Meaningful milestones

Birthdays, especially those special decades from 30 onwards, seem to be the most popular occasion to give a collaborative memory book like Fondfolio. This makes sense to me — these are moments that prompt reflection, taking stock of what’s important, and (usually) a gathering together of one’s closest friends and family to celebrate.

While not everyone can be there to celebrate in person, Fondfolio allows friends and family from around the world to participate — contributions are collected online through an simple, sharable questionnaire complete with thoughtfully tailored questions and helpful hints. Once the order has been placed, there’s a sharable digital version of each book that can be sent to everyone who participated.

The original inspiration for Fondfolio was creating a collaborative book of words for a close friend’s 30th birthday. There is something deeply delightful about reading stories and kind words about someone you love from everyone they care about. Being in the room when this book is passed around, you can sense the waves of joy — fond feelings, multiplied, it’s actually hard to describe, but there’s nothing quite like this energy. And, unlike other gifts, it’s one whose benefit is shared — everyone who contributes feels good about the words they wrote about their friend, like that warm feeling you get when you give someone a compliment.

To add a layer of excitement and anticipation on top of those fuzzy feelings, you can keep this gift a secret until the day of the celebration. Then watch in real time as your friend or loved one realizes that everyone took the time to fill a book with thoughtful words, fond memories, stories and kind observations about them — specific details about why they are loved and admired.

The positive energy from a gift like this is sure to lessen any feelings of regret or sadness that some people have around their birthday. In fact, it can be an ongoing pick-me-up in the years to come — a way to lift spirits.

To protect this special keepsake you can add a custom slipcase. Lined with 100% wool felt, this sturdy handmade wooden box will help preserve the pages, preventing dust from building up over time and also cushioning the cover against scratches. Each case is visually striking, making it a decorative object that anyone would be happy to display on their shelves — a visual reminder of all the love and connection contained within.

Like anything worthwhile, creating a Fondfolio for someone requires some effort — you have to figure out who to reach out to and remind people to contribute. But that’s part of what makes it so meaningful and it’s an investment that’s guaranteed to pay off when your loved one receives the best gift that anyone has ever given them (don’t just take my word for it).

Are you looking for a thoughtful, personal gift to celebrate a milestone birthday of a friend or loved one? Create a Fondfolio