"It's always been a struggle for me to keep a daily journal going, but I can proudly say it's been almost two months of checking in on paper and I look forward to it every day."- M.P.
Yessss...This is what we're about!
I started Zenit two years ago. It wasn't planned. I was deep in my depression. My therapist and coach recommended I journal. I knew journaling would be good for me, but I always struggled to keep it up. With a blank page, I never knew where to start. The idea of writing everything in my head down was overwhelming.
But, one day, I came up with a few prompts specific to me. They were, "What serves me today?" "How am I honoring what I want?" "What am I learning?" I wrote them down. Having them in my journal made a world of difference. Journaling went from impossible to easy. Soon, I was feeling the transformation from journaling to my prompts.
I started Zenit to empower others to experience the healing power of journaling. Healing is such a PERSONAL journey. So with Zenit, ANYONE can customize their journal with prompts and affirmations that speak to them. Every Zenit is unique to the individual.
Over the past two years, I've seen how people are using their personalized Zenit Journals to support their healing and wellness. As Zenit grows, I want to make sure anyone who wants a Zenit can get one. I've been making every Zenit by hand, which is a very time and labor-intensive process. So now, it's time to start moving to the next phase.
My dream is to have a manufacturing space here in DC, where we can make our journals, create local jobs, and contribute to the wellness of communities here.
Help me raise $50,000 to get the equipment and space I need to build a team, reach more people, and bring our dream to reality.
Also, I'm super excited and proud to feature the amazing businesses providing our rewards - all lovingly created products that go hand-in-hand with journaling. All our rewards providers are BIPOC businesses, many in the DC area where we are located. As we grow, I'm committed to supporting the growth of other fellow BIPOC, local entrepreneurs!
Thank you for support!
Sending peace & love,
Alina
Watch our campaign video here.
Huge thank you to Ground Up Media (groundupmediallc@gmail.com) for making my campaign video!
Check out this video featuring three different customized Zenit Journals to see how each one is truly unique to each person's wellness journey! See below for snapshots of our journey to date :)
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Customized journal with fun mood tracker and prompt, "What can I let go of?" Imagine if you reflected on a regular basis what you can let go of, to make more room for things that matter to you... How would you feel? How would your life be different...?
A customized Zenit Journal with different wellness prompts. I love seeing the different prompts people choose for themselves.
We make customized wellness planners too - making it easier for people to fit wellness into their daily planning and daily life. Like our customized journals, you can choose the prompts that go in your planner. You can even choose the time your daily agenda starts, and your end-of-week reflection prompts!
One of my favorite things about Zenit is seeing the personal affirmations people add to their Zenit Journal title pages. It's truly you in the pages!
Starting and building Zenit has been part of my personal healing journal - healing from trauma, depression, anxiety... I've developed my personal mantras for my own Zenit Journal from what I've learned about myself journaling in my Zenit.
We use vibrant fabric prints to build or pride and joy in journaling! Because what we put in our journals is real work, and we deserve to feel pride and joy for the work we do for our mental health <3
A huge joy in my journey so far has been partnering with mission-aligned, values-aligned entrepreneurs. This is a customized Centered Self Planner, designed in partnership with clinical social worker and mental health expert Tia Marie Brumsted, who had her private practice Centered Self (www.mycenteredself.com).
Learn more at https://www.zenitjournals.com/collections/racial-healing-journals
I also have had the honor and joy of partnering with activists and DEI coaches to create our Journals for Racial Healing, with our BIPOC Journal for Healing & Liberation and our Journal for Aspiring White Anti-Racists. These were lovingly designed in collaboration with Tracey L. Rogers, an activist and professional astrologer and life coach (https://www.traceylrogers.com/) and with the co-founders of oneTILT, Kimberly Díaz and Andrew Daub, a non-profit helping organizations become more inclusive one tiny little thing at a time (oneTILT) (https://www.onetilt.org/) Learn more at https://www.zenitjournals.com/collections/racial-healing-journals
All our journals are shipped off with a bookmark with a mindful deep breathing exercise! I chose to do this instead of using packaging to reduce waste and further support the well-being of our customers. That's one decision that came out of viewing Zenit as a radical wellness company - I'm pushing myself to view all decisions with a lens of wellness for all.
It's been inspiring and humbling to get validation from others! This was a large order of our Lil Gratitude Journals shipped off to a yoga teacher for her class :)
A prompt that I've kept across all FOUR of my Zenit Journals has been one for me to check in with what I want in my heart. This prompt has helped me make tremendous strides in letting go of the belief I long held for most of my life that my needs and my desires don't matter. Journaling to this prompt has helped me leave toxic relationships, build healthy relationships, and take time for my mental health, my passions, and the people I love.
I have been making ALL our journals by hand - every step of the process, including binding the journals with needle and thread. This is a labor, time-intensive process. But to me, it's worth it, because it allows me to actually make customized journals, where every one is different, and to product high-quality journals that lay flat. This lay-flat quality is important to me and our customers, because journals are meant for writing! One of my core values for Zenit is "Made with Love." That means investing in the details that make for a joyful journaling experience that supports our customers' wellness and healing.
That's why I'm doing this crowdfunding campaign! The funds will help me get more specialized equipment, space, and start hiring people to help me make our journals. This will allow us to reach more people while staying true to our Made With Love value, keeping our customized journals, and keeping the quality of our journals. I appreciate any contribution you can make!
