Today we’d like to introduce you to Shawn Dinneen

Hi Shawn, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.

My story is more of a chapter book. In my 33 years of life, I have had to change directions, navigate new situations, overcome obstacles, and endure difficult periods of growth many times. I started new chapters when I transferred colleges, after leaving an abusive relationship, when I met the love of my life and we started our life together, when it all came crashing down after he passed away, and the chapter I am currently living where I rebuild.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?

Absolutely not! More like the Oregon Trail, encountering obstacles at every turn.

I think at the end of every “chapter” of my life I lost myself in some way and have had to find ways to stitch my pieces back together. I was in an abusive relationship for 7 years of my life that almost broke me. I was broken down, made to feel small, my confidence shattered, and living constantly on edge. When I finally mustered up the strength to leave and remove myself from the extremely toxic situation I was living in, I knew immediately that I needed to find help for myself. I started researching my options and eventually found a therapist to help me work through my trauma.

Very similarly, when my fiancé passed away, I immediately hit the ground running looking for as many resources as I could find to try to help heal my pain. I think my self-awareness in knowing that I could not just rely on myself after such tragic situations has helped me build a resilience and strength that I maybe wouldn’t have otherwise.

I think a lot of people see needing and asking for help as a weakness, but to me it is courageous when you are able to reflect on your situation and understand that you need help and do not need to struggle alone. There is power in being able to humble yourself enough to know that you cannot (and do not need to) take on everything all by yourself. Sometimes you need to lean on others to make it through the dark times.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about HeartStrings Journals?

After my fiancé John passed away, one of the first grief coaches I spoke with suggested journaling. At the time, it sounded cliché and silly. But I was desperate, so I tried it. I began writing letters to John, expressing everything I couldn’t say to him anymore. I also started creating daily lists of both the good and bad things that happened, forcing myself to find positives even in the darkest days. Journaling became my release—a way to externalize my thoughts and emotions. It gave me the breathing room I so desperately needed. From my own practice, Heartstrings Journals was born. I turned my grief into a business, and tragedy into hope by creating journals designed to help others find their own path to healing. I design my journals with bright, fun, funny, and welcoming covers that are coupled with very simple and easy to use interior designs that make journaling approachable for anyone.

The process of designing my journals, being creative, and finding an outlet to channel my pain into has helped me immensely. The fact that my products can hopefully assist others on their own healing journey find some relief and peace is just an added bonus.

 
My mission extends beyond HeartStrings Journals as I strive to use networking, connection, and social media to foster a platform of support and understanding. I believe in the transformative power of maintaining a positive mindset and the importance of finding companionship in others with shared experiences. I encourage embracing the mentality that grief and joy can coexist in the wake of tragedy. We can lean on one another to heal together. No one has to face their struggles alone.

I currently have over 60 different journal designs that can all be found on Amazon, with more new designs being added all of the time. Current offerings include blank lined journals, grief journals, daily reflection journals, and gratitude journals. I also work with customers to create custom journals to fit their practice or business needs.

If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?

Resilience. I have had to be resilient time and time again in my own personal life, but I have also had to be resilient with my business. There have been multiple occasions where my accounts have been closed, and I have had to rebuild from scratch, or instances where I invested money and did not get the outcome I hoped for. I try to take each challenge in stride and make sure that when I come back, I am standing even taller, implementing new beneficial changes along the way. I have realized that sometimes what seems like a failure in the moment is often a blessing in disguise. Knock me down and I will come back stronger every time.

Pricing:

• All journals are $15.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://linktr.ee/heartstringsjournals
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Heart_StringsJournals/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HeartStringsJournals/
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@heartstringsjournals

Image Credits

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