The story behind the brand

In a way, this journey began 10 years ago. It all started with the words of a dear friend who watched me suffer. A friend who gave me one of the best pieces of advice I've ever received.

At that time, I felt stuck. Trapped. No matter how much I complained about my life and situation, I couldn't escape. There seemed to be nothing I could do to break free. I was in a toxic relationship.

I had left everything behind to move to Los Angeles and live with a girl I barely knew. (We had been in a long-distance relationship for almost two years, but I realized, too late, that all I knew about her was the mask she wore during our FaceTime calls.)

Instagram filters exist so people can present enhanced versions of themselves. Emotional masks work the same way. Sometimes we can't tell if someone is wearing a mask or showing their true self. For naive romantics like me, we usually discover the truth too late. By then, the damage is so severe that leaving feels impossible. Our spirit and self-esteem are so crushed that we no longer believe we deserve someone better—or even happiness itself.

So there I was, in my friend's car, parked in front of my apartment, dreading what awaited me inside—what new fight might erupt with this girl. I had been complaining about this relationship for months with no idea what to do. I had tried to fix it, tried to fix her, even tried to fix myself. Everything failed.

My friend had listened patiently for weeks, never judging me when I vented. I guess that night, he sensed I was finally ready for change, so right before I left his car, he shared something.

"There's something you can do that will make you feel better. It might not change your whole life or relationship, but it will alleviate your stress and help you feel better about yourself."

Open to any suggestion, I listened closely.

"Buy yourself a really nice pen and a beautiful notebook, and use this pen only for this notebook," he said. "In it, write anything that comes to mind—ideas, frustrations, traumas, plans... anything!"

"I've been doing this for years, and it changed my life."

I didn't know what to think. I hadn't written anything by hand in years. I'd graduated school long ago, and since then, my writing consisted of typing on computers for various office jobs or texting on my phone. Writing with a pen on paper—I had completely forgotten what that felt like.

"But I don't know what to write!" I told him.

"It doesn't matter. Just write down whatever comes to mind each day. It's called journaling."

Journaling. I liked that word immediately. In French, we call it "journal intime," which I never appreciated since it always seemed exclusively for teenage girls. As a man in his twenties, I felt it wasn't for me. But I was desperate for change, and I knew my friend wouldn't steer me wrong.

Besides, in my pain, I had recently started reading more and trying meditation. Writing and journaling seemed like natural additions to this emerging routine. So with little resistance, I followed his advice. A few days later, I visited a store searching for the most beautiful pen and notebook I could find. My budget limited my options, but I discovered two accessories with minimalist, sleek designs.

I returned home excited, ready to begin this new habit, uncertain where it might lead. I felt childlike excitement—a feeling I hadn't experienced in years—embracing something new without pressure, not as a career or hobby, but simply as a way to improve my life and feel better about myself by expressing my emotions.

That friend wasn't wrong. I sat down, opened my journal, wrote the date, and crafted an intention with a quick summary of my situation. I knew that someday I would revisit these pages—perhaps weeks later, perhaps years—and my circumstances would be completely different. Deep down, I knew things would improve. I just didn't know how.

So there I was, facing a blank page, convinced I would have nothing interesting to say, nothing of substance or value. But to my surprise, the moment I wrote the first sentence, everything flowed effortlessly. My mind raced faster than my hand could capture. I felt a stream of consciousness flowing from brain to fingertips. I felt the pain in my chest and stomach diminishing. I felt my hand gliding smoothly across the paper. It was almost as if I had discovered my calling.

For those moments, I lost myself. I freed myself. I was free.

I placed no pressure on what I wrote. Since this journal was for my eyes only, I didn't worry about judgment or criticism.

It was like speaking to a dear friend who only listens and never judges. Transferring all that sadness and frustration to paper became therapeutic, and as days passed, I felt a tremendous weight lifting from my body.

All those negative thoughts in my head—I released them onto paper, and for the first time, they left me alone, sometimes replaced by more positive thoughts. It was a trade: exchanging negativity for peace of mind. What a beautiful exchange.

To be completely honest, my relationship with my ex didn't improve, but my relationship with myself did. I became kinder to myself, more patient, less judgmental. I realized I carried considerable baggage and it was time to release some of it. Putting thoughts on paper helped me do exactly that.

After several days, new ideas emerged. My writing wasn't just negative thoughts and frustrations anymore—positivity began appearing in my mind and on the page. That's when I understood why my friend had journaled for years. It functions as both therapy and mastermind session, available twenty-four seven, anywhere in the world, requiring only a pen and paper.

Which brings me to today. I finally found the courage to leave that toxic relationship, listen to myself, and discover what truly inspires me. After years of reflection, reading, meditation, and journaling, I found the strength to write my own book—to write my own story. It took considerable time and all my resources to finish without giving up.

Now I want to share this transformative advice with people who feel lost, confused, stuck, or uninspired. I want to provide tools for you to write your own story, and offer words that might help you heal and inspire you to become your best self.

No matter your current circumstances, whether satisfied with life or not, I believe you have the answers within you to grow, change, and transform. Sometimes these insights lie buried beneath layers of negativity, doubt, anger, or fear. All you need is to feel seen, heard, and understood. If you don't have that person right now, perhaps it's time to be there for yourself. Your higher self knows better and will always guide you.

What took me years to understand, I want to share with you now so you don't have to suffer as long as I did. My goal isn't only to become the best version of myself and make my younger self proud, but also to be one of those people who appear in others' lives unexpectedly yet purposefully.

My purpose is to share with you pens and notebooks as unique as you are, different from what's already available, along with words of wisdom and inspiration given to me over the years—either by loving people or by my higher self through writing.

I've put tremendous thought into these collections, hoping these products prove useful and beneficial to you.

Thank you for reading to the end. Though this doesn't feel like an ending but rather a new beginning between us.

I am grateful for you and excited about the journey you're about to undertake. If you're new to journaling or writing, I couldn't be more thrilled for you!

I wish you the very best!

Know that you are appreciated and deserve a life filled with love, light, and happiness.