Meet Lily Samii: Founder of The Gratitude List

LILY SAMII

The Gratitude List®, created by entrepreneur Lily Samii, was designed to help form positive habits through the daily ritual of writing in a journal. The Gratitude List® takes you on a journey to self-discovery, with a unique sense of adventure and originality. The journal will elevate who you are and help you become who you want to be.

We chatted to Lily about her journey, what inspires her and she shared her top tips on how to lead a more sustainable life.

Tell us about your background. What was the journey that led you to creating The Gratitude List and the products?

As a citizen of the world, I was inspired to create a universal tool of happiness that is fit for the world we live in today and the future: beautiful and sustainable.

I believe in rituals that make us feel happy and calm. Whether it’s going for a walk first thing in the morning, chatting with a friend over lunch, enjoying a rooibos cup of tea by the fire, baking a cake - we all wish we had more of those moments. The Gratitude List is the gratitude journal I wish existed. It helps you form positive mindful habits and create a life you love.

What inspires you and motivates you?

True fulfilment in life doesn’t come from what we get; it comes from what we give. The profound transformational journey people from all around the world experienced with The Gratitude List motivates me everyday to be an unstoppable force for good. Like your readers, I want to make a difference. I believe today more than ever we need inspiration, hope and self-care routine. The Gratitude List helps you live in a beautiful state.

What have you worked on or achieved with The Gratitude List (or in general) that you are most proud of?

The Gratitude List recently won “Best Notebook & Journal" by the London Stationery Awards 2020. This is our second international recognition which shows that you can be a leader in your industry as well as a purpose-driven conscious brand. Our focus has always been to be sustainably innovating and to bring value to others. Best of all, what I’m most proud of is our amazing online international community formed around The Gratitude List. Our customers, like those who shop with THE FIND, value beautiful design, challenge the status quo, and deeply care for our planet.

The Gratitude List has earned the “Planet Earth labelling” with the title “Forest Friendly” at Selfridges & Co in London. What does sustainability mean to you as a brand?

The greatest threat to our planet is the belief that someone else will save it. I knew from day one I wanted to be a brand of future: sustainable, honest and ethical. The Gratitude List is handcrafted in small batches, and printed on ​100% recycled paper to keep a ​light carbon footprint. During the production process of finding the right manufactures, I learned that when a product’s cheap someone along the line was not paid. There is no middleman with The Gratitude List, we control the entire production process and we stand for a conscious, modern, and responsible business. This quote from Albert Einstein always stuck with me since high school: “Try not to become a man of success, but a man of value.”

What would are your top tips to help encourage others to live more sustainably?

How you treat the planet, is a reflection of how you treat yourself. Love is the answer. My top tip is love yourself more, and you’ll take better care of the planet. Here’s how, by adding more love into my life, I live more sustainably - and how you can do it:

  • Eat a more plant-based diet, locally sourced and in season.
  • Walk or take the bike to commute with energy.
  • Make the most of what you have; recycle, refurbish, repurpose.
  • Purchase fair trade products with pride, and share them with friends.
  • Plant a tree for your birthday or for a loved one.
  • Invest in organic, biodegradable feminine products.

Little acts of conscious self-love make a huge difference in creating sustainable happiness and saving the planet.

“Worry less. Live more.” is the brand tagline, what’s the inspiration behind this?

The simple habit of reflecting on what you are grateful for can actually lead to a happier, more content life. As human beings, we tend to think that happiness is in the big things; it’s not. The moments of joy are rarely in the big events. They are the small things happening all around us when we chose to pay attention; your coffee that tasted great this morning, your kid giving you a hug without being asked, the sun shining through your home, or a phone call with your mom. One day you’ll look back and realize these moments were never random, they are the moments that made your life. The Gratitude List prompts you to write them down, and celebrate what is thriving in your life.

The Gratitude List Instagram page is a hub of positivity and inspiration. Through the quotes you share and the uplifting captions, how important is it to you to have an optimistic mindset?

I believe the secret to having it all is knowing you already do. Our mindset determines results. Focus on the good, and the good gets better. The same also works in reverse. That’s why the way you speak to yourself matters. Our Instagram page is a place of joy: you get inspired and motivated everyday to seize the day and to love yourself. The Gratitude List elevates who you are and helps you become who you most want to be.

What are you most excited to work on over the next few months?

We are working relentlessly to become a plastic-free company by 2022. We are incorporating processes to only use 100% recycled and recyclable packaging, eco-friendly materials, and a zero waste workplace at the office. As an entrepreneur, it’s my dream and I’m deeply committed to making it happen. The Gratitude List is a brand of the future. The future is shaped now.

What piece of advice would you give to someone who is looking to set up their own company?

The world needs that special gift that only you have. You will inevitably stumble across obstacles; persevere and you will find success.

Here are my top 5 tips for any creative entrepreneurs:

  1. Cleanliness is next to godliness! Your working space has a powerful influence on your human soul. Keep your space and surfaces neat, clean and minimalistic to optimize both your creativity and your productivity. You’ll feel happier, clearer and more focused.
  2. Make joy a priority. Feeling good is a great catalyst for inspiration and purpose. Commit to daily rituals that elevate your day: going for walks, calling a friend, painting, giving a hug, reading, cooking, doing yoga, writing in your Gratitude List at night... let joy lead the way.
  3. Be kind to your mind. The way you speak to yourself matters. Speak to yourself the way you’d speak to someone you love. You are worthy and capable of achieving your goals.
  4. Clarity comes from engagement not thoughts. Failure is natural and inevitable to success. Expect it and learn from it.
  5. Start before you’re ready. There is never a perfect time. Someday is today. Today is now. And, all we have is now.

You win or you learn, but you never lose. Cultivate a positive mindset, and chase your dreams. It’s all possible.

What do you look for when finding the perfect gift?

The first thing I always look at is where it’s made. Customers more than ever want to know what they consume. I value local craft, innovative brands, and conscious gifts that spark joy. I always like to read about the company and who is behind it. I’m always mindful and keen to support small businesses and to find a unique, limited edition, one of a kind gift that promotes self-care.

What is your LITTLE FIND?

I love the newly added “La Vie en Rose” quarts face roller by Angela Caglia on THE FIND. I was given one recently, and it’s transformed my daily skincare routine. It’s the little things in life!

Let’s have a little fun and FIND out about you...

  • Favourite TV series right now? Emily in Paris.
  • Last thing you cooked? Roasted zucchinis and broccolis marinated with homemade vegan pesto sauce and sprinkled with with sesame seeds -- heaven.
  • Favourite Instagram account to follow? The Gratitude List! You’ll get inspired everyday.
  • Best book recommendation? The Kindness Method by Shahroo Izadi.
  • Perfect way to spend your weekend? Connect with nature; realize that you are part of nature. Go for a walk in the park, eat more plants, walk barefoot, and garden.
  • Best restaurant you’ve eaten at? My kitchen!
  • Country you’d love to visit? 
Somewhere over the hills and far away. New Zealand sounds good!
  • Shop The Gratitude List at THE FIND.

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