Hello February: Choosing Quiet Joy in a Noisy World
Photo by Hannah Schweiss
February has always felt like a signal to me.
Not quite spring—but close enough to feel its promise. A subtle shift. Longer light. A sense that something new is stirring, even if the air is still cold.
This year, February arrives amid so much chaos and unrest. Heavy headlines. Loud opinions. Constant movement. Everywhere you turn, the world feels urgent—demanding attention, reaction, speed.
Photo by Amy Anaiz
In the middle of it all, I’ve been choosing something different.
I’ve been slowing down.
Not in a dramatic way. Not as an escape. But intentionally—by noticing the small, quiet things that often get overlooked.
A shared walk.
Morning light pouring through the windows.
A simple ritual that marks the start or end of the day.
Unhurried time with the people I love.
These pockets of beauty matter.
They ground us.
They remind us who we are.
They reconnect us when the world feels unsteady.
And they are worth celebrating.
The Art of Celebrating: Inspiration and Ideas for Meaningful Gatherings | Photo by Kenneth Cooper Photos
The Art of Celebrating
This is, in many ways, the heart of The Art of Celebrating.
When I wrote this book, I wasn’t trying to create a manual for perfection or performance. I wrote it as a guide for anyone craving more meaning in how they live, gather, and mark moments—especially during seasons that feel uncertain.
A reminder that celebration doesn’t have to be grand to be powerful.
That joy doesn’t require permission.
That intention can exist even in the smallest gestures.
Seeing the book reach #1 and top rankings on Amazon—in Tablesetting & Cooking, Flower Arranging, and Home Decorating—has been deeply humbling. Not because of the numbers, but because it tells me the message is resonating.
People are longing for this too. Grab your copy here!
Photo by Lucy Munoz
What February Is Inviting Us to Do
February feels like an invitation to recalibrate.
To ask ourselves:
What actually nourishes me right now?
Where can I soften instead of pushing?
How can I bring more care into my everyday rhythms?
This month isn’t about rushing ahead. It’s about tending to what’s already here—our relationships, our homes, our rituals, our inner lives.
It’s about choosing joy with intention, even when the world feels heavy.
Especially then.
Photo by Hannah Schweiss
A Gentle Reminder
Celebration doesn’t disappear during difficult seasons.
It becomes more essential.
It shows up in how we gather.
How we listen.
How we show care.
How we pause long enough to notice what’s still good.
February is reminding me that quiet joy is not small.
It’s resilient.
It’s grounding.
It’s powerful.
And it’s something we can choose—every day.
With love,
xx Akeshi
P.S.
The Art of Celebrating: Inspiration and Ideas for Meaningful Gatherings is now available and has reached #1 bestseller status in multiple Amazon categories, including Tablesetting & Cooking, Flower Arranging, and Home Decorating.
If you’re seeking a guide to hosting, living, and gathering with intention, this book was written for you.
