Marist College Students Reflect on Little Words Project’s Mission to Spread Kindness
Words pack a strong punch, whether that be lifting someone up with encouragement or tearing them down with hateful speech. Whatever it may be, it is undeniable that words are extremely powerful. That is why Little Words Project is on a mission to spread kindness and women empowerment through their jewelry.
“I used to make these bracelets for myself to kinda get through difficult times. I just wanted there to be something that could bring kindness back to ‘girl world’; something that existed to take away from that negativity,” said Adriana Carrig, CEO and Founder of Little Words Project. At a young age, Carrig experienced bullying that lasted well into her college years. In an effort to counteract those hurtful moments, she sought to bring joy and love back into the atmosphere. Little Words Project was established in 2013 and has inspired countless women through words of encouragement.
“My bracelet says ‘Be Grounded’ and sometimes I get a little carried away, but then I look down at my wrist and it brings me back to reality and to myself,” said Briana Koutros ‘23. Similarly, Megan Ennabi ‘23 explained that one of her bracelets says ‘Blessed’ to serve as a reminder for her to count her blessings and appreciate just how fortunate she is. The first thing she does in the morning is put on her stack of ‘Little Words’ to start her day off with some motivating messages.
Not only do these bracelets serve as a beacon of light for people, but they’re also on their way to reducing the stigma around mental health issues. The mission of Little Words Project is to find a bracelet that has a word that resonates with you and wear it for as long as you may need that inspiration or encouragement. Then, when you meet someone who might need that word of encouragement a little more than you do, you are supposed to pass it along to them. It serves as a conversation starter and ultimately raises awareness. There are so many people who might be fighting a similar battle as you and these bracelets can help to spark a connection.
“The mission of passing these bracelets on makes it even better for a college campus because of the community aspect of it. As much as they’re a personal reminder for you, they’re also a great conversation starter and a good way to really create a community and talk about these things that are really important,” said Madison Breemen ‘23.
Carrig explained that each bracelet has a tag with a number on the back of it that is intended to be registered on the website with the person’s story as to why they chose that bracelet or received it. She expressed that some of these incredible stories of resilience, strength and self worth truly blow her away and are the reason she keeps going in a job that can be extremely hard at times.
Project Manager at Little Words Project, Ericka Katzenback, emphasized the importance of this accessory. “The mission goes beyond a cute piece of jewelry on your wrist. It’s really looking at it and asking yourself, “this word means something to me, what can it mean to someone else? How can I make someone else’s day brighter? What’s that one act of kindness I can do that will propel throughout everywhere and make this world just a little bit kinder.’”
These accessories are hard to miss in your daily life. Whether it be looking at your phone or washing your hands, people are always looking down at their wrists. These bracelets are consistent reminders to help those who may be struggling. “These bracelets force you to pause and think about why you chose this word. It’ll remind you how far you’ve come in your journey and how much you’ve learned, or how much that word matters to you, or to stop and really calm your mind. And plus, they’re pretty cute. When you love what you’re wearing it makes you smile and it makes you feel good,” said Carrig.
Koutros highlighted the impact these bracelets can have on student athletes especially. As a track and field athlete, she expressed the immense amounts of stress and pressure athletes are under. “I think the bracelets are a constant reminder for me that if I don't do so well there are going to be plenty of other races and there's going to be more improvement.”
It is undeniable that most college students are faced with their fair share of stress, anxiety, depression and other mental health issues. “I think every single college student should be wearing ‘Breathe’ around their wrist, for sure, no doubt in my mind,” said Katzenback. Sometimes all you need is just one word to help you remember to take a step back.
As a fashion student, Breemen brought attention to the influence these accessories have, especially during COVID-19. “This is what post pandemic dressing is all about. Everyone has been through a very difficult time so having this really fun, bright, colorful reminder right on your wrist is definitely going to be applicable in the future and not just now,” said Breemen.
Ultimately, the goal is to inspire kindness and self-love to women of all ages and types. Carrig hopes to see women everywhere sharing and connecting with one another through their ‘Little Words’ and that this project may be synonymous with kindness.
A handful of these bracelets can be found online at Marist’s MPorium or visit littlewordsproject.com for more.
A stack of Little Words Project bracelets captured in front of the sign hanging in their headquaters. Source: Amanda Dibre '23