Notelets on Nurture #13

Midsummer dreaming + finding a sense of home and 'Heiterkeit' within yourself

Photography: tobetold. Styling: Katharina Geissler-Evans.

Notelets on Nurture is an occasional Sunday series where I welcome a guest to share advice or support on topics that can nourish our curiosity and creativity.

This week, I’ve been celebrating midsummer by embracing the concept of Heiterkeit, the German noun for cheerfulness and joy, and exploring the role it can play in our lives.

I first encountered the word ‘heiter’ when I stumbled upon a Kickstarter campaign for a magazine bearing the same name. For reasons I'll likely delve into in a future essay, I’m fascinated by unusual words that capture a feeling or meaning.

There's 'saudade,' a Portuguese and Galician term encompassing a longing for something or someone. Similarly, there are the concepts of ‘hygge,’ ‘lagom,’ and ‘wabi-sabi’—philosophies that guide you towards harmony. I believe ‘Heiterkeit’ evokes the same sense of calm and peace as these terms do.

Katharina Geissler-Evans

, founder of Heiter Magazine and The Heiter Society, recently invited me to contribute to the “Homecoming” issue, writing about finding a sense of home within our work. I responded with an article on how engaging our senses, space, and stories can breathe life into our businesses. The things we surround ourselves with and the spaces we inhabit play a crucial role in shaping our work life.

You can read more when the magazine is published over the summer, and Katharina has kindly offered free postage to all Brand Seasons readers until Sunday, 30th June, using the code NURTURE.

Welcoming midsummer

It feels like summer has truly arrived here in the Scottish Borders, and I greeted midsummer by tending to the parts of me that have been neglected lately.

Anna Dunleavy

held a vision boarding workshop for Brand Seasons members on Friday, and the replay is available in our Chat thread if you’re curious to catch up or want to share your creations. I then celebrated the lightest and brightest part of the year with

Lauren Barber

and

Lyndsay Kaldor

who hosted a delightful summer solstice session. Unfortunately, I couldn’t attend live, but the replay made me feel as though I was right there with everyone. Tonight, I have a tiny pocket of time to enjoy the replay of

Kerri ní Dochartaigh

’s midsummer celebration exploring colour, chaos, and compost. All three feel pertinent in this season of internal colour, chaos, and compost!

If you’re also enjoying the midsummer vibes, you might like this playlist—a soft and soothing mix of songs by Billie Marten, Flo Perlin, and Ocie Elliot. If I had to choose a favourite (and there are a few) it would be If I Told by Courtney Marie Andrews. It certainly leaves me feeling at ease.

To help us appreciate the impact of 'Heiterkeit', Katharina is sharing her Heiter brand story with us today.

A writer, fashion stylist and consultant for small fashion and lifestyle brands, and the founder of the Heiter Magazine and The Heiter Society, Katharina has a background in e-commerce, marketing and journalism and has worked for brands such as Net-A-Porter, Mytheresa and Crew Clothing Co.

Today, she takes us on her heiter journey, inspiring us to find ways to make space for “Heiterkeit,” too.

“My heiter philosophy gave me a new lease on life, especially when things around me didn’t feel joyful at all.”

Embracing Heiterkeit
with Katharina Geissler-Evans

“Heiterkeit” has helped me in many ways—putting myself first after a long period of not taking my own needs seriously, helping me navigate change and embrace new beginnings, and facing situations that left me feeling overwhelmed, worn out and sad.

Still, I’ve tried to focus on small “heiter moments” so that I can keep going and take one step at a time. A story that always reminds me to do so is the one behind the Heiter brand and how it all started, and that is the story I’d like to tell you today.

A journey back in time

Let me take you back to late 2015. Being a twenty-something, I tried so hard to do it all. I felt like I needed to prove that I was good enough: to myself and those around me.

Back then I worked full-time for one of the biggest fashion retailers in the world, and in the evenings and on Saturdays I attended university. I wanted to perform well and show that I was capable of succeeding at both. At that point, my husband and I had a pretty toxic living situation too, and relationships around me were breaking, simply because I wasn’t able to invest time in them. I was constantly stressed and tired, and self-care was long forgotten. I felt like I was running down a never-ending road until my health began to fail and I had to stop.

The doctors couldn’t figure out what was wrong with me and I was forced to take a break for several weeks. My employer told me that they wouldn’t pay me anymore if I didn’t return to work soon. My tutor at university implied that I would fail my year if there was no improvement. I tried to come up with solutions and seek help from others but nothing seemed to work. I was devastated and fell into a deep depression. I couldn’t see a way out of my situation and wanted to give up.

Coming home to myself

One evening, I found myself on the bathroom floor, crying. I can’t remember exactly what changed at that moment, but I suddenly realised that I was the only one who could get myself out of that rut. I was the only one who could make myself better.

That night, I decided to enjoy life again. I went to bed and slept properly for the first time in weeks. The next morning, I took myself out for coffee, bought myself flowers and went for a long walk along the river. Once home, I watched a movie that made me laugh and the day after I immersed myself in a creative activity. It took me a while to unwind and unlearn, to be playful.

After a few days, I felt like my old self. I was happier and my health began to improve. Looking for and enjoying moments of joy had made such a big difference.

Opening my heart

I still struggle to strike the right balance between working and carving out enough time for the people I love. I still struggle to keep in touch with myself and plan in time for self-care. I even struggle to be focused on Heiterkeit sometimes, but I remember.

I remember how I felt back then and what got me out of it. It gives me energy when helping others through my heiter work. It makes it easier to stop and admire my surroundings. It reminds me to consciously enjoy that first cup of coffee in the morning.

You might wonder why I am telling you all of this. Well, it’s because there are a few things I’d like you to remember too. You can be heiter, even when things around you don’t always go right. You can be heiter, without having to try hard.

Being aware of how much joy there is already can help you feel hopeful and grounded.

Bring heiter moments into your life

1. Show appreciation for the “heiter things”
   Take a few moments, grab a pen and paper and, without thinking too much, write down all the things that are already in your life that bring you joy—that first cup of coffee in bed, going for a daily walk, the scenic view from your window, your child’s happy smile, chats over tea with your partner. Being aware of how much joy there is can help you feel hopeful and grounded, no matter what life throws at you.

2. Open yourself up to trying something new
   Shaking things up and embracing the new can bring a sense of achievement, excitement and, well, Heiterkeit! It can move you from feeling stuck to being free. One way of getting there is by joining courses or workshops that allow you to embrace creativity or practise mindfulness. It’s easy to forget ourselves but, I promise, if you make yourself a priority, you will notice a difference – and your loved ones will too.

3. Ensure you feel “heiter” in your work too
   Based on my own experience and through regularly supporting others with their work (through consulting and The Heiter Society), I know how important it is to take the time to reflect and ensure that we feel aligned in our work. Things don’t have to be hard. We can lean into our talents and skills when it comes to creating and marketing our businesses, and we can move away from business strategies that no longer serve us.

You are the force behind your life and work and your wellbeing matters. Heiterkeit is achievable and available to you. All you need to do is open your eyes and heart and allow yourself to let heiter moments in, to give them a chance.

Have you come across the term Heiterkeit? How do you infuse a sense of home and joy within your life and work?

Read the original article at These Are The Days, and if you use Instagram, you might like to follow Katharina or follow Heiter.

Hoping to find a deeper sense of home and joy within yourself? The ”Homecoming” issue might be just the tonic. Remember to use the code NURTURE by Sunday, 30th June, to claim free postage.

As a free subscriber of Brand Seasons, you can enjoy articles and essays exploring the rhythms of our creative lives and work and listen to my branding and business podcast.

If you’re ready to craft a brand that feels like home and access exclusive insights and resources, consider upgrading to join my Brand Seasons paid community. Today is the last chance to enjoy 25% off with my summer solstice offer and embrace a gentle, nurturing, and playful approach to brand strategy, styling, and storytelling. I’d love to welcome you!