“When I first started sharing my work online, I wasn’t very serious about it and I really just wanted an outlet for the things I was too afraid to say,” she admitted in an interview with Isaase. But soon enough, she learned that her words had an impact and turned her passion for poetry into a career.

Now, with more than 80k followers on Instagram, it’s clear that people are tuning in. “My poetry is very much a reflection of who I am,” says Reddy. “I started writing as a kid, simply as a way to verbalize feelings I didn’t know how to talk about – and while my writing has definitely improved since – I still write for the same reasons.”

“I think the biggest lesson educators or counselors need to learn is to listen, and to really understand,” she added. “The greatest creators in the world are still in high school – we should be learning from them. One of the most frustrating parts of school for me was believing there was something wrong with my feelings because the adults I spoke to couldn’t relate, and I believe that’s one of the main reasons why kids don’t feel comfortable speaking up for themselves. Listening is key.”

Follow her Instagram page for more sound advice on life and love.

The post Pavana Reddy’s Poetry Will Soothe Your Aching Heart appeared first on PlayJunkie.

Since the launch, her site has grown into a global phenomenon, which includes books, a YouTube channel, an Instagram page, and online courses. Her creations include uplifting memes, illustrations, and mantras – all aimed at personal development.

It also includes practical advice and personal insights about living positively in the present moment. The tone is not preachy but rather, friendly and forgiving. “Someone once said, ‘If you realize how powerful your thoughts are, you would never think a negative thought.’ Positively Present is that quote come to life online,” explains DiPirro’s website.

According to DiPirro, “living a ‘positively present” life means staying in the moment while focusing on the positive in every situation, which can often be difficult when facing the pressures and challenges of everyday life (not to mention the particularly tough times of loss, stress, or heartache!).”

Learn from the best of the best:

The post Dani DiPirro Will Teach You How to Stay Positively Present appeared first on PlayJunkie.

Recipes For Self-Love

Amsterdam-based illustrator, Alison Rachel, encourages people to be happy and hopeful. Her illustrations focus on women, colored in light pastel colors and they feature a quote or saying that aims to promote kindness and well-being. Here are some thoughtful reminders.

Female Collective

Candace Reel empowers other women through her Female Collective – a virtual community and philanthropic organization which has amassed over 430k followers on Instagram. Her page features a collection of feminist memes and mantras that will hopefully provide you with an online support system.

Alexandra Elle

Author and wellness consultant Alexandra Elle shares carefully written notes that aim at healing your mind and body. Based in Washington, DC, her inspiring messages have caught on with more than 580 thousand followers on Instagram. She’s also written several books on the subject of self-healing and teaches workshops and retreats centered around assisting others in finding their voices through storytelling, poetry, and narrative writing rooted in truth without shame.

The post 3 Inspiring Instagram Pages to Lift Up Your Spirits appeared first on PlayJunkie.

By combining her bold artwork with relatable and honest captions Swift has grown a loyal Instagram following of over 200k people. She also enjoys content creation and has collaborated with various companies with designs that include anything from social media content to pin badges and playing cards.

“All of my work starts out as a rough idea in a sketchbook or on a loose sheet of paper,” she shared with The Smuggler, talking about her creative process. “I’m not one of these people who have beautifully presented sketchbooks! Scribbled roughs are usually followed by some internet research for image references from which I begin to make pencil drawings. When I am happy with those I reproduce a final version of the drawing in black fineliner and scan the images into Photoshop to color, edit and compose my finished artwork.”

“When I was very little I wanted to be a hot dog lady,” she recalled. “Then I wanted to be a journalist. Then a lingerie designer. I hadn’t even considered illustration as an option until I was almost 20 and when I was 23 that I went back to study illustration.”

“I’d like to think that my sentimental nature and sense of humour come across in my work so hopefully they are representative of those elements of my personality,” she says. Take a look at some of her delightful illustrations and mantras, and follow her Instagram page for more.

The post Stacie Swift Will Inspire You to Keep Going appeared first on PlayJunkie.

Aiming to add a little bit of sunshine to this funny old planet, while making a few people smile along the way, her website brings a refreshing twist on what we typically know as “news,” reporting on positive changes and truly inspiring people. She also runs an Instagram page, where she shares uplifting mantras and quotes.

“Without really realising I started on my little happy mission,” she admitted in an interview with Virgin. “I thought if I could make a few people’s worlds a little happier then that’s what I would do until I figured out what I was going to do for a ‘proper’ job. I set up a Kickstarter to fund the first issue of The Happy Newspaper, a newspaper to celebrate all the good stuff going on in the world.”

Since launching her project, Coxhead has appeared on BBC, HuffPost, and more, released a range of greeting cards and merchandise, published her book Make Someone Happy with Penguin Random House and is continuing to expand all things happy from the worlds tiniest, most rainbow-filled office. 

“The fact that I can do what makes me happy for a living whilst also making others happy surely has to be the best thing ever!” she exclaims. “But also cups of tea, biscuits, and sunsets make me happy.”

Follow her Instagram page for more good vibes.

The post Emily Coxhead Adds a Bit of Sunshine to the World Around Her appeared first on PlayJunkie.

The French-born, UK-based artist works from home, located in a beautiful English seaside town, and spends her free time kite surfing, surfing, walking around lost islands and waking up early to catch a sunrise. Designing and collaborating with brands across different fields, she prioritizes working with eco-friendly and sustainable brands that reflect her own values.

Talking about what inspires her to create, she told MOO that: “Travel, nature, and the cinema are my biggest sources of inspiration. Moving to the seaside has been really inspiring too — I love being able to leave home, walk for four minutes, and be by the sea. I feel terribly lucky.”

“I love working from my home studio because I can control my environment,” she added. “I try to keep ‘normal’ hours for work — although I’m more efficient in the morning, so I tend to start work very early and finish early too. I do the work that needs to be done, but I’m not afraid of pausing in the afternoon if I feel like it. That’s what I love about working on your own terms — you’re free to do what you want and work whenever you’re the most inspired.”

Prepare to get inspired.

The post This Instagram Page Will Motivate You to Be Your Best Self appeared first on PlayJunkie.

Melody Hansen’s illustrated mantras act as friendly reminders that help you go throughout the day (or throughout your Instagram feed) without losing your mind.

“I create designs, while combining typography, handwritten and illustrated elements, and images,” explained Hansen in a conversation with To Write Love On Her Arms. “Over the years, I’ve learned to embrace the ‘less is more’ motto. I prefer open spaces where there is room to breathe and a lot of light, and I think this comes out in my work. But this doesn’t mean everything should be perfect; I like to include a ‘human’ touch, too. It makes the work more honest, and I think that’s important.”

“I believe there is something so supernatural about art and the act of creating,” she added. “It does something to the soul that I don’t think I can explain. It awakens parts of us we didn’t know were there, it brings people together, makes us feel less alone. The way I see it is that when you create, it comes from a very deep part of you, where you find the courage to be honest, true, and vulnerable. It’s quite an intimate process, really.”

Take a look at some of her work below and be sure to follow her for your daily reminders.

The post These Illustrated Mantras Are a Spoon Full of Sugar appeared first on PlayJunkie.

“I’m using my experience and journey of self-love to help all women on their own journey of feeling empowered, celebrated, uplifted, and supported on a daily basis,” writes Reel on her website. “As self-love is not a destination, but an everyday practice.”

Soon, what started as a humble Instagram profile grew to a movement. Now, the online community and philanthropic organization aims to empower women actively. It also has an official clothing line.

“I didn’t know what that would be, but I knew that I needed to create something from my lack of inspiration,” admits Reel in an interview with
Create & Cultivate. “That’s when I decided to create an Instagram account where I would post inspiring and motivating content to help get my life together.”

Take a look.

The post This Instagram Page Aims to Empower Women appeared first on PlayJunkie.

“When I first started sharing my work online, I wasn’t very serious about it and I really just wanted an outlet for the things I was too afraid to say,” she admitted in an interview with Isaase. But soon enough, she learned that her words had an impact and turned her passion for poetry into a career.

Now, with more than 80k followers on Instagram, it’s clear that people are tuning in. “My poetry is very much a reflection of who I am,” says Reddy. “I started writing as a kid, simply as a way to verbalize feelings I didn’t know how to talk about – and while my writing has definitely improved since – I still write for the same reasons.”

“I think the biggest lesson educators or counselors need to learn is to listen, and to really understand,” she added. “The greatest creators in the world are still in high school – we should be learning from them. One of the most frustrating parts of school for me was believing there was something wrong with my feelings because the adults I spoke to couldn’t relate, and I believe that’s one of the main reasons why kids don’t feel comfortable speaking up for themselves. Listening is key.”

Follow her Instagram page for more sound advice on life and love.

The post Pavana Reddy’s Poetry Will Soothe Your Aching Heart appeared first on PlayJunkie.

Since the launch, her site has grown into a global phenomenon, which includes books, a YouTube channel, an Instagram page, and online courses. Her creations include uplifting memes, illustrations, and mantras – all aimed at personal development.

It also includes practical advice and personal insights about living positively in the present moment. The tone is not preachy but rather, friendly and forgiving. “Someone once said, ‘If you realize how powerful your thoughts are, you would never think a negative thought.’ Positively Present is that quote come to life online,” explains DiPirro’s website.

According to DiPirro, “living a ‘positively present” life means staying in the moment while focusing on the positive in every situation, which can often be difficult when facing the pressures and challenges of everyday life (not to mention the particularly tough times of loss, stress, or heartache!).”

Learn from the best of the best:

The post Dani DiPirro Will Teach You How to Stay Positively Present appeared first on PlayJunkie.

Recipes For Self-Love

Amsterdam-based illustrator, Alison Rachel, encourages people to be happy and hopeful. Her illustrations focus on women, colored in light pastel colors and they feature a quote or saying that aims to promote kindness and well-being. Here are some thoughtful reminders.

Female Collective

Candace Reel empowers other women through her Female Collective – a virtual community and philanthropic organization which has amassed over 430k followers on Instagram. Her page features a collection of feminist memes and mantras that will hopefully provide you with an online support system.

Alexandra Elle

Author and wellness consultant Alexandra Elle shares carefully written notes that aim at healing your mind and body. Based in Washington, DC, her inspiring messages have caught on with more than 580 thousand followers on Instagram. She’s also written several books on the subject of self-healing and teaches workshops and retreats centered around assisting others in finding their voices through storytelling, poetry, and narrative writing rooted in truth without shame.

The post 3 Inspiring Instagram Pages to Lift Up Your Spirits appeared first on PlayJunkie.

By combining her bold artwork with relatable and honest captions Swift has grown a loyal Instagram following of over 200k people. She also enjoys content creation and has collaborated with various companies with designs that include anything from social media content to pin badges and playing cards.

“All of my work starts out as a rough idea in a sketchbook or on a loose sheet of paper,” she shared with The Smuggler, talking about her creative process. “I’m not one of these people who have beautifully presented sketchbooks! Scribbled roughs are usually followed by some internet research for image references from which I begin to make pencil drawings. When I am happy with those I reproduce a final version of the drawing in black fineliner and scan the images into Photoshop to color, edit and compose my finished artwork.”

“When I was very little I wanted to be a hot dog lady,” she recalled. “Then I wanted to be a journalist. Then a lingerie designer. I hadn’t even considered illustration as an option until I was almost 20 and when I was 23 that I went back to study illustration.”

“I’d like to think that my sentimental nature and sense of humour come across in my work so hopefully they are representative of those elements of my personality,” she says. Take a look at some of her delightful illustrations and mantras, and follow her Instagram page for more.

The post Stacie Swift Will Inspire You to Keep Going appeared first on PlayJunkie.

Aiming to add a little bit of sunshine to this funny old planet, while making a few people smile along the way, her website brings a refreshing twist on what we typically know as “news,” reporting on positive changes and truly inspiring people. She also runs an Instagram page, where she shares uplifting mantras and quotes.

“Without really realising I started on my little happy mission,” she admitted in an interview with Virgin. “I thought if I could make a few people’s worlds a little happier then that’s what I would do until I figured out what I was going to do for a ‘proper’ job. I set up a Kickstarter to fund the first issue of The Happy Newspaper, a newspaper to celebrate all the good stuff going on in the world.”

Since launching her project, Coxhead has appeared on BBC, HuffPost, and more, released a range of greeting cards and merchandise, published her book Make Someone Happy with Penguin Random House and is continuing to expand all things happy from the worlds tiniest, most rainbow-filled office. 

“The fact that I can do what makes me happy for a living whilst also making others happy surely has to be the best thing ever!” she exclaims. “But also cups of tea, biscuits, and sunsets make me happy.”

Follow her Instagram page for more good vibes.

The post Emily Coxhead Adds a Bit of Sunshine to the World Around Her appeared first on PlayJunkie.

The French-born, UK-based artist works from home, located in a beautiful English seaside town, and spends her free time kite surfing, surfing, walking around lost islands and waking up early to catch a sunrise. Designing and collaborating with brands across different fields, she prioritizes working with eco-friendly and sustainable brands that reflect her own values.

Talking about what inspires her to create, she told MOO that: “Travel, nature, and the cinema are my biggest sources of inspiration. Moving to the seaside has been really inspiring too — I love being able to leave home, walk for four minutes, and be by the sea. I feel terribly lucky.”

“I love working from my home studio because I can control my environment,” she added. “I try to keep ‘normal’ hours for work — although I’m more efficient in the morning, so I tend to start work very early and finish early too. I do the work that needs to be done, but I’m not afraid of pausing in the afternoon if I feel like it. That’s what I love about working on your own terms — you’re free to do what you want and work whenever you’re the most inspired.”

Prepare to get inspired.

The post This Instagram Page Will Motivate You to Be Your Best Self appeared first on PlayJunkie.

Melody Hansen’s illustrated mantras act as friendly reminders that help you go throughout the day (or throughout your Instagram feed) without losing your mind.

“I create designs, while combining typography, handwritten and illustrated elements, and images,” explained Hansen in a conversation with To Write Love On Her Arms. “Over the years, I’ve learned to embrace the ‘less is more’ motto. I prefer open spaces where there is room to breathe and a lot of light, and I think this comes out in my work. But this doesn’t mean everything should be perfect; I like to include a ‘human’ touch, too. It makes the work more honest, and I think that’s important.”

“I believe there is something so supernatural about art and the act of creating,” she added. “It does something to the soul that I don’t think I can explain. It awakens parts of us we didn’t know were there, it brings people together, makes us feel less alone. The way I see it is that when you create, it comes from a very deep part of you, where you find the courage to be honest, true, and vulnerable. It’s quite an intimate process, really.”

Take a look at some of her work below and be sure to follow her for your daily reminders.

The post These Illustrated Mantras Are a Spoon Full of Sugar appeared first on PlayJunkie.

“I’m using my experience and journey of self-love to help all women on their own journey of feeling empowered, celebrated, uplifted, and supported on a daily basis,” writes Reel on her website. “As self-love is not a destination, but an everyday practice.”

Soon, what started as a humble Instagram profile grew to a movement. Now, the online community and philanthropic organization aims to empower women actively. It also has an official clothing line.

“I didn’t know what that would be, but I knew that I needed to create something from my lack of inspiration,” admits Reel in an interview with
Create & Cultivate. “That’s when I decided to create an Instagram account where I would post inspiring and motivating content to help get my life together.”

Take a look.

The post This Instagram Page Aims to Empower Women appeared first on PlayJunkie.