Holly Daniels Christensen says the publication of her first book, Happiness Comes in Waves, has taught the jewelry designer more about herself, her circle of friends, and our love for the sea.
Christensen is the owner of Dune Jewelry & Co., which creates jewelry pieces based on the physical characteristics of water and sand. She founded the company in 2010 and has turned into a well-known brand, whose beach-inspired jewelry reminds people of their coastal travel and life memories.
Writing the book—which was published in 2022—was healing, Christensen says, as she wrote it during the coronavirus pandemic. “The ocean teaches us that we are all connected,” Christensen says. “I wanted to explore what water means to us and ask, ‘Why do we all feel so good when we’re by the water?’”
Each chapter in Happiness Comes in Waves focuses on a different theme, such as being unstoppable, adventurous, creative, grounded, soulful, and abundant. The book is filled with meditations that may prompt the reader to pause to consider how they could learn from these life lessons.
While Christensen, a mom and travel lover, initially planned to tell her story of going from high school dropout to successful entrepreneur, she decided to expand on it by asking her employees, associates, and family members to contribute something.
The $20 book is easy to pick up at any page, to linger on an individual’s story, work through a meditation, or dive into the inspirational quotes sprinkled throughout. Christensen says she was moved by how generous people were with their time and the stories they shared.
She says the process of putting together the book was as challenging as creating a unique piece of jewelry, and her publisher was patient while she collected every photo, quote, and story. The reward, she adds, is seeing people buy the book and hearing about how it affects readers, giving many of them the words they needed in times of trouble or sadness.
The book includes photographs of Dune Jewelry’s Sandbank, which includes sand and other earth elements from beaches and waterways worldwide, each item with its own texture, color, and meaning. What amazes Christensen about sand is its variety but also how similar grains can be. Much like the ocean waves she loves, sand is a powerful element for people, she says.
“Life is like the sea—it moves us, shapes us, supports us, and awakens us,” Christensen says. “Ultimately, life teaches us to be like water ourselves—strong yet calm, steady yet yielding, subtle yet beautiful.”
Top: Holly Daniels Christensen, founder and CEO of Dune Jewelry & Co., celebrates her first book’s release in the rain forest of San Juan, Puerto Rico. (Photo credit: Samantha Robshaw Photography)
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