Finding Connection Through Small Joys: Why Bookish Treasures Matter More Than Ever
This week has been a whirlwind of emotions and revelations. As I navigate the uncertainty of building a small business without the safety net of traditional employment, I've been questioning everything, including whether what I'm doing truly matters in a world facing so many challenges.
I'll be honest: some days I feel like a hypocrite. Here I am, crafting bookish charms and journals while people struggle with rising costs and daily necessities. In a cost-of-living crisis, am I just adding to the noise of things people don't really need?
But then I remember something crucial: joy isn't frivolous, it's essential.
This week brought an exciting new project thanks to a friend and former colleague. He suggested creating a pocket journal specifically for musicians. One side featuring manuscript paper, the other blank for thoughts and lyrics, complete with a guitar pick holder in the cover. It's been a joy designing something so specific and personal, and I'm eagerly awaiting his feedback before bringing it to you all.
This collaboration reminded me why I started Spellbound Books & Charms, to create items that serve a purpose beyond their physical form.
Through books, we escape into other worlds, finding solace from daily struggles and social media overwhelm. But the magic doesn't end when we close the book. When we carry a charm inspired by our favourite story, we're doing something profound, we're making invisible connections visible.
That stranger wearing a charm from The Secret Garden? They've walked the same literary paths you have. The person with a fantasy-inspired piece has probably felt the same wonder at magical worlds that you cherish. These small objects become bridges between souls, quiet reminders that we share more common ground than the world would have us believe.
Yesterday, I watched my 88-year-old grandmother's face light up when I gave her a tiny axolotl bag charm and a white snowbell charm inspired by secret gardens and period romance novels. At that moment, I saw exactly why this work matters.
It's not about selling products, it's about creating moments of connection. Between readers and their favourite stories. Between strangers who share secret literary loves. Between generations who find joy in the same simple pleasures.
In times when everything seems designed to divide us, carrying a piece of a beloved story feels like quiet rebellion. It's a declaration that beauty, imagination, and connection still matter. That we refuse to let cynicism win.
These charms, journals, and bookish treasures aren't just accessories, they're talismans against despair. They're reminders that someone, somewhere, loves the same stories that shaped your heart.
Yes, this week tried to get me down. Yes, building a business during uncertain times is exhausting. But seeing genuine joy spark in someone's eyes over a "non-essential" charm? That's when I remember: bringing happiness into the world is never wasteful work.
Every bookish charm that finds its way to a fellow reader, every journal that becomes home to someone's thoughts, every small treasure that makes someone smile, these matter more than we might think.
After all, in a world that can feel increasingly disconnected, isn't creating tangible reminders of our shared humanity exactly what we need?
What bookish treasures bring you joy during difficult times? I'd love to hear about the small things that keep your spirits up, share in the comments below.