What's Your Word of the Year?

This past year my word was MIRACLES. I've come to discover that miracles appear for me like whispers from the universe. Choosing this word allowed me to see the small daily miracles that I hadn't noticed before. I've spent a significant amount of time reflecting on 2023's miracles. I intend on sharing some of them with you throughout the contest as you are thinking about your word for this year.

One small miracle happened this holiday season, a client I haven't seen in quite a while, Diane, was back on island with her family for vacation. She waltzed into the store looking oh so fashionable and covered in Joyia jewels. She had lost a few charms over the years and wanted to replace them. She gave me old handwritten receipts from 2018 to see if I could figure out which charms were missing. Her family starts piling through the door with stories and laughter at the fact she still has these receipts.  Her granddaughter says "I saw on social media that you were in Ocracoke on vacation the week before me!" I was in shock, "you were, how did you know I was there?". Diane says, "oh honey I read all of your emails" and her daughter chimes in "we follow you on social media too", as they show me all of the jewels they are wearing and have purchased over the years.  We visited many times that week and before they got on the plane home we snagged the picture above. PS. I want to look as good as Diane when I grow up!

This was a miracle moment for me, a whisper from the universe that I am doing the right things. As a small business owner I do most of the stuff they tell you to do...post, send emails, be authentic but it's often hard to tell if people care or if it works based on data. Plus it's hard to keep up when technology changes so fast. Diane and her family reminded me that even in this tech driven world, people do care and the sharing of my heart and soul through jewelry does matter. 

Looking at those old receipts reminded me of a big miracle too. How I moved my storefront online in a huge way in 2019 just months before  the pandemic. I couldn't have predicted that we were about to ONLY communicate online. Somehow, just months before, we completely changed our website over to Shopify, gave it a massive facelift and started using a digital check out system...goodbye handwritten receipts! 

I realized this holiday season that as Diane's family grows and thrives so does mine. Connecting with people, sharing stories, jewelry and love is what I do best. Through hurricanes, a pandemic and cancer I have often thought of closing this business and working for someone else who worries about my paycheck and insurance. Thank you Diane for reminding me of how far I've come and to not give up. Having a family jewelry business in the Caribbean is far bigger of a dream than I had imagined for myself and I am incredibly proud. Maybe saying that out loud is the biggest miracle of all.

I hope as you reflect on this past year, you see your miracles. I also hope that you have many Diane's to remind you not to give up. Thank you for continuing on this beautiful and joyous journey with me. I'm looking forward to hearing about your journey this last year and the word that you are choosing for 2024. I'll share my word with you on the 23rd and I'll keep sharing more miracles with the hope that they allow you to see yours too. 

Let's manifest amazingness together this coming year...the world needs YOU , me and Diane and all that we have to offer. 

Contest starts Today, Jan 2rd - 23rd 

Share your word on our blog during this time and you will be entered to win a 14k GOLD Rectangle Charm ($260 value) with your word engraved on it.