We’ve all seen it — that post making the rounds again:
“Pro tip: yell out exactly what you want for Christmas near your partner’s phone and wait for Facebook to send pop-up ads their way.”

And honestly? Not the worst plan. 😂

Because if you’ve ever whispered “cashmere sweater” within 10 feet of your partner’s phone and suddenly found your feed filled with ads for luxury knits — you know Big Tech is listening (and maybe doing a slightly better job at hint-dropping than most of us).

I knew my social media survey was going to be a little awkward. I intentionally asked people if they would say something to someone in some pretty extreme situations—broccoli in their teeth, toilet paper trailing behind them, a “bat in the cave” (cave=nose 😉). Cringe-worthy, yes. But here’s the funny thing: most of us want people to tell us about those things. Broccoli? Yes, please. Fly down? Absolutely. Toilet paper on my shoe? For the love of all that is holy, tell me.

Ever since we started building HeyDay, I see reminders everywhere of why this work matters. Maybe it’s the Baader-Meinhof phenomenon (aka the frequency illusion)—once you notice something, you see it everywhere. Or maybe it’s just midlife, when everything feels different. Or maybe it’s the complexity of the world we’re all living in right now. It feels like everywhere I turn, HeyDay is showing up in small ways.

If you’re family, this is your cue to stop reading. I mean it. Go watch Dateline or check your weather app again—anything but this. Because I’m about to be honest in a cheeky, slightly too real way, and I love you all too much for you to take it personally. Let’s talk about October. The “fun fall” month that pretends to be cozy but is actually just a warm-up for holiday chaos. The mental load alone could qualify as a haunted house. Between birthdays, early gift planning, and coordinating what everyone else is buying, I’m basically the Chief Gift Officer of my family.

Okay, I’m going to describe a friend to you. Ask yourself -Do I have one of these? Am I one of these?  This best friend is always thoughtful, endlessly organized, and somehow knows exactly what to say (and when to say it). She remembers your mom’s birthday, your favorite snack, and the exact way you like your coffee (with half and half!). She’s the first to send a text when she knows you’ve got a big day ahead—and the first to drop a little something in the mail just when you need it most. Do you have that friend? Then you’re pretty lucky. 

“I should send you a thank-you for your thank-you.” 

That’s a real thing a friend said to me once. It made me laugh, but it also made me realize how much I love showing appreciation.  It’s the best feeling to see someone’s face when they realize you not only remembered them but also remembered the Detail. The Date. The Occasion. The Preference. The Thing.  Good or bad. Big or small. Their favorite coffee shop or restaurant or shade of blue.