Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Edie Higby. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Edie , thanks for joining us today. Was there a defining moment in your professional career? A moment that changed the trajectory of your career?

Canvas Rebel Interview | Edie Higby
Joy By Design
There have been so many defining moments along my journey, each one changing my course and reshaping my path. When I started The Tooth Fairy Company, I dreamed of changing the world through the magic of storytelling. I wanted to write engaging children’s books about the Tooth Fairy, not just to entertain, but to teach kids how to care for their smiles and understand the importance of sharing them.
I’m incredibly proud of how “10 Tips From The Tooth Fairy” came to life. It was such an invigorating creative process; crafting the story, collaborating with an illustrator, and bringing a magical character to life with a purpose beyond just collecting teeth. Self-publishing isn’t for the faint of heart, but I believed in the Tooth Fairy and the deeper message behind her story. I wanted her to teach children how to prevent tooth decay disease, all while planting seeds of kindness and confidence. I still have a BIG dream of flying a Tooth Fairy balloon down the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade as a public health service for early intervention – spreading Joy and promoting healthy smiles on a national stage. Because for me, it was always about more than just teeth, it was about teaching kids that kindness, taking care and sharing your smile ultimately can change the world.
And then everything changed in June 2022.
I had just released the final version of “10 Tips From The Tooth Fairy.” I was sending out query letters to every publisher who would listen, relentlessly pitching the Tooth Fairy balloon idea to the creative director at Macy’s. I was determined to make it happen. I BELIEVED in the Tooth Fairy! But then we got the call.
My brother was gone.
On June 10, 2022, my brother took his own life. There are no words to describe the weight of that moment, the shock, the disbelief, the heaviness of grief that shattered me and my family forever. It changed our DNA. It changed who I am. The pain was overwhelming and all-consuming, like nothing I had ever experienced. It forced me to sit with the darkest kind of grief – raw, paralyzing, and utterly devastating. I still can’t believe he is gone.
Grief has a way of marking time, creating a clear “before” and “after.” There’s an expiration date for every season; the good, the bad, and everything in between. And in the midst of that darkness, something unexpected in me emerged. It didn’t happen overnight, and the pain is still so present but there was a quiet, unwavering resolve that I had to do something meaningful with our story.
I knew I had to find purpose in our tragedy.
The last two years after losing Gary Jr. have been about turning pain into purpose. Losing my brother made me painfully aware of how many people are quietly suffering; feeling isolated, hopeless, and unseen. I knew our story had the potential to reach those people, to help them feel heard and understood. Most importantly, I wanted them to know; you’re not alone. I believe that even in the most profound loss, Joy and healing are possible.
That’s when I committed myself to the field of Happiness Studies. I needed to understand the science behind Joy and resilience, how we survive life’s hardest seasons and find a way to keep going. I needed to find my way back to Joy verses staying stuck in the grief. I wanted to explore how we could intentionally design a life that holds both Joy and sorrow at the same time. Because life will always bring both and the grief never leaves us.
I want people to know that mental health matters. Yours, mine – everyone’s. We need to stop treating it like an afterthought. We need to care about the mental health of our friends, our coworkers, the strangers we pass in the grocery store, even the people we don’t particularly like. The way we show up for one another matters. Each of our lives creates a ripple effect, influencing the people and communities around us in ways we may never fully understand.
Writing Joy By Design: Living Life InSPIRED was my way of reclaiming Joy. I didn’t just want to write about happiness, I wanted to create a blueprint for it. A roadmap for how to design a life filled with Joy, even when life feels impossibly heavy.
The book is based on the SPIRE Model by my professor, Dr. Tal Ben-Shahar, focusing on Spiritual, Physical, Intellectual, Relational, and Emotional well-being. But I added my own twist. I created the InSPIRED Model, starting with Inspiration and ending with Design. Because we have to begin by finding inspiration, and at the end of the day, we must intentionally design the life we want to live.
My research into positive psychology includes the work of scientists like Barbara Fredrickson, whose research on the 10 positive emotions and the Broaden and Build Theory helped me understand that joy isn’t about denying pain, it’s more about holding both Joy and sorrow at the same time. Grief can be paralyzing. It can pull you under. But the ability to find Joy even in the smallest, most ordinary moments; connection, gratitude, presence, that’s what helps us survive. That’s what helps us heal.
Through my work as a Scientist of Joy, I’ve discovered that Joy is not a feeling, it’s a daily practice. It’s a commitment. It’s a conscious choice. Even the smallest moments of connection and gratitude can transform how we move through life’s hardest seasons.
My defining moment was realizing that my family’s story is not unique. The heartbreak, the healing, and the hope, it’s not just ours. It’s a story that could give others the strength to keep going. My mission became clear: to help others discover that they are not alone. No matter how dark it gets, there is always hope.
That’s the heart of Joy By Design and the foundation of my work in Happiness Health, helping others see that Joy is not a destination, but a daily practice. Even in the hardest moments, Joy is always within reach. And when we learn to hold both the light and the dark, we discover that Joy isn’t something that happens to us, it’s something we create.
Creating an amazing life is possible for anybody and I am so excited to share Joy By Design; Living Life InSPIRED, to the world.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

Canvas Rebel Interview

“Blessed War” is not only the story of my life, it’s actually the meaning of my name, Edie. That feels fitting because my life’s work has been about navigating the battle between profound loss and Joy, while discovering how to rise stronger on the other side. I feel like I am many things, a Creative, a Storyteller, an Innovator, a Writer, a Chef, a Dreamer, a Believer, but first I am a Mom, a Wife, a Sister, a Daughter, an Auntee and a Friend. Those are my favorite titles. I also have credentials that compliment my biggest passions in life. I have a Master’s Degree in The Science Wellbeing & Studies, I am a Certified Coach in both Neuroscience and Happiness Health, an Author, Inspirational Speaker, and Scientist of Joy with a deep commitment to helping others design a life filled with Joy, Hope and meaning, even when life feels unbearably hard.

My journey into this work has been shaped by both triumph and heartbreak, leading me to create two powerful platforms: The Practicing Joy Program Network and The Tooth Fairy Company. Through these platforms, I provide creative works, resources, coaching, keynotes, staff wellness days and workshops, to help teach others discover how to cultivate Joy, resilience, and emotional wellbeing. I always say, I teach children about their smiles, adults about their hearts and organizations, how to cultivate a culture of kindness and wellbeing.
Depression and loneliness are decay of the heart, just like cavities destroy a smile, the deficit of Joy depletes a soul. I believe my life’s work is to teach people how to practice joy, just like brushing their teeth.
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How I Got Started
My story began teaching. I am an educator by trade and teaching was the epidemy of my career. I taught preschool and kindergarten for many years the first part of it. I fell in love with the kids and enjoyed working with families. Working in early learning Head Start, Early Head Start and ECEAP programs there is a social service piece working directly with families to find medical and dental homes before a child enters school. I saw classrooms full of children that were suffering from tooth decay. Decay can affect a child’s overall wellbeing and development including speech, eating, and behavior. Tooth decay is the most chronic childhood disease there is America today, and it’s totally preventable with education and early intervention.

I think every teacher probably dreams of writing a children’s book at some point. I wanted to write a book that I would want to read not only to my own children but that a teacher would be excited to read in their classroom. I had this simple but powerful idea: that Joy and kindness have the potential to change the world. I’ve always been drawn to creative storytelling and meaningful connection, which initially led me to create The Tooth Fairy Company and write “10 Tips From The Tooth Fairy”—a children’s book designed to teach kids not only how to care for their smiles but also how to spread kindness and confidence.

I am so proud of how “10 Tips From The Tooth Fairy” came to life. It was such an invigorating creative process, storytelling and working with an illustrator. Self-publishing is not for the faint of heart. We all know the Tooth Fairy is a magical part of childhood, but I wanted to create her in a way that she taught children how to prevent tooth decay disease. I still have BIG dreams of one day flying a Tooth Fairy balloon down the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, not just as a fun spectacle but as a powerful message about early intervention and public health. I even named our little Shih tzu/Yorkie puppy, Macy Day Parade.

The beautiful and at the same time awful thing about life after tragedy is that it goes on. After losing my brother, I realized that there a similarities and a direct connection to my work in both The Tooth Fairy Company and my Practicing Joy work. Depression and loneliness are decay of the heart, just like cavities destroy a smile, the deficit of Joy depletes a soul. I believe my life’s work is to teach people how to Practice Joy, just like brushing their teeth.

That’s when I turned to The Science of Wellbeing & Happiness Studies. I began studying positive psychology and the evidence-based research and science of Joy, learning how we survive life’s hardest seasons and find a way to keep going. The world needs a space designed to help people discover how to cultivate Joy, even in the darkest of seasons.
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What I Do and What Sets Me Apart
At the core of my work are two deeply connected but distinct platforms:
Practicing Joy – www.practicingjoy.net

🌿 Introduction: The Joy We Choose
We are not just passengers in this life, we are the Creators, Designers, and Co-Authors of our destiny, our Joy. Joy is not a destination we arrive at; it’s a practice we live by. It’s designed. It’s intentional. It’s something we invite and cultivate each day.
The foundation of this book, is about your Happiness Health Habits and the foundation of what Joy is using the INSPIRED Model. It’s a holistic framework I created to support emotional resilience, inner peace, and sustainable Joy.
So, I invite you, to explore your dreams, and Live Life INSPIRED: Dream Boldly, Design Bravely, Do Daily. Ignite Your Happiness Health by Embodying Every Element of the INSPIRED Model.
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✨ The INSPIRED Model: The Foundation of Happiness Health
Core Pillar of Meaning & Intention:
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🕊️ I – Inspirational
What lifts your spirit and stirs your soul?
We begin with what INSPIRES us! This pillar is about cultivating vision, hope, and the willingness to believe in something bigger than our current circumstances. Inspiration is the core of who you are and what you meant to do in this life.
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🧠 N – Neurological
How are you tending to your brain, mindset, and nervous system?
This is The Science of Joy. The neurological pillar reminds us that Happiness is tied to the health of our brain and body chemistry, if we don’t find healthy ways to experience Happiness, we end up doing it in damaging or toxic ways. Self-sabotage is a common denominator with bad habits or negative thinking. We have to unlearn these habits and find healthy ways to the “Happy” chemicals in our brain; Dopamine, Serotonin, Oxytocin, Endorphins. Through breath, mindfulness, and gentle awareness, we recalibrate from the inside out.
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✨ S – Spiritual
What gives your life deeper meaning?
Spiritual Joy is about alignment with your purpose, values, or divine connection. Being Spiritual is absolutely not always about religion. Whether through prayer, nature, meditation, or silence, this pillar honors the sacredness of the now and the mystery of being alive.
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💪 P – Physical
How do you move, nourish, and rest your body?
Joy lives in the body. In the energy of movement, the power of rest, nutrition, and the wisdom of the senses. This pillar is about treating your body as a sacred vessel of Joy not as a project to fix, but as a partner to love.
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📚 I – Intellectual
What are you learning, creating, or curious about?
Curiosity sparks Joy. When we learn something new or express ourselves through words, art, or invention, our brain lights up. This pillar encourages curiosity, imagination, and lifelong learning.
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🤝 R – Relational
Who are you connecting with, and how do they feel when you’re near?
Joy is contagious. This pillar is about meaningful connection, emotional safety, and shared moments of laughter, honesty, and kindness. We are hired wired for connection, to belong, and Joy only deepens when we do it together.
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💛 E – Emotional
How well do you name, feel, and honor your emotions?
Joy is not the absence of struggle it’s the presence of courage. This final pillar invites emotional fluency and intelligence: the ability to sit with sadness, to name fear, and to return again and again to Hope, Awe, and Love.
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D – Developmental | Design
Who are you becoming, and how are you shaping your life to support that? You can dream, you can design, but at the end of the day… you actually have to do it!
Joy isn’t static, it evolves as we grow. This final pillar is about intentional development and conscious design: crafting environments, habits, and mindsets that support who you’re becoming. It’s about taking ownership of your growth and seeing life as a living design, iterative, imperfect, and uniquely yours.
Whether you’re redesigning your schedule, your relationships, or your self-talk, this pillar reminds us that Joy doesn’t happen by default, it all depends on our choices, and our intentional planning. Joy is created on purpose, designed to be practiced.

You are both the artist and the canvas. You don’t just find Joy, you must learn to design it.
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🌈 Living Life INSPIRED
The INSPIRED model isn’t a checklist. Practicing Joy; is exploring, experimenting and remembering who you are and how Joy already lives in you.
Through each chapter of this book, we’ll explore these pillars with stories, science, and simple practices you can use every day. You’ll find space to reflect, space to rest, and space to play. Everybody deserves to be Happy!
And Joy? Joy is a choice but in order to have Happiness Health, you have to practice it!
Joy is a practice.
A design.
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The Tooth Fairy Company – www.believeinthetoothfairy.com

The Tooth Fairy Company was born from a simple truth: every child’s smile matters, and teaching children about kindness, changes the world. “10 Tips From The Tooth Fairy” is more than just a book, it’s a tool to teach children about the importance of how to take care and share their smile, and the magical message from the Tooth Fairy herself teaching children tip by tip how to #Smile, #Sparkle & #Shine. Her 10 tips begin with: Tip #1 Brusing is FUN! And my favorite, Tip #7 | Kindness is the Best Gift Given. The Tooth Fairy Company offers tools and resources for families and educators to help children learn about oral health education, preventive care curriculum, school author events, classroom story times, and the Magic Mail Box where children can actually write the Tooth Fairy!

While The Tooth Fairy Company focuses on children, Practicing Joy focuses on adults, creating a full-circle approach to emotional and physical health. The goal is to create a global movement around early childhood health and kindness, while helping adults reconnect with their own sense of Joy and emotional strength.
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The Connection Between the Two
At first glance, The Practicing Joy Brand and The Tooth Fairy Company might seem like two separate projects but truthfully, they are deeply connected. Both are rooted in the idea that Joy and kindness are transformative forces.
• Practicing Joy teaches adults how to cultivate happiness and emotional resilience, even in the face of adversity.
• The Tooth Fairy Company teaches children that their smiles matter and how to share kindness in the world.
It’s a full-circle approach, when we teach children from an early age to nurture their bodies and minds while practicing kindness, they grow into resilient adults who navigate life’s challenges with Grace. Instilling kindness and emotional well-being in childhood creates a ripple effect that carries into adulthood, fostering a stronger, more compassionate society. Practicing Joy and The Tooth Fairy Company are really for both and there is something for everybody with each of these programs.
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What I’m Most Proud Of

First of all, I am most Grateful for God’s Grace and every day that begins new with Hope. I am most proud of the way I’ve been able to turn personal loss into purpose. Losing my brother made me realize how many people are struggling with grief, mental health challenges, and emotional isolation. My work through Practicing Joy is not just about happiness, it’s about helping people understand that mental health is overall health and everyone deserves to have a Joy filled life, feel seen, heard, and understood.
I’m also incredibly proud of the impact “10 Tips From The Tooth Fairy” has had on children and families. Knowing that kids are not only learning how to care for their teeth but also learning the power of kindness and confidence, that’s the kind of impact I always dreamed about and hoped for, and inspire to continue to do for many more years to come.
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What I Want People to Know

I want people to know that Joy is not a destination, it’s a practice, a daily commitment to your mental health. It’s a conscious choice that we make every day. Even when life is heavy and hard, even when grief feels impossible, Joy is always within reach.
I want people to understand that mental health matters. Taking care of yourself emotionally is just as important as taking care of yourself physically. That’s why Practicing Joy is about the whole person, mind, body, and spirit.
I want kids to know that their smiles matter, their kindness matters, that they are seen, they are valued, and they are capable of making a difference in the world. That’s why The Tooth Fairy Company is about more than oral health education, it’s about planting seeds of kindness and self-worth that will grow throughout a lifetime with something as simple as a smile.
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Final Thought

What sets me apart is that my work is not just theoretical, it’s deeply personal. I’ve lived through profound loss and discovered firsthand how the smallest micro moments of our experiences, of connection, gratitude, and presence can change everything. My work isn’t about pretending life is easy, it’s about showing people how to hold Joy and sorrow at the same time and how to design a life that makes space for both.
That’s the heart of my mission, my purpose in life: helping others discover that Joy is not something that happens to us, it’s something we create and that anyone can achieve Wholebeing Happiness Health.

Connect With Me

Her children’s book | “10 Tips From The Tooth Fairy” is available at both Barnes & Noble (hardcopy) and Amazon (paperback).
10 Tips From The Tooth Fairy by Edie Higby, Hardcover | Barnes & Noble®
10 Tips From The Tooth Fairy: Higby, Edie, Mahajan, Yogesh: 9798365706897: Amazon.com: Books

Website
www.believeinthetoothfairy.com
www.practicingjoy.net

Email
[email protected]
[email protected]

Social Media Platforms
LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/in/edie-higby-a14aa493/
Instagram Hook | @practicingjoy2day
Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/practicingjoy/
https://www.facebook.com/edie.higby/
https://www.facebook.com/thetoothfairycompany.BEILIEVE/

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

From Grief to Joy: My Journey of Resilience

Tragedy does not negate you from tragedy. I was no stranger to grief before I lost my brother. In 2002, just three days before Christmas, we lost my husband Shawn to an undiagnosed blood clot after a routine back surgery. Three days later, we buried him. In an instant, I was a widow, and became a single mother to our children, Ashley, 12, and Tony, 9. It was the first time in my life I had ever felt that kind of fear, and just so alone in the world, I remember being so absolutely terrified.

So you see, this Joy journey, this Happiness Health thing, is personal, and very serious business to me. And I refuse to live in fear.

The brutally beautiful thing that happens when something comes at you that you just didn’t see coming, is that no matter what life goes on. And you either have to find a way to move forward or you stay stuck. I think that is what helped me in business, and believing in big dreams. It’s like, no matter how many times I get turned down or a business deal doesn’t come to me the way that I had hoped, I am always like, “This is nothing, I’ve already been through some of the hardest things in life, I got this, onto the next… I can’t wait to see what God has in surprise for me.” Life had taught me to be fierce and to me, “No” just means not now or find a different way.

Losing Shawn was a long time ago but is such a big part of my story. The kids and I found our way back then and still today. There were days that were, and still are, incredibly hard. Grief never fully leaves you; it becomes a part of you. Losing my brother years later only deepened my understanding of sorrow, but it also reinforced something else: the power of love and finding Joy in the face of loss can be really healing. If you don’t believe in magic, you will never find it and I believe that the magic is in the micro moments of our experiences together, and our time together is the best gift.

Every day, I search for small moments of light, writing down three things I am grateful for, stepping outside to feel the sun on my face, breathing in fresh air, and surrounding myself with people who reminded me that love still exists, even in loss.

It wasn’t a sudden transformation but a practice, one of choosing Joy even when it felt impossible. I studied the science of happiness, explored mindfulness, and eventually built a life dedicated to helping others find their own pathways to healing. That’s how Practicing Joy was born, not just as a concept but as a way of life.

Resilience, I’ve learned, isn’t about avoiding pain. It’s about allowing yourself to feel, to break, and then to rebuild, stronger, wiser, and with an even greater capacity for love. Building and living a life of wellness, being fully present, and seeking daily delight, is my Hope, Prayer and Joyful expectation for my life. My journey hasn’t been easy, but it is the driving force behind everything that I do. It’s where the Practicing Joy Brand came from and I believe it is my purpose to share it with the world. Talking about tragedy and Joy, go hand and hand for me. And every day, I choose to keep Practicing Joy and living life InSPIRED.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

Unlearning Perfectionism: Life Doesn’t Have to Be Perfect to Be Wonderful

As a recovering perfectionist, I’ve learned the hard way that you will never accomplish anything if you stay trapped in the mindset of perfectionism. You might start a project, but you’ll never finish it—because in your mind, it could always be better.

Boy, was this a tough lesson, especially when working on something I was truly passionate about. I didn’t just want to create something good; I wanted it to be perfect. And that need for perfection kept me stuck. Looking back, I realize how many times I let “perfect” stop me from moving forward, from sharing my work, from simply doing the thing.

Unlearning perfectionism was one of life’s biggest lessons for me. It takes courage to make decisions, to put your work into the world, and to embrace the vulnerability of it not being flawless. Because that vulnerability, that’s where the magic happens. No one is perfect. And life doesn’t have to be perfect to be wonderful. Sometimes, we just have to take the leap, trust the process, and see where it leads us.

“What would life be if we had no courage to attempt anything?” – Vincent van Gogh

Now, instead of striving for perfection, I strive for progress. Perfection can paralyze you, and keep you stuck, just like fear. Instead of waiting for the “perfect” time, I just take advantage of every opportunity that comes my way with gratitude and trust that there is bigger purpose. Because Joy isn’t in the perfection. One of my favorite quotes is from William Shakespeare: “Things won are done, joy’s soul lies in the doing.”

We find Joy in the doing.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.practicingjoy.net
• Instagram: @practicingjoy2day
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/practicingjoy/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/edie-higby-a14aa493/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t7S6jKbBhhM
• Other: https://podcasts.apple.com/be/podcast/edie-higby-grandma-naccarato-the-splendors-of-italy/id1186940086?i=1000676164974https://www.instagram.com/kidliomag/p/C4MXAyoS8GC/https://issuu.com/ksomday/docs/scl183https://hub.exchangepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/5023890.pdfhttps://www.spokanejournal.com/articles/297-tooth-fairy-co-works-to-boost-oral-health-awareness