of the mindset that our body is our home. And if we don’t feel confident and at ease in it, then that’s a fairly poor way to live one’s life.
One of the reasons I’ve been able to become a founder is due to Obamacare. The downside (at least for me) is that the medicines and treatments that I’ve found the most impactful (like somatic therapy and acupuncture) aren’t covered by insurance. I use my health insurance for emergencies but not for preventive medicine.
Here’s what I’ve found moves the needle for me:
If there is anything that has worked for you — let me know!
But the most important tool of everything I use is my spiritual practice. An unwavering belief that I’m on the right path and that I’m being guided by a higher power (for me, that’s God). I wake up each morning with the belief that each day is a new adventure. I don’t wait until Friday at 5 pm to have fun, or for a certain holiday, or moment. I embrace what I have and tell myself that yesterday doesn’t matter, tomorrow doesn’t matter— what matters is being present in the day I’ve been given and living it to the fullest. Mastering this mindset often feels like I’m not doing it right, because being patient in a world built on instant gratification can be r-o-u-g-h. I’ve also found this nostalgia for going back to catholic church these days.
There are also a variety of books that have helped guide me in growing stronger spiritually:
Some of these might resonate with you, some might not. I think the key is to find things that bring you peace in your life so that you can become the observer rather than the reactor. Learning how to not attach myself to my emotions and feelings, and instead let them pass through me while doing my best has been my recipe for success.
It’s funny, I was reading the book “Power” by Robert Greene and I really didn’t like it because it’s all about hoarding resources rather than sharing so that you can stay at the top. Call me crazy, but I think that when you’re connected to God then you’re already at the top. Gatekeeping and trying to throw people off your tracks will work but it’s a pretty shit way to live.
Other things I learned about myself this week:
Alrighty! I hope everyone had a lovely week. If you haven’t done so already, mark your calendars for March 8th. We will be doing our first activation at SXSW and cannot wait!
Also, we’re still figuring out this whole blog thing. We’re looking into moving to Substack, so stay tuned on that front! I’m also going to write about the kidnapping (finally) so I can create a piece for people to read to understand what happened so I don’t have to relive it anymore. I don’t quite understand this, but the more I share with people about it — the more people seem connected to and understanding of me and why I live life the way I do.
]]>After surviving the flu, I was mentally on the up and up. I went to Soho House with friends for dinner and made a surprise visit to the Broken Spoke, an Austin-staple with live music, boot-scootin, beer, AND chicken-fried steak since 1964. I convinced my friend John to two-step with me, which was sooo much fun and something I’ve had on my list to do for at least a year now. There’s something about the country lifestyle that always gets me. The ability to slow down and slow dance through life. Perhaps that’s why I love Austin so much. You can go go go and then five minutes later you’re at a honky tonk bar that’ll slow your ass down real quick.
It was also nice to be under the weather when it was 17 degrees out and most of the city was shut down. I know my midwestern family thinks we’re weak and lame but I think when something is extreme for the area you’re in it can be a bit jarring. (Side note - I really miss my mom’s side of the family in South Bend. There was a wholesomeness, simplicity, and groundedness I felt there.)
I ended up sleeping most of the time. But I did watch Killers of the Flower Moon per my friend John’s recommendation. It was a bit slow, and now that I've seen Pete Davidson’s latest comedic bit about Leo DiCaprio on Netflix, I can’t help but think that Leo truly is riding on the credentials of his past. I want to share more of what I thought here, but I don’t want to ruin the movie for anyone!
The tough part about feeling down this month is how many exciting things are happening for Anact. Gahhhhh. A piece of me knows that February and March are shaping up to be bang bang. And in theory, January is supposed to be a time of rest for everyone anyways. We’ve just created a 24/7 work culture in this country that doesn’t know any better. I read a quote that said, I’d rather be a lion ferociously hunting with periods of rest than a cow grazing all day and that hit home for me.
I feel so much about creating work that values quality over quantity for the sake of being productive. This has been a main point of contention over Anact’s product line. Most people are accustomed to seeing a product-based business create new products over and over again — even if it’s not the best for the sake of revenue. Instead of doing what we’re doing, which is creating a small line of the best and finding other ways to generate revenue and propel the company forward, whether through market expansion or alternate community interactions.
The part about what it takes to start a company from scratch that could use way more transparency is the fundraising and financing. I think that’s why women often associate starting a business with candle making or a boutique store (which are great things in their own way).
Other things I have been thinking about:
As one of my favorite influencers, Pia Baroncini, says: everything is truly the best even when it’s the worst. I hope that you can keep rowing towards whatever goals you’ve set for yourself this year, even if you feel like you’re not executing perfectly. I hope you give yourself the grace to hold yourself accountable while being realistic that sometimes, life just happens. You just gotta keep rowing.
Things I’m excited about:
Until next time!
How did I welcome it? Horizontal in bed covered in layers of blankets and doused in tiger balm. I pride myself as someone who takes good care of herself because 1) I want to feel good and 2) I have things to do in this life and I need to be in good shape to make them happen. I barely drink, I don’t smoke, I work out everyday, I eat locally and organically, I even have a tattoo on my left index finger to remind myself to drink water daily (shoutout to the tattoo artist on 6th Street who did this at 2am back in 2017) and yet, I still got taken down by this beast of a virus.
I think we all go into different default modes when we get sick. For me, I get very dramatic. I am like… what does this mean that I am starting a new year off sick? Will I ever feel good again? Is the world ending? It’s a bit annoying to be me actually. (And in case you’re wondering how founders get by… Obamacare is a great way to have health insurance coverage while you’re building your vision.)
The one thing that I do love about being sick is that I always feel like a layer of me is shed off afterwards. I get more clarity on my life. One must look for the silver linings when they are sweating bullets and chugging hot green tea instead of running their favorite trail and dipping in Barton to kickstart their new year. I did get to start reading Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver and cannot recommend it enough. As my friend Kelsey said, it makes Hillbilly Elegy look like a travesty. Oh! And funny side note — I did have a slew of men I used to date come out of nowhere in my moment of vulnerability. It’s like they could sniff out from far away that I was a man down.
The clarity I’ve received during my tango with the flu/cold was to continue to have faith in the process of what we are building at Anact — and be patient with how the timing unfolds. Mind you, I had the idea for Anact in 2017 and thought it would take one year to get it to where I wanted it to be(we’re about to go on year six). Granted, I sometimes forget that we did have a global pandemic that threw things off a bit by +/- 2.5 years the same month that we were launching Anact, which was March 2020.
I’m an extremely ambitious and driven person. But I’ve realized that you really can’t force things to grow faster than their own timing. Consistency truly is the key.
I did manage to squeeze in a couple of important meetings in my zombie-like state. One of the coolest things that happened during a meeting I kept was that an investor shared that one of their core mandates was investing in founders who believed in Jesus. This is the FIRST time in my experience where this has ever come up in an investor meeting and it was so refreshing. It felt like balm for the soul. Hello, conscious capitalism. It’s nice to meet ya.
The other meetings I kept were for an event that we’re planning for International Women’s Day (mark your calendars now!) on March 8th during SXSW. This event will build on the event we hosted last year with Patagonia and is something we plan to continue to build annually in Austin.
Things that are giving me a pep in my step this month:
I’m also excited to share that we just booked our trip to NYC in mid-February! We’ll be going to support a good family friend, Stephen Quinn. He’s performing for Taylor Mac’s Bark of Millions. I was able to tack on some work meetings/projects that I'm very pumped about as well as family time. My dad is one of eight and grew up in the Bronx. Most of my dad’s family (and my 20+ first cousins on that side) have stayed in the NYC area except for a few of us. NYC has always stressed me out (I haven’t been back in five years) but I am happy to make an exception to support those I love and be with my family. I also can’t wait to have my eyebrows threaded by Indian women, sink my teeth into a greasy slice of pizza, and check out this spa (and get some Anact towels in there!).
Lastly, if you need a little inspiration for the new year… this graphic is a great reminder to keep going no matter what. I realize that the world (at least American society) tells us to go to college, get a job, save our money, and we’ll be safe. And for some, that might work. But I can’t help but think there’s so much more to life. There is an opportunity for each person to be the person they are meant to be. I realize the boomer generation might scoff at this because that option wasn’t available to them. But I pray that we can make space for evolution.
In the words of Chris Williamson, it has never been easier to be successful in this world if you have an ounce of talent and a gram of hard work. And I agree with him. Songs that I’ve had on repeat this week are “Fall in Love with You.” By Montell Fish and “Junk Food Chimney” by Ezra Bell.
Overall, sentiments for the rest of January are:
Until next time!
I would read the passage of the day and then several excerpts from Wiest's book and start writing. I get out all the scary thoughts I’m having and then I write about all the good things happening. I have to actively feed my brain positive affirmations that today is going to be a great day. When I finished, I’d walk back inside and be welcomed by the smell of the burning incense I lit when I woke up. It might not be for everyone, but I love this ayurvedic incense they sell at Whole Foods. I can’t explain it, but it reminds me of when I lived in Uganda. A mix of burning trash and goat being cooked over the fire.
From there, I would make my breakfast and get dressed. I love getting dressed because it gives me a surge of energy that makes me feel ready to take on the day.
This little routine I’ve created is something that I’ve worked to create and fine-tune. In the past, I would wake up and rush to my phone, scroll social media, check emails, respond to texts. I’d never carve out time for myself. Time to set the tone for how I wanted the day to go. This simple 15-20 minute routine has changed my game. No matter what I have ahead of me for the day… sales calls, investor meetings, pitching, difficult conversations, product development, writing deadlines etc., I make time for this routine because I’ve seen the difference it makes in my life.
Something I’ve learned in the start-up game is that time is your most valuable asset. But something else that I've learned is that the day you plant the seeds is not the day you bear the fruit. From what I’ve observed, founders are putting all the force and energy behind their ideas in attempts to reach Mark Zuckerberg status. Rare are the founders who see an issue and know they can provide more valuable solutions than the status quo offers. Founders who say: there is no area that I’m not willing to grow as a person to make this vision come to life. Practicing patience with the ebbs and flows and the awareness that we’re doing all this in the Age of Aquarius are not sentiments I hear often. It’s go go go until one exits and starts all over again. It’s exhausting.
Choosing to do the opposite of what is expected — getting quiet, being patient, making moves when they present themselves, trusting the process — might seem incredibly counterintuitive.
But I believe that is where the magic happens.
With that, I am excited to share with you my (and Anact’s) recap for the year. I hope you enjoy it!
Highlights:
The lows/learning curves:
My word for 2023 was trust. What I have realized is that the more that I stick with Anact and let it guide me, the more it feels like the lack of consistency and stability I’ve had in my own life is healed. The part that no one told me was how many people I would lose in the process, which is why I lean heavily on my faith and remind myself to continue to trust the process above all else. Easier said than done!
My word for 2024 is laughter. When I look at my journey, I am so proud of what I’ve gone through and how strong I have been, but now that I feel this level of confidence in how business and the game of life works… I’m ready to keep doing hard things and growing, but I’m ready to do it as a team, with others who have my same values and drive.
I am so excited to continue to build in 2024. To deliver on our goals and expectations for all members of our community. I truly feel like I have found my ikigai. It’s the intersection of doing what you love, what you are good at, what the world needs, and what you can be paid for.
For me and Anact, that’s continuing to provide the best performing and sustainable home goods for you and your loved ones, hosting community events that inspire and educate, and moving closer to creating on-demand manufacturing for our product.
Personally, I’m excited for Anact to tackle more policy-making in the textile industry, and to do more speaking and writing on the opportunity to innovate in the textile industry while sharing the process of what it takes to build a big vision from scratch.
I also hope to continue meeting others that are going after their dreams like I am because this can be a really lonely journey. Whenever I feel that loneliness, I play “Fallingwater” by Maggie Rogers and it makes me feel less alone. Writing down what I am grateful for and all that has occurred helps too!
Lastly, I’m excited to have a little bit more spare time to see family and friends, especially those that I haven’t been able to connect with as much over the years.
Wishing you a Happy New Year from Austin, TX!
XOXO
The hardest part is to have to experience the bevy of emotions you experience as each wave cascades over your body and not react.
To remain still and manage the ups and downs is one of the hardest things I have learned how to do. You can’t attach to the high or the low but practice being steady and trust that the right people, the right sales channels, the right investors/advisors/mentors, and the best path are happening for your best interest. And whatever you do, you don’t give up.
I learned how to do this after I read Ryan Holiday’s book “The Obstacle is the Way.” I resonated with the bit about Ulysses S. Grant and his ability to face life or death circumstances and still perform at his highest and remain focused on what is in front of him.
Truth be told, I found it extremely attractive and hot. If Ulysses was alive today, I’d be interested.
This trait is something I know that I am personally looking for in a partner. Someone who doesn’t react, but instead chooses their response and executes with a quiet confidence. This feels so rare these days. But if there is anything that I have learned, it’s that if you hold yourself to a certain standard, you’ll be disappointed if you pick people around you who don’t hold themselves to that same standard. Which is why the people who know me, like really know me, are a quite small group.
In my mind, if I have these standards for myself, then someone out there with those same standards exists too. That’s why I almost lost my marbles when I was preparing for a busy day this past Wednesday and received a text (that was well intended) about setting up an appointment to freeze my eggs. They wanted to have the conversation about what happens to career oriented women when they don’t invest in their dating life. In hindsight, I should be honored that people who love me want to see me pass down my lineage.
But what upsets me the most is that no one asks me any questions before they project their own experience onto me. Instead of wondering what has happened to me in my life, they think, what is wrong with her?
I’m well aware that a majority of my friends have one, maybe two kids at this point, and are spending their weekends at birthday parties and gymnastics practice while I sit here and write this journal and build towards my vision and my goals. But what no one realizes is that I have had many opportunities to get married and have kids but due to previous trauma (I only recently started healing from), I was unable to trust myself to commit to anyone who showed interest because I didn’t really know myself. **I also think that many peers in my generation haven’t been able to pursue non-traditional career paths because of the predatory nature of the American education system and the debt one more incur at such a young age and be beholden to for decades to come like an anchor on your ankle before you have even set sail.
I’m a ride or die girl so when I ride, I ride, which is why I have taken my time.
It’s only been in the past couple of years that I can say I fully trust myself and my ability to commit and build with someone. The timing has been wonky with the pandemic and a jam-packed schedule with Anact. I also believe that when the flower blossoms, the bees come. So I just keep blossoming and trust the process and my own timing. It’s that Kim K energy for me… the only thing I can control is getting hotter, smarter, wealthier, and kinder. Vroom vroom.
I’ve also realized that I’m a bit of a wild horse (I suppose I always have been). I’m unconventional in my thinking in so many ways. I want to grow my own food but I like to eat holiday themed double stuff Oreos because they remind me of my dad. *I laugh so hard it hurts when I think about my dad inquiring to his local grocery as to why they didn’t have his favorite oreos in stock last month.
I’ll build a sustainable company and then want to fly private because I hate the experience of commercial airplanes. I have no problem going head to head to create policy and legislation and advocate for a better textile industry with a childlike innocence that disarms most but I too want to be held and told everything will be alright when the going gets tough. I let myself be a contradiction but always with good intentions. I love the unlikely twists and turns because it keeps the funnel open to meeting new people and having new experiences and makes me feel like a treasure chest to myself and to others.
To be dynamic and versatile in today’s society feels like a tall order. It’s like people need you to fit in one box or another to feel comfortable, but if you live your life as a product of your experiences and your desires then it throws everyone off.
I will choose the latter even if it makes me feel lonely at times because at least it’s authentic and at least it’s me. And the more that I do this, I realize I give permission to others around me to do the same and it warms my heart big time.
For me this week, blowing off some steam from Anact means going to work out and then heading to events to network and learn about others. On Tuesday, I went to the Irish consulate Christmas party (where I proclaimed my love for Texas’ come and take it energy) followed by an event on Wednesday to meet paddle boarder and activist Chris Bertish. I first heard about Chris in 2016 from my good friend, Mark Cappa. Mark owns Stay Covered, a surf gear shop, and had his operation set-up across the street from my little studio apartment in Oceanside, California. I used to see Mark and the other surfers walking barefoot to catch some waves while I was getting ready for work at prAna. I was in awe at how chill and calm they always were.
One day, Mark mentioned he was following a paddle boarder who had just paddled across the Atlantic Ocean. He told me I had to check him out. Seven years later, I got to meet Chris in person. I loved how inspiring, daring, and connected to nature he is. It’s refreshing.
I ended up inviting Chris to check out Barton Springs and went swimming with him the next day. One of the things I have always associated with Austin is the notion that, regardless of your social status, that no one is above getting a taco and hitting the trail together. It’s how I was introduced to Austin and it’s something that will always stick with me. This is important to me because the tech industry's culture is atrocious and transactional which is the antithesis of the Austin that I know and love. Any way that I can preserve the culture and the values of the city, I can and I will. Even if I wasn’t born here.
Hanging with Chris made me realize that I missed working at prAna and how we got to learn from the yogis, surfers, and climbers after their expeditions and trips. There was a wholesomeness and peacefulness about it all. I also got to relive my South African days and talk about my working under Archbishop Desmond Tutu and living in the local townships. I would love to get back there and visit.
The part about hanging with Chris that I almost didn't include was that while walking into Barking Springs (the counterpart to Barton Springs, which happened to be closed for cleaning) I slipped on several mossy rocks and went flying into the cold spring water. Luckily, Chris was talking to several people when this happened and he didn’t see it so it was just a little moment for me!
The biggest realization that I had was that I do Anact because I believe in it, I see the opportunity, and I want to make it happen. I have no interest in being in stuffy restaurants and bars drinking and commiserating with other start-up founders on this journey. I want to be hiking, camping, swimming, meditating, and building campfires to release steam and reconnect to my why. That has been hard to find.
In my dream world, Anact’s European business takes off such that we can open an Irish office and I can spend my time between the US and Ireland. I love the idea of getting to raise my family in Ireland in a culture that celebrates poets, literacy, strong work ethic, team sports, family, and community. I want to wake up in the morning and go for a chilly swim or surf and take a hot shower followed by a hot tea with a fireplace going and my family around me. All while executing big visions like Anact.
It’s the paradox and the simplicity.
This is my current inspo for that vision.
I also really love the talent in Ireland. I keep getting frustrated with how disconnected everyone is in the United States and how the younger generation is obsessed with social media. They are addicted. Hell, I find myself a bit addicted sometimes. But I think it’s almost gotten to this point where people have turned into robots and can’t think or act out of their own accord. It scares me. It’s part of what drives me to do as many in person events at Anact as possible so we can make people feel something and zap them out of their zombie state and remind them this life is here to LIVE baby.
It’s funny, when I let myself really dream… I sometimes get this tingling sensation in my fingers that tells me that I’m on the right path and to keep going. I can’t explain it. It’s electric. Someone once told me that when everyone goes right, you go left. And when everyone goes left, you go right. As long as you maintain that mentality, you’ll always be alright. I’m grateful he said that to me years ago.
Cool content I have created and consumed this week.
As we prep for the last week before Christmas, I urge you to find peace in the chaos but not overwhelm yourself and carve out some you moments. Whether that’s a walk in the park, a coffee/matcha at your favorite spot sans phone, writing a homemade Christmas card, or going for a cold plunge. Do it.
As someone who lives a year in a day and feels like she has lived many past lives (and in the 34 years that she’s been on the planet), I too have to remember that abundance and opportunities are always right around the corner.
Quote of the week that I’ll leave you with: if 10,000 people are doing the same thing, why would you choose to be 10,001?
Until next time!
xx
]]>Unfortunately, the tech industry has taken over the the investing scene for so long that investors have lost their intuition for opportunities even if they are staring them straight in the face. This is such a miss to me because from my experience.... founders who are mission driven rarely give up.
We know what's on the line and will go climb every mountain to see it through.
Isn't that the horse you would bet on over the next one word tech brand that has not heart and soul behind it? Keep in mind, I don't think tech is a bad thing. I think we should infuse it and optimize everywhere we can... I just don't think we should only invest in tech solutions to stimulate our economy.
As regulatory requirements continue to come down the pipeline, I pray that they will see the same opportunity that we have at Anact for so long. A question I keep asking myself is how do we make people be obsessed with COP28 the way that people feel about Hollywood and events like the Met Gala and the tech industry?
I want to see sustainability and policy work become sexy because for so long they have been filed under nice to have initiatives.
In the meantime, we have to continue staying focused on executing and tackling the market in front of us by showing how hemp out performs every fiber on the market with numerical data instead of falling into the greenwashing that our industry is notorious for due to lack of enforcement of content claims.
One interesting thing to note that we learned this year, the people who want made in America product are not willing to pay for it and the people willing to pay for it are not interested that it is made in America.
This reinforces my belief that we have to invest and innovate on the infrastructure utilizing robotics and 3D printing in order to sell in the United States and Europe to serve our community.
Can you imagine inviting me to a Christmas party and having me come out swinging with the above info? It's a real blast. Men are either wildly intrigued or go running for the door. I have tried to hide it in the past but now I just let it be. The ability to have a childlike innocence about me and how I treat people combined with a twist of going toe to toe to discuss some of the most pressing and difficult topics we face as a human race. It's just who I am and always have been.
But if there is anything that I have learned about life, you have to do you 100% and trust the right people will find you when executing big visions and goals for yourself.
It means being lonely at times and having to go through moments where you outgrow groups of people that have helped you reach a certain place and being in the vortex while you wait for the next group of people to receive you and take you on your next chapter. And trust me, as you outgrow people, they won't let go easily.
One of my favorite mantras from Michelle Obama is, "when they go low, we go high", which is something I have been having to practice continuously these past several months.
Because the truth is that most people (99%) can't handle how the sausage is being made. I err on the vegetarian side so for me to say this saying means a lot but it's true. Side note, one of my favorite authors is Upton Sinclair. I'll never forget reading his book "The Jungle" and how that book prompted the creation of the FDA after Sinclair went undercover to expose the way humans and animals were being treated in Chicago in the early 1900s.
I often connect with Sinclair when I think about my experience of the apparel industry but now I connect with the business owners that he writes about because you are just doing your best to create jobs and stay alive in a competitive market.
Sometimes I wonder how he released the stress of taking on an entire industry. For me, it's been lifting that has become a lifeline. As soon as I start lifting weights, I feel a release in my brain. I imagine moving around all the things that I feel out of my control by using my arms to push the sled outside, my legs to carry me as I run the 600m dash outside my gym and my brain to remember the routines.
It's been a game changer. I haven't worked out like I am working out right now since I lived in Baltimore. I am realizing how much I have missed working out with other driven men and women. The one thing that is funny about Austin is that there is not much of a gym culture considering how in shape everyone is.
One thing is for sure, no matter where you're at, find a way to move your body. My dad has always taught my brother and I that moving our bodies is a non-negotiable to living our best lives. Each time my brain tells me that I'd be better off not working out... I tell myself... how bad do you want to feel good and which wolf are you going to feed today, Brianna? These mantras push me to make it happen against the odds. Oh yeah, and these amazing hair bands that I have been wearing to work out created by a fellow female founder based here in Austin.
On a less physical note, I have been listening to vintage Bing Crosby Christmas carols to get me in the spirit. Yesterday, I pulled out my High Sierra luggage under my bed (the same piece of luggage I have had since high school!) and started to pack my winter clothes for Christmas. This year, I am heading to South Bend, Indiana where I was born, where my parents met, and where my mom and her family are from for the holidays.
I am so excited to see snow, walk around Notre Dame's campus, eat at the Italian restaurant (Parisi's) that my parents used to go to, sip matcha with my aunt in the morning, visit my godfather's farm, go to church at the basilica and visit the chapel my parents were married in, drive past my grandmother's old house that I grew up in (and have so many fond memories as a little girl), bring flowers to my grandparents grave, and so more.
If there is anything I have learned since the pandemic, we have to bask in each moment and appreciate all of the the little things with the people we love and not take them for granted. Life is just too damn short.
Remember: we can do hard things, have big visions, and be uncomfortable but missing out on time with people we love and creating memories is a non-negotiable. Period. Shout-out to my Dad for teaching me this and for the work that we have been doing together to evolve and grow over the past few months. It means more than you know.
Until next week!
]]>Since launching the blog last week and having several thousand people read it (ah!), one of my favorite pieces of feedback that I got was this:
“It feels super accessible. I always think of my favorite writing as writing that goes down easy like a glass of water and I kept thinking of that as I read your words.”
The person that gave me that review is also the person who is largely responsible for the creation of this blog. She was the one who recommended that I get a copy of The Artist Way, which I brought with me when I went to Ireland this summer to write for my keynote. That book has been a game changer in my life. If you find yourself in a creative rut or curious to peel back the layers to what lives under the surface, I cannot recommend enough.
In addition to running Anact, I have always known that I was a writer at heart. I have actually been sitting on a book for the past two years that I penned after a tough break-up. I've just been gone ho about making Anact profitable and scaleable and delivering on everyone's expectations that I didn't think I deserved to pursue a new venture at this time. But now, I feel like it's my outlet to get me through no matter what I have going on.
Ever since making the decision to say exactly what I wanted to say via my writing… it has opened a lot of doors for me and for Anact and has created deeper connections with those around me, which encourages me to keep being as direct and honest with everything that I will share with you. And also a friendly reminder that if you’re struggling to conform to what is expected of you… this is your sign to say fuck it and be yourself.
Lastly, I had a realization while writing this week’s blog that there was a blogger with the same mentality that I used to follow when I lived in DC.
For those of you who don’t know, I attended George Washington University and studied International Business with a minor in Human Rights. I LOVED my life in DC. One of my favorite places to eat (still is) is Good Stuff Eatery. I loved hopping on the metro from Foggy Bottom to Eastern Market and listening to my favorite music (either Lupe Fiasco or Kid Cudi) while I surveyed all of the Banana Republic and Ann Taylor outfits worn by busy men and women keeping up with the conservative culture that DC is known for.
Once I got to Eastern Market, I would relish in the short walk to Good Stuff by eyeing all the brownstones and wondering what it would be like to own one one day. At Good Stuff, I would promptly order the Prez Obama burger (a bacon blue cheese burger with horseradish mayo and a sweet and sour red onion marmalade) and the toasted marshmallow milkshake, a milkshake that taste like a campfire s’mores with custard, topped off with a perfectly charred marshmallow.
Next time you’re in DC (or if you live there and haven’t been) get this combo and get all the dips for the French fries. They are unreal!
What was extra juicy about it was that it was started by Chef Spike Mendelsohn, who at the time was dating a blogger from NYC. She had a food blog called Apron Anxiety where she wrote about her life dating Spike and trying to cook in the kitchen. She lived in the neighborhood and would write about the White House dinners they would go to and the people she met.
I lived for this blog.
And now, I feel like I’m creating a bit of my own version of it which makes me so so happy.
PS since then, Spike has opened We the People next door which is very very good too. My mouth is actually watering as I write this. Note to self, get back to DC soon!
As for why I went to school in Washington, DC… I went there because when I was 16 years old, my parents took us on vacation with our neighbors from Jacksonville. Our neighbor's brother was a conductor in the orchestra so we headed to DC and cozied up to watch a Christmas concert at the Kennedy Center (one of my all time fav memories). My mom scheduled for us to tour the Capitol that week with an intern representing Florida. I’ll never forget standing in the middle of the capitol and my mom saying that if I wanted to be here one day, I could. It’s the conversation that prompted me to apply and attend GWU. Thank you, Mom.
Side note - one day I would love to go back to school for journalism. I’ve always wanted to be a war reporter/journalist on the front lines. Or report and work for the United Nations. Observing what is happening and connecting the dots via my writing to share and inspire others to make change and think differently is something that is incredibly important to me.
But in the meantime, I have a biz to run! And that biz is going through quite an evolution. We’re in the midst of a fundraise (prompted by my keynote in Jacksonville in early October), the launch of several large wholesale channels, and the opportunity to bring on people who can match the energy of the growth of the company. Truly a founder’s dream. The only tough part is no one tells you how hard it will be to close up the loose ends of the previous strategy of the business while prepping for the future and the difficult conversations one must have. More on that later...
Alrightyyyyy, for this week’s blog, I’ll cover a couple of different thoughts and topics. Ready? Let’s go!
Last week, I had the chance to hear Mark Cuban speak and his perspective of business really resonated with me. Since being in the start-up ecosystem, I find that too many people focus on how much they can raise and growth at all costs instead of finding product market fit, reoccurring revenue, profitability, and a stable foundation that can survive without outside capital injection all of the time. One of the most asked questions I get from new founders is how to make their dream their full time gig, to which I reply, make your rent/mortgage/cost of living dependent on it and you’ll figure it out real quick. Not many people like to put themselves in that level of discomfort though… Constraints are good though. They create innovation.
Back to Mark… I like that he had an underdog spirit and was leaving Shark Tank and potentially selling the Mavs to spend more time with his family. It was refreshing to see a man in business prioritize their family. I also find that most investors invest on what is trending and not necessarily with their gut. Rare is the investor who thinks about investing in the founder, the vision, and the traction. Mark appears to be the exception (as well as all Anact investors too of course). We did get to gift him product (wahoo) so stay tuned on that front. In case you were wondering how this all came to be, Anact is a part of an accelerator in Downtown Austin to help us meet people to help us grow the business quickly.
The reason why I chose this accelerator in particular is because I love the focus on automation, tech, robots, and the connection with the military and government. Anact’s currently sells sustainable towels better all people and the planet but the products have always been phase I. They set the tone (and the marketplace) for creating on demand manufacturing to reduce the textile industries carbon footprint as well as create supply chain resiliency as the geopolitics between the US and China continue to degrade.
Because at the end of the day… “You never change things by fighting the existing reality. To change something, build a new model that makes the existing model obsolete.” - R. Buckminster Fuller
My unwavering belief that the reintroduction of hemp back into American society would be the fiber of the future to lead the way for this infrastructure innovation came to me in August 2017. It’s been 6+ years of building that vision and it has brought me to a lot of places (Austin, TX being one of them) that I could have never imagined. It has also brought me to a lot of places where I am the only one woman and have to have difficult conversations and boundaries set to protect myself and my business.
There are many a times where I completely understand why women do not do this and therefore do not get to ideate and innovate big visions on a full-time basis.
I have so much empathy for others but sometimes I have to completely turn that off and hold people accountable for their actions and push them to do better. I not only have to see the sausage get made but I have to be sometimes make it myself. As much as I love building the vision, it does take a toll on me having to play in the territorial, competitive, and emotionless start-up sandbox because I have a big heart and a soft soul. But I am also the daughter of first and second generation immigrant parents who have trailblazing embedded in their DNA so practicing the dance of being soft and strong on a daily basis is how I make it through the discomfort of it all.
“I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” - Maya Angelou
Aside from the Mark Cuban event, my week was spent between investor calls, sales orders, prepping for a SX activation, bookkeeping, and strategic brand partnership conversations with meditations and work-outs sprinkled in-between. Oh, and I took Alyse (our marketing intern) to her first UT basketball game! Since my dad was a college basketball coach, I pretty much grew up in the gym. One time I told an ex-boyfriend that I pretty much grew up in the men’s locker room to which his jaw dropped before I could explain that it was because of my dad’s job, haha. For me, I would say that going into an old Catholic Church and a basketball gym are the two places I feel safest and most content.
Lately, I have been intrigued about getting to learn more about the team dynamics and synergies at UT and watching them interact and play. That’s what I did when I watched the World Rugby Cup this past summer. I learned a lot from Johnny Sexton’s leadership skills for the Irish rugby team. I find that I draw inspiration from sports because businesses are no different. You’re creating a group of people working towards a shared vision and leveraging everyone’s skillsets to achieve and win together. The only difference is that we don’t have a formal schedule where you see us perform every week per se.
In building a team and company culture at Anact, I have realized that I like to run a tight ship. I run it like that because that’s how I run my life. Time is our most valuable asset and I’ll be damned if I don’t get to live the life I am meant to and miss out on opportunities and achieving goals by succumbing to doom scrolling, social media, or looking around at anyone else’s life without being the main character of my own story and inspiring everyone I work with to do the same. I have worked incredibly hard to not beat myself up about the past, not future trip, and ground myself in the present and give it my all by sending it every single day in every single way. I don't believe that anyone should complain or point out what others are doing wrong unless they have a better solution. It's rude and unhelpful. Period.
Recently, my mom and I talked about how the culture of giving everyone a trophy on the soccer team was actually incredibly detrimental to society. In the effort to not hurt anyone’s feelings, we lost the ability to reward those who worked hard and for others to see where they needed to improve to continue to grow. As hard as it can be, I want people to tell me when I need to improve in different areas so I can get better and grow.
In the age of social media, a lot of people get to present an image of themselves that is not necessarily the reality. They do not have the credentials to be doing what they are doing but they ride on the "fake it till you make it" mentality, which is fine to a certain point but you do need to be able to know where you stand in comparison to those in your space and what you bring to the table aside from your own belief that you're great.
I don’t believe that I’m right all of the time but what I have noticed about myself this year in the start-up ecosystem is that I have the credentials for the work that I do and that I am a fast learner. Whenever I learn something about life, I feel like that’s my moment to change and do better. I don’t look around to see if others have had that epiphany, I just make the change.
For example, after I read The Four Agreements, I decided that never again would I take things personally. It doesn’t mean that it doesn’t happen, it just means that I have a practice that I implement and believe that I apply in life. I think that one practice often sets me a part from people in life and a little ahead of the game and my time. I wish more people applied that belief to be honest.
Actually, there is one guy I was dating last year that did practice this… his ability to ask someone out and make the first move with so much confidence got him to places that he should have never been allowed (said with love). We were installing a security camera at my old house on Halloween night when he point blank asked if I wanted to go out with him. I was so shocked I kind of fumbled it but I ultimately said yes because I was impressed on how he put himself out there and made the first move. I later talked to him about this and he told me that he was willing to risk rejection and putting himself out there to learn how to get better at it and meet women. He said he had a lot of conversations with women to figure out the best approach to talking to women. He was kind of nervous about doing it in this me too era (I will write more about this later) but he still did it. I give him a lot of credit for that.
In the midst of doing incredibly hard thing (hello, less than 3% of women get access to VC funding in this country), I like to sprinkle my light with micro joys. Today, I got a nice 6 mile walk on the trail today. I think the 11 mile hike & bike trail in Austin might be one of my favorite things about this city. I love the energy of the trail and the trees that line you on both sides while you run, jog, or walk. Afterwards, I stopped by Desnudos (the best coffee in the city IMO) and I got a brown sugar miso latte iced with oat milk (they were out of my new fav drink the ChocoCloud).
I decided to stay and drink my coffee in the beautiful space that all of the business owners have curated collectively. I spotted an empty seat at a high top table and promptly plopped down in it where I allowed myself to relax and take in the Dominican music that transcended my ears, the smell of the campfire smoke that wafted through my nose, the conversations in spanish that trickled into my ears, and for myself to have a bit of wanderlust and transportation of when I first visited Mexico City and how it felt like I was experiencing that moment all over again. It was quite romantic and grounding.
As we prepare for this week, I challenge you to take one act to say hi to someone you don’t know. A man did that to me yesterday (he was jogging past and waved and asked me how I was doing) and it has stuck with me ever since so I am going to ask you to pay it forward and do it for someone else. Until next week…
xx
Bri
]]>It's me Brianna. I'm the founder and CEO of Anact. Prior to Anact, I was a corporate girlie and a resident tree hugger at companies such as Under Armour, prAna, and Columbia Sportswear.
I was born in South Bend, Indiana but moved around the country for my dad's career. I've lived in Indiana, Florida, Kentucky, and Wisconsin for the first ten years of my life. I call Jacksonville, Florida home (specifically Atlantic Beach) because it's been the most consistent place in my life to date.
In case you were wondering if my dad was in the military, he wasn't. He was a Division 1 college basketball coach for most of my life until he became an Athletic Director at Mercy College. The reason that I was born in Indiana was because my parents met at Notre Dame (where they were married at a log chapel on campus) and had me.
*My mom is one of seven children from a Polish family that grew up in South Bend. My dad is one of eight children from and Irish family that grew up in New York City, which is why I have my dual citizenship in Ireland and the United States. My dad was supposed to be a sanitation worker because #pension but bucked the system to work at Digger Phelp's summer camp so he could get an assistant position, which is where his career first started and what brought him to South Bend in the first place. It wasn't until a few years ago that I found out that my parents were already pregnant with me when they were getting married. As my best friend so aptly pointed out, I was present at their wedding that day too, which would explain my love for cabins...
After I graduated high school, the next ten years of my life were spent in Ireland, Washington, DC, South Africa, Uganda, Maryland, California, and Florida. I thought Florida would be the last place I lived but life has a funny way of throwing curveballs. I now live in Austin, TX typing from a cozy two bedroom bungalow with my tabby cat staring out at a leafy tree while I sip from a pink cup that my grandmother passed down to me.
My favorite writer has always been Anne Frank. I was nine years old when I read this quote from her:
“In spite of everything I still believe that people are really good at heart. I simply can't build up my hopes on a foundation consisting of confusion, misery, and death."
I decided to apply that perspective to my own life with the rationale that if she can say that in the midst of one of the darkest times in history then I could easily apply it to whatever happens to me in life moving forward. It's something I practice to this day. And truth be told, there is something I adore about looking the hardest moments in one's life in the eyes and smiling back. It makes me feel really happy and strong. I've always been fearless in that way.
Speaking of hard moments, I have had my fair share. From sexual assault when I was a child (and later an adult), to being robbed, to helping my mom through cancer treatment, to surviving my own kidnapping, to never seeing healthy marriages until most recently in life, and more. I'm sharing with you not to create a trauma grab but for you to better understand me and why I live life the way that I do because at the end of the day, we are not our trauma.
Looking back, I would say that the childhood assault and the kidnapping have sculpted me the most. I learned at an early age to never trust anybody and instilled in myself the belief that if I ever asked for help in life that it would put me at risk of being hurt again. I feared being vulnerable and did everything in my power to protect myself and not let anyone near me. I think a lot of women live life this way. We have become so used to being objectified and assaulted in the patriarchy that we become ultra masculine to survive.
For me, I lived life with an overstimulated nervous system that was constantly in fight or flight mode for the first thirty years of my life. I can only imagine what my friends and previous boyfriends thought of me. I was constantly on the go and afraid to share what I had been through for fear of reliving that pain and not being able to come out of it. I also hated the way that people responded when I shared about the kidnapping (I still do). It makes me feel like an alien and more weighed down instead of relieved when I try to explain my past.
I've come a long way since then.
Although, I can still be triggered and I don't know if my awareness of my surroundings at all times will ever leave me. Only when am I around all of my loved ones do I feel a sense of safety and ability to take a deep breath and relax.
I digress. I share the above with you so that you can understand that when I had the idea for Anact and the opportunity to pursue it, I jumped. I jumped because in comparison to previous life experiences I have had, it was nowhere near as scary. I can't remember when but somewhere in my mid-20s, I made a pact that when I wanted to do something or had a realization that I had to do it. There would be no talking about it without action. I had to act.
Since I have started Anact and gone from corporate to start-up life, it's been a huge healing process for me. You start to realize that if you want to get to your vision then you have to look within at your own patterns and self limiting beliefs to transcend your circumstances and get the job done. Phew. Perhaps if I knew this going in, I wouldn't have done it. But what I thought would take me one year to create is now on year five and the woman that I have become from it is one that has alchemized her greatest fears into a brand, vision, and community around activism, sustainability, and inspiration.
As much as I wish I could create photos and videos that articulated my experiences - I just can't. It always has been and always will be that writing is the balm for my soul. I was just too scared to write for so long because I felt like in this instant gratified world we live in that no one would have the attention span to sit and read what I had to say, which is what pushes me to do it now more than ever. We need to get lost in each other's words and experiences and know that we are not alone.
What I have to say might not apply to you, in which case, I encourage to find someone who's words do resonate with you and give your brain a break from doom scrolling and constant dopamine kicks. Trust me, you'll thank me for it later.
What you can expect from me moving forward is a weekly drop on Monday mornings of the diary of being the founder of Anact. I'll share with you my experiences raising capital, building teams, love and dating (currently listening to Bruno Major's "Just The Same" on repeat), my perspective on family and friends, what I'm eating, listening, reading (obsessed with "Principles" by Ray Dalio), working out, and vibing to as well as my hard earning insights on living in this new chapter of Age of the Aquarius and girl boss era 2.0.
Let's get started.
xx
Brianna
]]>Well, that’s all I got for now folks! Let us know if these were helpful and tag us on IG @anactglobal to share which act you take this month!
Cheers to simple acts! - Brianna
]]>When you’re browsing online in search for bath towels - you might initially be on the search for the fluffiest towels that won’t break the bank and are eco-friendly.
But once you’re doing your research on what’s available on the market - it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. There seems to be an infinite number of options available and they’re almost all labeled as “eco-friendly” or “sustainable”.
Not to mention - these towels are made from all different types of fabrics. Which one is the best choice for you?
5,283 gallons of water could easily produce days of drinking water- which is around 28 years of normal water consumption for a person.
The other type of bath towels that are often classified as sustainable are bamboo towels.
However, bamboo is oftentimes grown in plots of land where food could be growing instead. In addition to this, bamboo takes 256 gallons of water to produce a single towel. It’s also important to make sure the bamboo fabric isn’t a derivative of rayon, which involves a manufacturing process that utilizes a variety of toxic chemicals.
When you’re looking for towels it’s important to keep the following thing in mind:
Make sure the brand is using sustainably sourced materials
Choose a fabric that doesn’t use as much water to grow
Look for a towel that is designed for durability
Support businesses with manufacturing processes that prioritize sustainability
If you’re curious about hemp as a potential primary fabric for your next towel set check out our blog article here.
]]>What do the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals have to do with Anact?
]]>Good question!
Here at Anact, we prioritize sustainability and eco-friendly business practices that are designed to support important efforts such as poverty reduction, clean water, economic development and responsible consumption.
We were inspired by the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals because they cover social and environmental initiatives and are quantitatively driven. The 17 UN development goals include:
No Poverty
Zero Hunger
Good Health And Well-Being
Quality Education
Gender Equality
Clean Water and sanitation
Affordable and Clean Energy
Decent Work and Economic Growth
Industry, Innovation And Infrastructure
Reduced Inequalities
Sustainable Cities and Communities
Responsible Consumption and Production
Climate Action
Life Below Water
Life On Land
Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
Partnerships For The Goals
Because we use a proprietary blend of hemp and organic cotton - we are able to create sustainable and durable towels which reduce the overall consumption of water during the process. Instead of having to buy bath towels every few years - customers are able to purchase a set of bath towels that will stay soft for years.
We also pride ourselves in our production process - we partner with manufacturers who prioritize sustainability in their facilities. We value the importance of ethically sourcing and manufacturing products first and foremost at Anact.
If you’re interested in learning more about the UN sustainability goals, check out the outline here.
]]>Are you taking the time to take care of it?
A lot of the times when we think about health - we think about our internal health. What we eat, if we exercise, and what types of supplements we take in order to improve our overall health.
But our skin is often the last on the list.
The types of soaps we use to wash our bodies, clothes and even the fabrics we wear can affect our overall skin health.
Even your bath towels can affect your skin health. Some bath towel fabrics have fibers that actually trap dead skin cells and other bacteria - which results in smelly towels that get dirty super fast.
If you aren’t careful - these towels can cause acne and other skin problems.
However, some fibers are known as being biostatic. A fabric that is biostatic essentially means that the fibers will not trap dead skin or bacteria in your towel. These fabrics include hemp, linen, and merino wool.
Taking care of your skin doesn't have to be complicated or a chore - we’ve compiled some amazing products that make taking care of your body's largest organ easy!
Heart N Soul by US Natural + Vegan Body Wash : This all natural and vegan body wash is made by Heart N Soul based out of Vancouver, WA that prioritizes all natural ingredients that are gentle for your skin. Their body wash comes in a variety of delicious scents including coconut milk, chocolate cake and even beautiful floral scents like peony.
Anact Bath Towel Set: Imagine - getting out of a warm and relaxing shower and wrapping yourself in a soft and clean hemp and organic cotton towel. No more smelly, rough, or dingy bath towels that might make your skin breakout. These Anact bath towels are designed to be durable, soft and stay clean for longer.
Sione Sustainable Ultra Moisturizing Lotion: Sione is a beauty brand based out of the sunny state of California - and focuses on vegan, non-GMO, and all natural ingredients that nourishes and blends easily into the skin. Sione’s application does not give you that icky greasy feeling after application - and their products only use clean and all natural ingredients such as Vitamins A, D, E, and F. Sione’s moisturizer comes in lavender, eucalyptus, unscented and jasmine.
If you’re curious to learn more about what to look for when on the search for new bath towels, check out our blog article “Top 5 Things To Look Out For When Looking To Buy New Eco-Friendly Towels”.
]]>We’ve compiled a list of amazing sustainable and eco-friendly gifts, some that are stocking stuffers and others that are larger gifts.
]]>We focused on brands that are artisanal or handmade and that focus on sustainability and eco-friendly business practices. These items are handcrafted from all over the world.
Man Care Gift Box: This is the ultimate care box - and all the products are 100% handmade, natural and vegan. All of the ingredients are locally sourced in the Sunshine Coast, Australia. The gift box includes: activated charcoal & tea tree soap bar, a sandalwood skin purifier soap board, a beard and face hydrator, and a beard & hair comb. The products have a wonderful earthy smell and are carefully crafted and presented in beautiful gift packaging.
Personalized Canvas Log Carrier: This beautiful custom canvas log carrier can be customized with a monogram and is a wonderful piece of decor as well as a super functional item for those who love to have warm fires in the winter time. The log carrier uses high quality cotton canvas and vegetable tanned leather - each log carrier is sewn and assembled with care in the USA.
Fire Starter: If you’re shopping for a loved one who loves to go camping this fire starter is the perfect stocking stuffer. This fire starter doesn’t require any matches and can start a fire in any weather - rain, wind, or snow. This fire starter is handmade and even has a compass integrated in the handle.
11:11 Hanky: This is an amazing stocking stuffer and super practical and sustainable multipurpose hankie. A hankie is a super practical piece of cloth that can be easily stored in backpacks, pockets or even handbags. Instead of using single use tissues or napkins this organic cotton hankie can be an eco-friendly solution while cleaning up spills and messes. This hankie is grown, milled and sewn in the USA.
Safety Razor + 5 Blades: This is a wonderful sustainable and eco-friendly gift made from high quality matte zinc alloy and bamboo. This reusable safety razor will ensure a close shave every time - without the immense amount of plastic waste. This gift comes with a packet of 5 stainless steel wilkinson style blades whenever you need a refill. The razor is also designed to be double sided which allows the blades their full use. This product is designed and crafted in the UK.
Anact Bath Towel Set: This bath towel set is created with our proprietary hemp + organic cotton blend that ensures that it is not only eco-friendly and sustainable but also durable and soft. This specific blend of fabric is biostatic (goodbye smelly towels!), fast-drying, ultra absorbent and sustainable. This blend also gets softer with each wash which guarantees a durable and long lasting comfortable towel. With each purchase - you can save over 500 days of clean drinking water.
The holidays are quickly approaching - and finding holiday gifts for our loved ones can be really fun but a little stressful. That’s why we’ve created this gift guide for those looking for the perfect gift for their loved one who prioritize sustainability and love to surf.
]]>We’ve created two main categories in our guide - one for larger gifts and the other for stocking stuffers. We focused on showcasing artisan brands and smaller businesses that prioritize ethical sourcing and business practices that are not only environmentally sustainable but aim to make the world a better place for their employees and communities.
Large Gifts:
Silver Sea Glass Ring: Each ring is one of a kind, made with glass that is found along the beaches of Wales. This sea glass ring is made with 935 sterling silver which makes this necklace super durable. This is a great gift for a friend or loved one who loves the ocean.
Anact Bath Towel Set: One of the best gifts you can give your surf enthusiast loved ones is a sustainable and durable towel. Our bath towel set comes with three biostatic, fast-drying, ultra absorbent and sustainable towels that will help them quickly dry off after a morning of surfing. Each towel is made with sustainability in mind and with our proprietary blend of hemp and organic cotton fibers. Say goodbye to smelly rough towels!
She Adjusted Her Sails Sea Glass Necklace: This motivational necklace has “She stood in the storm and when the wind did not blow her way she adjusted her sails” inscripted on a sterling silver pendant along with a soft shard of authentic sea glass. Sea glass are pieces of glass that have been polished by the waves and sand of the ocean. This is a wonderful inspirational gift. This necklace is handcrafted in Oceanside, New York.
Anato Zero Waste Skincare Kit: Anato skincare focuses on creating a zero waste skincare line that is made with natural ingredients and with sustainability in mind. This kit includes a serum, sunblock, facemask, tree balm, a sample of a regenerative elixir and a cotton travel pouch. This brand’s HQ is in Santa Cruz, CA and each of their products is made with love and care.
At The Beach Sterling Silver Band Ring: This beautifully crafted sterling silver ring was inspired by the relaxing waves at Florida beaches. This ring is unisex - and truly a beautiful work of art. This is a wonderful everyday ring or a statement ring for those who have a love for the ocean. This ring is made with 100% recycled precious metal content- and is certified by SCS Global. It is also available in 14 or 18 karat yellow, white or rose gold. Each piece is handmade in Lacey WA, and comes in a gift box.
Save A Surf - Cold Water Kit: This kit contains everything you need - except for the surfboard. This kit is designed for all of your surf needs when surfing in cold waters. For those of you with loved ones surfing in central California, Washington or anywhere else in cold climes, this eco-friendly kit is the perfect gift for them. This kit includes: Rob Machado’s eco-friendly Cold Water Wax, Sunscreen, earplugs, fin screws and surf leash and it all fits in an 8 inch pouch that can be used in emergency situations. It even fits in the glove box! This kit is created in the sleepy beach town of Cardiff By The Sea, CA.
Stocking Stuffers:
Honeybear Beeswax Surf Wax: This all natural and organic surf wax is hand made in Tuolumne California, by a family owned beekeeping operation in the mountains near Yosemite. This is a wonderful stocking stuffer - especially for the avid surfers in our life.
Biodegradable Phone Case: This Surfer Girl biodegradable phone case is made with absolutely NO plastic in California. The case is made from a combination of bamboo and plant polymer and once discarded becomes biodegradable in just 160 days. The phone case is designed to be slim in form, lightweight, supports wireless charging and comes with gift wrapping! You can choose which phone case size fits best for your needs.
Limited Edition Black Lives Matter Tote Bag: This hemp + organic cotton tote is designed with the photo of GiGi Lucas, the founder of SurfearNegra and was shot by Malcom Jackson on American beach - which was one of the only beaches in the South that African Americans could swim at during the Jim Crow era. On the back of the tote is a special poem written by GiGi. This iconic photograph - pictures GiGi posing with her surfboard reminding us all of the universality of the ocean and surfing. Regardless of race, gender, or sexuality the ocean is a place where we can all marvel at the wonders of nature. This tote bag is wonderful to carry your essentials, groceries and more.
XS Reusable Surf Fabric Gift Bags: These cute reusable gift bags can be used for gift bags and double as a small pouch to put in your handbag, tote or backpack. The XS size is perfect for jewelry, cards, cosmetics and more! The super cute surf motive design is perfect for those surf enthusiasts in your life. These bags are pet friendly and handmade in Santa Barbara, CA.
Handmade Hardwood Surf Wax Comb: This handmade hardwood surf wax comb is designed to be sustainable and easy to use. The beautiful rich wood is handcrafted to be a surf wax comb and has a handy hemp lanyard and natural oil finish. This surf wax comb is handmade in Sonora, California and made by an Etsy shop that specializes in creating sustainable surf products made from locally sourced woods and beeswax crafted in the family farm. This is a great stocking stuffer for loved one’s who are regular surfers or getting into surfing.
]]>Gifts for Adventurers:
Vegan Bamboo Floss: When you’re on a hiking expedition - there’s no reason to have to ignore your dental hygiene. This handy and compact vegan bamboo floss container makes it super easy for anyone to remember to floss - even on an adventure. This case is reusable so that you won’t have to throw it away after you run out of floss. This floss is made from charcoal - to enhance gum health and improve whitening for your teeth. This item is made in Saint Paul, MN and ships worldwide.
24 Piece BlueTensils Biodegradable Compostable Bamboo utensils: These compostable bamboo utensils are designed to be biodegradable which is great for when you’re planning a BBQ or when you go camping. If you don’t have to want to worry about washing lots of dishes while on an adventure these utensils may be the perfect solution. These are great for those who often like to plan long hikes or go camping.
State Hiker Ornament from Recycled Raw Steel: This hiker ornament can be purchased for any state - and is an amazing stocking stuffer gift for any hiking enthusiast. The ornaments are made with raw recycled industrial steel which is the most recycled material in the world. Each ornament is unique - since it has different colors and shades due to the raw material. These ornaments are made in Adairsville, GA.
Wind Turbine Enamel Camping Mug: This beautiful enamel cup is perfect for camping - or just daily life adventures. The wind turbine design is from design house, Chew on Bamboo, and is a handmade graphic illustration that is designed to spread environmental awareness through illustrations. Each purchase will help raise money and donate to several organizations and charities focused on current environmental problems. This mug is handmade in Schenectady, NY.
National Park Log Book: This is an amazing way to document adventures in National Parks in the United States. The log book is small and compact so that you can easily throw it in your backpack or shirt pocket. This National Park Log book is FSC and Green Seal Certified, processed chlorine-free and made with 100% renewable electricity. Each notebook is printed and bound in Eau Claire, Wisconsin.
Anact Wash Towel: Our Anact wash towel is an amazing addition to any hiking or adventure pack. Our wash towels are also made with our proprietary blend of hemp and organic cotton which is biostatic, fast-drying, ultra absorbent and sustainable. If you need a wash towel that is compact and super useful this is an amazing choice!
]]>All of these products are artisanal and from Etsy shops and are designed to be eco-friendly and sustainable. We’ve compiled a few different gift ideas below:
Vegan Spa Gift Set: This spa set is already prepared as a gift and includes wonderful all natural and sustainable products that are handmade in New Market, Maryland. This spa kit includes 4 oz Body butter made from shea butter, cupuacu butter, cocoa butter and jojoba oil. The kit also includes sugar scrub, handmade soap, 2 bamboo spoons for your scrub and butter and a personalized handwritten note. You can choose from a few scents such as: Vanilla & Coffee, Lavender Woods & Honey, Raspberry Rose, Island Grapefruit.
Eco-Friendly 15 Piece Sustainable Self Care Kit Gift Box: This zero waste kit is designed to have all of the necessary ingredients to a relaxing at home spa day. It’s also a great gift for new homeowners as it comes with the necessary bath items. This sustainable kit includes: bamboo toothbrushes, reusable facial rounds, silicone swabs, and handmade goat milk soap bar. The box that the kit comes in is 100% plastic free, biodegradable and compostable.
Natural Aromatherapy Bath Melts: These natural handmade bath melts are the perfect stocking stuffer for the spa lovers in your life. These bath melts come in four scents: Lavender, Jasmine & Lemongrass, Grapefruit & Citrus, and Eucalyptus & Peppermint. You can purchase them in a set of 4 or 6. These bathmelts are handmade in Somerville NJ, and a wonderful way to incorporate aromatherapy into your bath.
Sustainable Letterbox Spa Kit: This hand crafted spa box is made in the UK and comes in four different variations: A skincare set, an anti-aging set, a combo set ( which includes masks, makeup remover, lip balm and soap), a face mask + soap set, and a clay mask set. You can also include a cute personalized card! Every item in the box comes in sustainable packaging to ensure that most of the gift set is reusable.
Vegan Pamper Hamper: Handcrafted in the UK, this “happiness in a box” contains nourishing Himalayan pink bath salts, 2 handmade bath bombs, vegan hand, face and body soap bar, self heating eye masks, Anyah Eco body cream bouch, Pukka Tea bags, a divine dark cocoa chocolate bar and a lovely personalized note. This is a great gift that has everything from spa items and even a delicious dessert.
Reusable Facial Sheet Mask: This organic cotton reusable facial sheet mask is a perfect stocking stuffer for those loved ones in our lives that love to unwind with a nice sheet mask. This facial sheet is made from 100% organic cotton fabric and is used with different serums you already have. You can easily wash this facial sheet after use and it will still stay soft. This organic cotton facial sheet mask is handmade in Sandwich, IL.
Anact Bath Towel Set: There's truly nothing worse than getting out of a relaxing and warm bath and having to dry off with a rough smelly towel. At Anact, we created a proprietary fabric blend with hemp and organic cotton that is sustainable, biostatic (goodbye smelly towels!) fast-drying, and ultra absorbent. The best part is that with a single towel purchase - you save over 500 days of clean drinking water. Our towels only get softer with use, and is the perfect way to end an at home spa day.
Terralite Candles in White Pumpkin: This coconut wax candle is carefully handcrafted in Oceanside California. Terralite’s white pumpkin candle scent is truly an ode to autumn. White pumpkin has notes of ginger root, cinnamon bark, allspice and organic vanilla oil. All Terralite candles are made with ethically sourced ingredients and are packaged in reusable glass jars.
These items would make amazing holiday gifts for your friends and loved ones that love going to the spa. Some of these items are amazing stocking stuffers or gifts.
]]>There are many amazing documentaries about the textile industry, we suggest “The True Cost” to wet your palette. Many people don’t know that the textile industry is one of the largest contributors to the climate crisis. By supporting sustainable home goods brands and fashion brands and voting with your dollar - you can be part of the change!
We digress. Back to textiles - what makes them eco-friendly? The main requirements are:
They’re sustainable to grow
Available in nature
The raw materials do not use a large amount of chemicals or toxins in the form of pesticides to cultivate.
The manufacturing process can be both sustainable and eco-friendly.
For example, when synthetic fibers are made, typically there’s a plethora of different chemicals used and emitted into the environment due to the fact that they need to be treated in several stages to create fabric for clothing, towels etc.
There are a variety of newer fabric blends being made that are designed with end of life in mind, which makes them more sustainable and close the manufacturing and production loop in the long run. These include hemp, wool, organic cotton, soy silk, bamboo fabric (careful this one comes with a few exceptions check out our blog article on this here. ), jute, and corn fiber. The most popular that are associated with being environmentally friendly and often found in the mass market are bamboo, organic cotton and some hemp blends.
Bamboo is an amazing plant, but consumers need to be mindful of the type of bamboo fabric they’re contemplating on buying, especially if they are trying to make a sustainable and environmentally friendly purchase. Most bamboo fabrics are really made out of rayon, which requires a lot of different chemical treatments and loses many of its natural components by the time it’s ready for consumption. Also, these different chemical treatments can be emitted into the air and water which are huge contaminants. It’s very important to make sure that the bamboo fabric you’re about to purchase was naturally treated and ethically sourced.
At Anact, we decided to use a unique blend of hemp and organic cotton, because through our research we found that this blend was the most ethically sourced, cultivated, durable and sustainably made. The research that we based this off of is the Higg Material Sustainability Index (MSI) which was started by Nike and later adopted by the Outdoor Industry Association.
The use of both hemp and organic cotton ensures your towels will stay soft, last forever and still have hemp’s natural biostatic properties which makes them cleaner and less prone to bacteria growth.
We truly believe that hemp is the future of sustainability not just in the textile industry.
If you’re interested in learning more about hemp fabrics, check out our blog article here.
Are you looking for sustainable and eco-friendly products to add to your wedding registry? We’ve scouted out amazing options that are sustainable AND unique. We focused on including products that are affordable, eco-friendly, and made by small businesses and artisanal brands. They’re wonderful keepsake products that will be useful for you and your loved one’s new adventure together!
Personalized Custom Cutting board - This beautiful cutting board is designed in such a way that can be totally personalized. This custom cutting board is made at True Momento’s small workshop and is family owned. The cutting board is sealed with a food-grade mineral oil which seals the wood and protects the board while still allowing the beautiful wood to shine through. There are zero stains used, so each board shows the natural color and sheen of the wood. Because each is uniquely made, each board will have different variations, tones, and grains from the listing image.
Berkey Water Filters- We love to recommend the Travel Berkey Water filter for newly wed couples because it’s an absolute must have for any new home. Berkey water filters are able to filter up to 2.75 gallons of water an hour (that’s 20 bottles of water) - and ensures that your water tastes amazing and is free from any harmful chemicals. This travel filter size is perfect for families up to 6 people.
Anact Hemp + Organic Cotton Towels- Towels are often forgotten when it comes to items to put into your wedding registry. However, they are incredibly important in a home, and if you’re looking for an eco-friendly and sustainable option these are a must have! Our unique hemp and organic cotton blend ensure your towels will be durable, always soft, and fast drying. You won’t have to worry about your towels making you break out since we use no harmful chemicals or dyes. Our popular bath towel set is an absolute must have!
These three items would make amazing additions to any wedding registry list, and if you’re looking for a gift to give to a newly married couple any one of these options would be a wonderful choice!
]]>The answer is yes - and no. It really depends on what you define as sustainable and what you prioritize.
Here’s the quick rundown of three important points regarding bamboo fabrics and sustainability:
Bamboo uses less water than traditional natural fibers: Bamboo traditionally takes less water to grow than other natural fibers. However, compared to hemp for example, it still uses a significant amount of water to grow. It depends on how important water conservation is to you when choosing a sustainable and eco-friendly fabric for your towels.
Most bamboo fabrics on the market are a form of rayon: This essentially means that it isn’t a super natural fiber because the manufacturing process is intensive and involves a lot of harmful and intensive chemicals. Not only does this mean your bamboo fabric product might have residual chemicals that you now wear and use, but those chemicals were also emitted into the air and environment.
However, this point really is specific to the brand. If the brand uses lyocell bamboo then it is a much more sustainable alternative. Bamboo is definitely a step up from traditional polyester or non-organic and sustainably grown cotton. This point isn’t meant to slander bamboo fabrics, but rather, just emphasize the importance of doing your research when it comes to what type of bamboo the brand uses and their manufacturing process. There are some amazing brands that utilize bamboo in a sustainable way for home furnishings and decor.
We have another article outlining more differences between bamboo towels that are currently available on the market and how they differ from our hemp + organic cotton blend Anact towels. You can read it here.
If you’re looking for a more sustainable and eco-friendly fabric option for your towel purchase, check out our hemp + organic cotton blend towels that on average save 526 days of water with one purchase. Check out our most popular bundle here.
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A common complaints we found when doing research on what consumers wanted in eco-friendly and sustainable towels, we found these major main complaints that were not being addressed in the marketplace:
One of the reasons why we decided to incorporate hemp into our towels - other than the fact that they’re eco - friendly and sustainable- is because hemp’s molecular structure is hollow which allows water to pass through it and wick the water off your skin. This is what scientists call biostatic. All Anact towels are made with hemp (which is a biostatic material) which means that they dry faster and bacteria can’t get trapped. We can all finally say goodbye to smelly damp towels!
Also, since we use an organic cotton and hemp blend, your towel will get softer with each wash (don’t worry it’s still super soft when you still get it in the mail!). Another reason we decided to work with hemp was because it is one of the most durable fabrics. Did you know the US Navy has been using rope made out of hemp for decades? Regardless of how many times you wash your Anact towel, it will only get softer and will last ages.
Hemp towels (and our hemp + organic cotton blend Anact towels) have an amazing level of breathability, which is why they’re fast drying, but it also means bacteria and scents can’t live there. Hence, hemp as a fabric is an amazing option for towels and sheets. The fact that our Anact hemp towels are breathable also means these are a wonderful option for people who are looking for an anti-microbial and hypoallergenic option. You don’t have to worry about your towels making your face or body break out.
If you’re looking for an environmentally friendly option for your new set of towels, a hemp and cotton blend is an awesome alternative to bamboo, pure organic cotton or recycled polyester.
Check out our Anact towel bundle, that includes a hand towel, body towel and a wash towel by clicking the link here.
If you’re looking for towels made from fibers that are sustainable for the long term, aren’t water guzzling and help promote soil health then hemp may be a great option.
Interested in checking out our Anact starter towel bundle? Click the link here.
]]>Look for 100% natural and organic fiber towels: Natural and organic fiber towels are going to be the safest and most effective option for your next set of towels. Chemicals and extra processing that are included in other towels add layers onto the fabric so that it’s harder for the towel to dry out naturally. This results in the dreaded soggy towel phenomena. This actually, was a reason why here at Anact, we use an all natural hemp and organic cotton blend that is the perfect blend of both worlds. We focus on using all natural and organic fibers, without the layer of mystery chemicals, to ensure that your towel will stay long lasting and soggy free.
Choose bath towels made with fabrics that are highly absorbent: You want a towel that is highly absorbent and soft. Even though most people would not consider hemp to be an especially soft fabric, we have created a perfect blend of soft organic cotton with the durable and eco friendly hemp. This results in a towel that is soft when you first receive it from us and only get softer with each wash. We designed this blend to be super absorbent and it also dries quickly so you won’t have a smelly cold or wet towel in the morning.
If you’re prone to breakouts - look for a towel that is biostatic: This is something most people don’t think about when they first buy a face towel. I mean, it’s not very obvious that your face towel might be breaking you out. However, you won’t have to worry about this with a hemp + organic cotton blend since the fabric is naturally biostatic. Rest assured you can use it worry free and know that it isn’t giving you pimples!
Make sure the company that makes them focuses on sustainability in their supply chain: If you want to support sustainable and eco friendly businesses with your next towel purchase, this helps show market demand for these products which encourages farmers and factories to continue to invest in plant based fibers. In this specific context, looking at different fabrics and their water consumption is key. Bamboo is a fabric that is commonly assumed to be eco-friendly, however it uses an immense amount of water to cultivate and transform into fabric. However, if you’re looking for a water saving alternative, our Anact hemp + organic cotton blend towels save on average 526 days of drinking water with each towel.
Choose towels that are durable: If you invest your time and money to pick a good sustainable option for your next towel purchase, you for sure don’t want to have to replace your towels every year. Some towels are more durable than others, but here’s where picking your fabric blend is important. Here at Anact, we chose the perfect hemp + organic cotton blend because hemp is one of the most durable and sustainable fabrics on the market aaaand since it has that lush cotton blended in, it actually makes our towels softer with each wash.
If you’re curious about our unique hemp and organic cotton blend towels, be sure to check out our towel bundle here. With a single purchase, you’ll have three beautiful and eco-friendly towels to try out.
]]>Any of these options would be wonderful gifts for loved one’s expecting a child, or if you’re expecting and are looking for items for your baby. If you’re looking for a gift bundle, a combination of these items would be a wonderful and helpful gift for new parents.
]]>Today is one of my hero's birthdays, Anne Frank. A fellow Gemini who captured my heart since I was 8 years old and first learned about the Holocaust in my 4th grade class in Verona, Wisconsin. Anne's story resonated with me so much that I somehow snuck a copy of Schindler's List out from the library and waited until my parents were out of the house one day to watch it by myself. That was a turning point in how I looked at the world.
I always knew people were having different experiences than my own due to my Dad's job (he was a college basketball coach). When they weren't playing ball, my mom usually had my dad's players over to our house to either babysit us for extra money or for a home cooked meal. Most of these young men playing basketball (majority were on scholarship) came from all walks of life. Tough upbringings that my Dad would share with us when he talked about recruiting.
But it wasn't until I met Anne one fateful day in 1998 via book that I really connected with someone (my own age too!) who was writing such poetry in one of the most difficult experiences that a human could go through. That's when I felt a fire ignite within myself. A fire that has led me to South Africa, Uganda, Rwanda, Poland, Cambodia, and finally - Anact so that I could understand humanity. I actually thought about NOT sharing this worrying it might be too "deep" but then I thought - I don't want to hide pieces of my own human experience and moments that have sculpted my life anymore.
I tried to visit the Annex when I was in Amsterdam in 2016 but it was closed the day that I was there so I took a photo instead and vowed to go back. I've tried to hide this piece of myself that wants to break down and cry each time I see humans treat one another poorly but I don't believe it's what I was called to do. So if you're reading this, this is meant for you to know and hear. I'd rather spend my Saturday night paying homage to extraordinary beings like Anne than be drinking booze to numb out from the reality of the human condition. I'd rather be watching documentaries learning about what others have gone through so I can be better at holding space for the pain they carry. I'd rather put all of my energy towards understanding what is my responsibility to give back to humanity while I'm on this planet then have one more conversation that is created by the culture.
I don't know why I am this way (my family wonders too) but it is what it is - God makes no mistakes. When I don't share what is in my heart then that's when I feel disconnected from who I am and from others and that feels AWFUL. And with that, I leave you with two of my all-time favorite Anne quotes. Here's to you Anne. May I show the same courage in life that you showed through your incredibly short lived life. May we all.
"I keep my ideals, because in spite of everything I still believe that people are really good at heart." - Anne Frank
"How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world." - Anne Frank
]]>The hemp industry has become synonymous with the same energy exhibited by industries such as cryptocurrency, e-commerce, and blockchain. Driving down your street you’ll see “CBD sold here” claims from convenience stores to retail stores to billboards claiming hemp can solve your anxiety and more. In my opinion, that’s one tall order to put on one plant crop!
That’s why I have gravitated towards connecting with people and businesses that are creating products that use hemp to solve problems instead of jumping on the trendy bandwagon and taking advantage of consumers in this wild west of an industry. Because I do not believe that CBD which is derived from the hemp plant is a one-stop shop for all of your problems. I believe it has performance features that can help you whether it is ingested or used topically but that what it presents is far more alluring - the opportunity to connect with our soil and the future of manufacturing.
Most people do not know that the US imports more than 99% of our textiles from other countries, including hemp textiles. The hemp that is being grown in the United States is not the variety needed to be grown for textiles. Furthermore, even if it was, we do not have the manufacturing capabilities to process and cut and sew it into garments that would be at a price point that American customers could afford.
When I designed the Anact towels, I was super excited to get rid of the mildew smell that had long accompanied my plush bath towels made out of conventional cotton (if you did not know, hemp is biostatic which means resists the growth of bacteria due to its molecular structure) but I was also really excited about educating Anact customers and our community as to why we cannot manufacture here and the history of textiles in the United States so we could innovate the future of textiles using hemp.
Since we are re-introducing hemp for the first time since 2014, there is very little supply which means there is enormous opportunity for innovation, automation, robotics - you name it. The sky's the limit to apply an Elon Musk Tesla style approach to how we manufacture hemp as we know it for whatever industry it will be sold in and tell the story of the farmers, the soil, the process, the factory worker and the problems that the end product is solving for you as the customer.
That is why I believe it is ultra-important to ask questions and thoroughly research brands selling hemp-based products before you buy from them to ensure that they are here to solve your problems while doing justice to the hemp crop instead of manipulating a plant only to land us back into the capitalist structure that exploits people for profits.
Hemp is the future - but only if we truly let it be without applying preconceived notions of the past and the thought process of “this is just how we’ve always done it.” Cheers to hemp paving the way for our next iteration of capitalism: conscious capitalism. Welcome, it is nice to meet you.
]]>I grew up in Jacksonville, Florida but more specifically Atlantic Beach. Atlantic Beach is a cozy nook with a small town charm; however, I did not go to school where I grew up. Instead, I went to school downtown. My 11-year-old self still remembers hopping on the non-air-conditioned bus during those sticky, humid Floridian mornings and the goodbye waves to my dad as I sat on the brown peeling leather seats that my legs immediately stuck to as we pulled out of Fletcher Middle School’s parking lot en route to James Weldon Johnson Middle School. I always knew we were close to school when I smelled the coffee grounds while traveling over the Mathews Bridge.
Going to school downtown while living at the beach was an experience I am forever grateful for because it shed light onto the intense racial inequality that exists within my city. It opened my eyes on a daily basis. Who would have thought that almost twenty years later I would be living less than a mile from my old middle school in Jacksonville’s downtown? Unfortunately, my time downtown did not last long. Here’s why.
Our downtown has a serious issue of people who are physically and mentally hurting arriving at the GreyHound Bus Station. People arrive from all over the country where passengers disembark without anyplace to go. If you have ever been to LA and seen Skid Row, you would feel like we are not too far off from that after a drive through LaVilla. What breaks my heart is that we accept this as normal. I am here to tell you - it is not.
Sometimes in the morning when I was living downtown, I would get up and go for a run down the streets around the new courthouse and Jenkins BBQ (my favorite), by the Clara White Mission House and the old houses that look like they were built in the 1800s, through FSCJ’s campus to the outskirts of Springfield past the Cathedral to the Jaguar stadium and WJCT’s station and loop back to Bay Street and up Laura before ending at the Barnett Building. To switch it up every once in a while, I would run along the river to Riverside and back again. On these runs, I witnessed some things that I could no’t believe with my own eyes.
I share this with you because Americans have a habit of looking down on other countries and other people without realizing that our backyard is not very clean itself and many people in our local communities are suffering and in need of one another. Here are some of the things that I witnessed:
I share this with you because I believe that we should be leading with our hearts more than ever. We should not be turning away from that which breaks our hearts but turning toward. Because from the bottom of my heart, I do not believe that anyone or anything is a lost cause. Jesus showed us that redemption is possible for all of us on this planet.
One morning, I visited my friend Nathan at the amazing community garden he built in Springfield. I was sharing with him what I was experiencing and he mentioned a book he was reading about testing conducted on hamsters. The testing concluded that when hamsters are isolated, they lean on any type of drug for connection but when they are together and can be connected to one another, they do not need any drug.
That really resonated with me because it made me think that maybe that is what is going on in downtown Jacksonville. A lot of people who do not feel seen, heard or like there is a future for them so it becomes an apocalyptic stomping grounds for the mentally ill with no reprieve in sight. They are an eyesore for the politicians of Jacksonville and a heartbreaker for the empathic ones. I feel called to say something not only because it makes my heart break but because of my own belief system. I used to think that my greatest accolades in life would be based on what I did and accomplished. Now, I believe it is based on how I made others feel and how I am able to offer my skill set to let someone else know they are not alone while giving a voice to those who do not have one.
As for a way forward, I realized that I would not be able to help others without helping myself which is why I had to remove myself from living downtown full-time to calm my own nervous system and feel safe to move about without fear of being watched, tracked or harmed. I do not believe that anyone would have hurt me intentionally downtown but unfortunately, I do not trust people who are taking drugs to not hurt me and I do not feel physically or mentally strong enough to protect myself.
That is why I chose to continue to build Anact and partner with others who see the same things I see and have the bandwidth and the ability to do something about it. I am attracted to anyone who believes in shedding light on those who don’t have a voice in our local and global community. I’m researching and reading up on the use of psychedelics (in controlled environments) to help those dealing with their own neuroses to face their trauma, quiet the ego and release it so they can get to the root cause of the wounding.
My hat goes off to downtown warriors such as Folio, Wolf & Cub, Bellwether, Sulzbacher and more who have either carved out spaces to run businesses in these areas or are directly helping those in need. Y’all are the realest.
In light of surviving year one of a pandemic, I pray that our community will continue to have more compassion for one another and to honor each other’s human experiences regardless of what we have gone through, what we are suffering from (because we all suffer), how much money we make, what we have done in the past, whether we live in a home or not, or what we have to “offer” in this world.
I pray for the people listed above as well as for everyone in my life and on this planet everyday. I hope that in sharing my experience living downtown from what I witnessed and continue to witness brought you on that journey with me and inspired you to take action in some way. Because if not you, then who?
]]>As a testament to its adaptability hemp has been used for a variety of purposes throughout human history. In 150 BCE the Chinese used hemp to create paper, the leaves and seeds were also lauded for their medicinal properties and used in a variety of ancient medicines. In the middle ages Hemp would see a resurgence once again when its strength when used as canvas and rope on sailing ships became apparent. The crop became so widely used that in 1535 king Henry the VIII passed a law requiring all landowners to reserve a portion of their land to produce hemp.
Hemp would continue to be a dominant crop up until the 1930s. In 1937 because of heavy corporate lobbying on the part of synthetic textile companies the production of hemp would be outlawed in the U.S. The following year Canada would follow suit and ban its production as well. This ban would remain in place until 2014 where the U.S allowed hemp production on an experimental basis. Finally, in 2018 the production of hemp within the U.S was federally legalized.
The history of hemp is a long and storied one. A crop whose uses have been varied for thousands of years. From cloth in ancient Mesopotamia to medicine in China, all the way to the piece of paper our nation's Declaration of Independence was written on. The history of hemp has been truly remarkable.
]]>Two months prior, I had professed my love for someone who had been in my life for a long time as a friend. It had shocked both of us - me most of all. We met when I moved to San Diego in 2015 and were both starting new chapters in life.
Less than a week of knowing each other we were hitting 5am yoga classes together, taking evening walks picking out our favorite houses, discovering we both loved bringing fuzzy socks to the movie theater and that most importantly, we could make each other laugh so hard that one of us almost always ended up with stomach cramps (usually me).
It was effortless.
After six months of bliss, life had other plans for us. He was quitting corporate to live in his van and travel the west coast and later South America. I was getting my first place by myself and continuing my work at prAna. We always kept in touch circling back around each other to keep the hope alive. We never even voiced this hope - it was unspoken between the both of us.
If you know me, you know that I don't trust anyone and that I am very careful with who I let in my life. And then last year right before COVID, I was hit by a category 5 force hurricane wind wanting only love and to share my deepest darkest scars with someone. Specifically, I wanted to tell he who must not be named that I loved him. So I did.
I was (and still sometimes am) so afraid that no one will accept and love me for all that I am. This was due to my own personal beliefs but also due to opinions shared with me from a close family member. This family member told me with great confidence right before I launched Anact that nobody would want me if I pursued the path of being an entrepreneur.
It crushed me.
I was told that I would be single and lonely because I would scare men off. I've never been married and if you look at my dating record... I don't have the best track record to draw upon (sorry in advance to anyone who I have dated who is reading this) so I believed her at first.
What helped me push past this experience was knowing that I would never be in an authentic relationship if I didn't do Anact regardless of the outcome because I would never be able to show up for someone else the way that I would want to or trust that they fully saw who I was and loved me for my Elon Musk meets Kanye West meets AOC ideas and thoughts that percolate in my head at 2am. This has been hard to pursue while my friends get married, have children and I nurse the baby of a business that is Anact. I'm so grateful for my family and friends who have stepped in to support me throughout all of this.
I'm incredibly ambitious, driven, and sensitive. I would rather plow through books from the library than go to a group function. I have big dreams for Anact as well as dreams of living in a cottage by the sea raising my family while doing investigative reporting and writing. I question everything (and I mean everything) around me and I have put on horse-blinders only accepting my best refusing to be limited by the age old saying - that's just the way we have always done it.
But I gave myself hope that he would accept me for all of these things. The funny part I found out though - was that it was the pieces of myself that I liked the least that connected him more to me and the emotional intimacy that we had built throughout the years without realizing it. The laughter, the play, the ability to share our visions for ourselves. It's funny, I always thought you got to hide the pieces you disliked most about yourself from the person you love but now I realize that's just not how it works.
Those moments when I forgot who I was and was having a break down from Amazon berating me with emails to on-board Anact and didn't know what to do so he called me and picked me up even though he was 3,000 miles away to remind me of who I was, what I stood for and that I was capable of anything in this world - including saying no to one of the largest retailers in the world really struck a chord in me.
For that, I am forever grateful.
Sadly, it didn't pan out for us last year. It was the hardest thing I have ever had to do to end a relationship with someone I loved especially in the height of COVID. All I wanted was to hear his voice or tell him whatever crazy thing had happened to me after a long day running Anact. To be reminded that there was someone else out there that saw me for who I really was and loved all of my quirks.
Someone who would hold me while I close my eyes and remove the heavy weight of being a first time business owner from my chest even if it was just for a moment. Someone who would understand that I was putting myself through this not to make loads of money and escape to an island but because I didn't see anyone else doing the things that needed to be done to prepare for the climate crisis and I couldn't handle being sick to my stomach witnessing George Orwell's 1984 play out in 2021 for one second more.
Someone who wasn't intimidated by my drive and my dreams but was like - GET IT, GIRL! Needless to say, I've been grieving this relationship since last summer and am still in a bit of grief. Someone told me that grief is love that doesn't know where to go. I get that now.
Sometimes when I really miss him (which is a lot) especially because of the way that he made me laugh... I make this goat noise he used to do to me to remind me that it was real and that I'll have these feelings again one day. And every time I do, I always pray that he is okay and well and that he knows how much he is loved.
I learned so much from that relationship and also learned that is where are biggest life lessons are learned (I always thought it was in our jobs). I finally understood what Esther Perel meant when she said that her parents were able to survive the concentration camps in WWII because of love. I understood what it felt like to show your scars to someone and be vulnerable.
And most of all, I understood that I can't love anybody if I don't love myself.
This crazy marathon runner, female founder archetype I created for myself was a facade. Of course, these are pieces of me. But what I crave (and what I believe we all crave) is to be seen, heard and loved for who we are and not just what we do. To have a place to call home where you're not questioned for being yourself. Or in the words of Drake.... " to be wearing sweatpants, hair tied, chillin' with no make-up on" and have someone think you're the prettiest and coolest.
I share this with you because I believe there are a lot and I mean a lot of humans (especially women) with brilliant ideas and dreams who are dumbing down for fear of not being loved or having love for being who they really are. I almost did, which means we have to change the culture because God makes no mistakes on the way that we are designed. Period.
Choosing the entrepreneurship path is the hardest and loneliest path I have ever chosen but it has given my life greater meaning. It's made me put love first and lead with love in everything I do. This is a big deal for me because I truly didn't believe I deserved love until I was perfect and so was Anact (whatever that means).
How do we change the narrative and let love in?
For me, it's sharing my experience as a woman and a founder to help others know they are not alone. I have pushed through quite a bit because of watching other founders I look up to build businesses (shout-out to Ty Haney at Outdoor Voices) while sharing their experiences with love because it gives me hope and who doesn't like hope these days?
It's also a gentle reminder to everyone that we are all suffering from things we don't always speak of (or can't) and to give each person space to show up without labeling or putting certain expectations on them. I imagine most people who are reading this don't know this is an experience I have been going through, which is totally fine.
But what hasn't felt fine is an expectation I have often felt to explain myself while nursing a broken heart and running a business too. I've had so many men make assumptions that just because I don't have a ring on my finger that I'm available and make advances that have left me feeling frustrated because even though these advances are flattering - they are not the person I wish to receive them from.
These experiences of having my boundaries violated and my space not respected have not been exclusive to male interactions. I've had women try to befriend me by using slogans and tag-lines putting down he who must not be named (and really just men in general) in an effort to bond with me, which really hurts and sucks.
Saying things like "girls rule and boys drool" might have worked when we were younger but I truly believe that each human being is sacred and that just because something didn't work out doesn't mean that anyone is the bad guy. Because if any of these people knew how close I came to love (and that I got up at 2am to include this piece because that's how bad I wanted to write it) then I hope and pray they would tread more carefully with more respect even if they haven't had that experience for themselves.
Don't get me wrong. I would love to cut through the heart of it and bulldoze Anact to a multimillion-dollar company but the reality is that you don't get there without putting in a lot of love and maybe just maybe some of the best takeaways on the quest to hit specific financial milestones are not the milestones themselves but what we learned about ourselves and the moments that we create along the way.
I know I'll never forget that moment I heard him say that whatever I did to not look back in anger... just be grateful and walk away. Ouch. That hurt to type.
]]>One of the most beautiful experiences I have had in my life to date came from one of the most unexpected places: the Staten Island Bridge. In 2019, myself and a slew of my family members banded together to run the NYC marathon in honor of my Aunt Regina who has lupus. She is currently in the hospital so please keep her in your prayers. 🦋
We were in the last wave and for most of us it was our first marathon. There was an option to leave your belongings with UPS who would drive it to the finish line in Central Park. As my protein bar jumbled around in my stomach and I wished I had gone to the bathroom at least one more time, the alarm went off for us to begin and like a slow moving caterpillar we began.
Several minutes into running, I looked to my right and a UPS driver and I made eye contact and he took his hand and slammed it down on the horn and I kid you not, I thought I was in a scene out of 300 or Gladiator. The rest of the UPS drivers followed suit and in my mind the UPS trucks and driver transformed into elephants covered in steel armor and myself and the runners became foot soldiers all united as one force.
And not a force against other people but a force against the voice(s) that live in our head that tell us we can't do it and that we aren't good enough. Next thing I knew, I was balling on the Staten Island Bridge. I was crying at finally finding this feeling and experience in the most unlikely place (cue Rhianna) and never wanting it to end completely forgetting that I had 26+miles ahead of me and the voice(s) in my head.
I've always been calling extremely sensitive (it wasn't until recently that I found out that means high emotional intelligence). I seek to find common ground - the pieces that bind us rather than separate us. (I had several experiences in my childhood that sculpted me this way and have made me ultra attune.) That's why finding this collective feeling and momentum made me a runner for life but also made me realize that anything was possible. If I could bottle up that feeling and energy and spritz it whenever I see people being unkind - I would.
I share this with you because after my best friend gave me a play by play of Reddit's virtual army that came to life this past month, which was inspired by Gamestop - I got that same feeling I did in 2019. This feeling of people coming against the bullshit that permeates throughout our culture and society. The decision to unite as one and take action. It is one of the top reasons I created Anact. To create a movement of individuals who are like ENOUGH and take action whether it's picking up trash on the street or trading through the evening to redistribute the wealth and not letting a small group of individuals determine who survives and who dies.
I am here for it.
One of my hopes for Anact is to create an Anact "army" as well as an Activist hub (think Tom's in Venice Beach, CA if you've been there) that lets the inner activist breathe and take action on what we hold near and dear to our heart. A safe space to connect with one another and be seen for who we are and not what we are expected to be or society labels us. To fight for the world we want to see and never stop fighting. I'll leave you with this piece that I recently read that captures the essence of what drives me and what I believe should drive all of us:
Mirabai Starr writes about our relationship and responsibility to the maternal energy of the universe in this way:
She is your Mother the Earth, and you belong to her. She nurtured you in her dark belly, birthed you in joy, and sustains you at great cost to herself. You have slept in her forests, beneath the safety of her canopy. You have cupped her snowmelt in your hands. You have investigated the life hidden beneath the surface of her deserts, skied her alpine slopes, and biked her slickrock canyons. You have reveled in her generosity and been grateful.
She has never asked much of you in return. Up until now, your gratitude has been enough. Your delight has been her reward. Up until now, she has not needed you as you have needed her. But that is shifting. . . .
“Tell me what is troubling you, Mama,” you whisper, exactly as she always spoke to you when you were small and frightened and bleeding from some injury (real or imagined).
“Pretty much everything, honey,” she answers. . . . “I’ll get through this,” she says. “You’re not getting rid of your old Ma so easily.” She reaches down to smooth the crease between your brows. “It’s you kids I’m worried about.” [2]
Because we have been steeped in patriarchy, we may resist the idea of a “maternal” universe, yet the pattern it reveals—that all life is birthed, held, and nurtured within this cosmos—is undoubtedly true. A cosmic egg, tended, hatched, and nurtured over time is a much better image of all growth than any transactional notion of being saved.
Let's act up.