So… I said yes 💍

Dear Joy Seeker,

I have some exciting, beautiful and heartwarming news to share: two weeks ago, my partner asked me to marry him and I said YES…actually, I said “OF COURSE!”.

Then my phone didn’t stop. Instagram, Facebook, messages arriving while I was still answering the last ones. My basketball coach, who has known me since I was eight years old, left a comment. My primary school teacher wrote to congratulate me. Then cousins, relatives, and family friends I hadn’t heard from in years. Every chapter of my life showed up in the same comment thread and

it made me realise: love really is a universal language. When someone finds it, almost everyone stops to cheer.

You might already know this about me: I’ve always been the person who wants to celebrate people's wins, whatever season of life they’re in. An engagement, a business launch, a first home, a pregnancy, a promotion, a fresh start after a hard year. I don’t rank them and I don’t think we should.

I mean that from the bottom of my heart - the win that counts is the one that matters to you, at that moment in your life.

So this week, I’m turning that belief on myself. I’m going to receive and not overthink it. I’m going to bathe in all the love that’s coming my way and enjoy it, because it’s here and it’s for me ❤️

And I want the same for you. Your business, your promotion, your first home, the race you finally ran all deserve the full comment thread.

I want us to celebrate each other so loudly that when love comes our way, we let it land.

Not to be all cheesy now but love truly is all around us and finding joy in what matters to you is the most important thing.

So I’d love to hear from you. Is there a win of yours that never got the cheering it deserved? Hit reply and tell me. I’ll celebrate it with you, properly.

🌟 3 Ideas for Creating More Joy This Week

1. Call, rather than text, one person who recently shared good news with you - let them hear in your voice how happy you are for them.

2. When good news lands, pause for twenty seconds before moving on to the next task - just.let.it.sit.

3. Celebrate a friend’s milestone that doesn’t come with a registry - maybe it's a business anniversary, a brave resignation, or a first solo trip. Send a card, a cake or a voice note.

📚 2 Inspiring Resources

1. Podcast episode:How To Stop Your Negative Thoughts, Modern Wisdom - Martin Seligman is the person who started the field of positive psychology and I don’t think time spent listening to him is ever wasted. One section asks whether you can train your brain to be optimistic. Listen and find out.

2. Song:Without Reasons, Larry Ankrum - this is my autumn song. Every year, when the air turns cold, it’s the one I put on for the walk home from work. Now that the chill has properly arrived in London, it felt like the right week to bring it back.

🤔 This Week's Reflection Question

1. What would it look like to receive love this week without keeping score?

Still grinning and with so much love,

Irina