My son, Kibi, was born with the ability to brighten anyone's day—he's like a little ray of sunshine.
While we were stuck in quarantine last year, I was desperately looking for a creative outlet. When I came across some of his toddler drawings in the garage, I was immediately inspired and turned them into digital artwork. They made me think of the memories we shared during the years these were drawn and the impact they had on our lives.
As I reminisced, I began adding positive messages to each design. Messages like: sayings from loved one’s that I miss talking to, environmental causes that I care about or just reminders to always keep going. The 3 playful designs that resulted, a very unique bee, a colorful butterfly and an awkward cactus, evolved into the .kibi. sweet life, beauty everywhere and grow strong collections—printed onto clothing, accessories and more to inspire and remind everyone of these messages of empowerment everyday and spread joy.
Building this business made me realize how much I needed to feel connected to that little boy and his awe of discovery as he observed his new world. Kibi was born with the ability to see beauty in imperfection and strength in struggles. He taught me about acceptance and perseverance while he went through his many health challenges and always found a reason to smile. That smile is what gave me the strength I needed to get through it all with him—that is what I want to share through .kibi.
Now that he’s a bit older, I feel like it’s my turn to teach him about the importance of happiness and purpose in life. I believe we should all be dedicating our time and energy to what we love and fills us with joy. No one should ever get stuck in feeling stuck, unfulfilled or unhappy because they’re doing what is expected of them. Contentment is not enough—we deserve more.
That’s why I hope you always dare to try something new in search of your happiness because life is sweet, beauty is everywhere and we can all grow strong!