In January, I visited the Designmuseum Denmark in Copenhagen and stumbled upon an exhibit called “Bottled Ponderings.” It’s an old-style cabinet filled with over 300 tiny “medicine” vials, each labeled with something that affects our well-being—everything from passion and relationships to narcissism and loneliness. This quirky display reminded me that tackling well-being involves looking at the whole person rather than applying quick fixes. If we focus on just one issue or emotion, we risk overlooking the richness and complexity of the human experience. This is exactly what came to mind as I thought about Valentine’s Day—a day that can mean love, kindness, and romance for some, but loneliness, loss, and longing for others, and yet passes like any other day for many. Like the exhibit’s vials, Valentine’s Day highlights how diverse (and sometimes contradictory) our feelings can be. The Gambrell Foundation’s work is grounded in recognizing and embracing this complexity. Along with our partners in the US and Europe, we ask big questions about what it means to live a “Great Life”—questions that inevitably touch on belonging, relationships, awe, and wonder, even during the sometimes “cringeworthy” holidays. Ultimately, that’s our hope: to create environments where everyone, regardless of their background or circumstances, can find purpose and feel their contributions matter. Because if we celebrate all the facets of human well-being—from the bittersweet to the joyful—we’re one step closer to building communities that genuinely support each other through every high life has to offer and every low it can throw at us. With Love,
