Be Featured in my Upcoming Book

And an exciting giveaway you don't want to miss!

Oct 10, 2024

As I sit here, surrounded by the colorful chaos of my art supplies, I can’t help but marvel at how life takes us on unexpected journeys.

Seven years ago, as I approached my 40’s, I found myself at a crossroads.

My daughter was homebound because of severe allergies, I had given up a communications career to be a full-time mom and, to cope with the overwhelm of it all, had recently picked up fluid art — a medium that didn’t require picking up the dreaded paintbrush and revisit monsters of the past.

In my quest to find more substrates to pour paint on, I posted an ask on Nextdoor. The response was overwhelming.

Within 24 hours the tiles came.

Two hundred of them, to be exact, dropped off at my doorstep by neighbors who encouraged me to “do something artistic” with them.

At first, I was overwhelmed.

What on earth was I supposed to do with 200 4x4” ceramic tiles?

But as I started experimenting with fluid art on these tiny canvases, something magical happened.

My then almost-four-year-old daughter, in her inherent wisdom, suggested we give some to her preschool teachers.

We added felt backings and magnets, and suddenly, these little tiles became tokens of appreciation for not just the teachers and support staff but also all the parent volunteers.

The joy on the recipients’ faces when they received these small, handmade gifts was... well, it was everything.

That took care of 50 tiles, but I still had 150 left.

Then, around Christmas, an idea struck. We headed downtown and offered them to every store owner and worker as a thank you for being part of our community.

Their surprised and grateful reactions were priceless.

But the real turning point came one afternoon at a local restaurant.

While waiting for our check, I doodled on a paper towel. My daughter wrote “thank you” on it, and we gave it to our server on a whim.

The server’s eyes welled up, he disappeared into the kitchen and came back with a dessert “on the house” and shared a bit of his life with us — the challenges faced by his (also allergic) two-year-old niece, his long commute to work, his dreams to one day own a restaurant.

In that moment, this stranger became a person with hopes and struggles, just like mine.

And all it took was a simple, handmade token of appreciation.

Finding Purpose in Unexpected Places

I know so many of us reach a point in life where we wonder, “What’s next?”

I’ve never been one to excel in a niche or have my work showcased in galleries. I’ve also never followed trends or created content to appease followers.

I haven’t really had any purpose in making art besides it bringing me joy.

But sometimes life has a way of creating purpose for you where you didn’t know one existed.
For me, it is in these little tokens of love.

Over the years, I’ve handed out thousands of these to grocery clerks, delivery drivers, librarians, custodians, mammography techs, receptionists, teachers, nurses, store attendants, window cleaners, flight attendants — the unsung heroes of our daily lives.

Strangers to me until our brief moment of interaction.

Each time, I’m met with surprise, joy, and often, that feeling of having made a genuine connection with another human.

Why do I do this?

Because in a world that has increasingly started feeling cold and disconnected, thanks to our device addictions, these tiny acts of kindness create warmth.

They remind us — and others — that we’re seen, we’re valued, we matter.

The Ripple Effect of Handmade Kindness

When we create something with our own hands and give it freely, magic happens.

It’s not about artistic skill or perfection. It’s about the intention, the human touch.

I’ve seen these simple tags transform moments and, sometimes, lives.

A mammogram technician kept hers for years, a daily reminder of kindness in a job that can be emotionally taxing.

A young cashier told me it was the first time anyone had thanked him for his work.

A flight attendant who had been in the industry for 30 years said it was the first time a passenger had given him a handmade token of gratitude and bothered to ask him his favorite color.

Many times we have hugged, tears in our eyes.

These aren't just pretty trinkets. They’re lifelines of human connection in a world that desperately needs more of it.

An Invitation to Join the Journey

Now, I’m embarking on a new adventure, and I’d love for you to be part of it.

In Spring 2026 ~~Fall 2025~~, my book, that delves deeper into this practice of creating and sharing little tokens of love, will hit the shelves (fingers crossed I’ll meet all the deadlines)!

But here’s the thing — I don’t want this to be just my book, my story.

I want it to be ours.

This book is for every person who’s ever felt invisible, who’s wondered if their contributions matter, who’s looking for a way to make a difference in their corner of the world.

It’s for those of us who have a lifetime of wisdom and love to share but aren’t always sure how to express it.

I’ll be sharing techniques for creating your own tokens, yes.

But more important, I’ll be exploring how this simple practice can reignite your sense of purpose and creativity while reminding you of your own value and the power of your contributions

I’d love to see and hear about your own experiences with creating and sharing little tokens of love.

Have you ever made something small to brighten someone’s day? Or perhaps you’ve been on the receiving end of an unexpected act of kindness?

I’m inviting you to share your stories and photos!

The Ripple Maker: Tokens & Tales by Mansi

Discussion about this post