As my first post, I thought it was only fitting to share about one of my favourite people on Instagram: @emilycoxhead. At just 22 and during a difficult time in her life, Emily created The Happy Newspaper. Overwhelmed by the constant negativity in the world and the news, she channelled her incredible design and illustration skills to create a vibrant, colourful newspaper that celebrates all the good in the world.

I first came across @thehappynewspaper when a close friend sent me a Christmas gift box. The contents were lovely, but what stood out were the colourful newspaper pages used as packing material—something I’d never seen before. Curious, I started reading the wrinkled pages and was delighted to find them filled with positive, uplifting, and fascinating stories. It made the gift even more special. While I’ve forgotten where the box came from, I’ll never forget the newspaper—and I’ve kept those pages for years, along with every copy I’ve received since!

Together with her husband Niall, Emily runs a thriving business while raising their little family. Through her heartfelt posts, she openly shares her struggles and successes along with product launches and behind-the-scenes. Emily truly listens to her loyal, supportive followers and subscribers and reflects it in her business. And the secret to her sparkly success? Passion and purpose.

You can learn the skills, gain the experience, but it’s passion and purpose that get you through the tough days. They’re what people are draw to, it gives them a reason to trust you, and inspires them to buy from you. After all, buying is an act of trust: ‘I trust that my hard-earned money is going to give me something valuable in return.’

Disclaimer: Subscribing to @thehappynewspaper may result in you keeping every copy forever!