One Year Later

One year ago today, we picked up our very first batch of Calmily pillows preparing for a loud 3hour drive home.

I remember loading them into the truck and feeling equal parts excited and terrified. There was no warehouse, no large team, and certainly no guarantee that this idea would resonate with anyone outside the families I had worked with over the years. There were simply boxes of pillows, a dining room that would soon become a packing station, and a belief that had been growing throughout my nearly twenty years as a pediatric physical therapist: the body needs support before anything else can follow.

Long before Calmily existed, I spent my days helping children and families navigate challenges related to movement, regulation, sleep, attention, and sensory processing. Again and again, I found myself coming back to the same realization. We spend so much time focusing on what we can see behavior, emotions, focus, transitions that we sometimes miss what the body is asking for underneath. That idea eventually became Calmily. Not because I set out to invent a product, but because I kept wishing there was something that fit real life better. Families loved the calming effect of deep pressure, but weighted blankets weren't always practical. I wanted something people could use while reading on the couch, doing homework, traveling, recovering, or winding down after a long day.

What I didn't know when we picked up that first batch was whether anyone else would understand it too. The first few orders came in quietly, and then the messages started arriving. Those messages have become one of my favorite parts of this journey because they aren't really about a pillow they're about people. One parent shared that her daughter, who usually struggles to settle while camping, fell asleep within minutes using her Calmily after trying unsuccessfully for nearly an hour. Another family joked that there was a "silent stealing war" happening in their house because everyone wanted to use it. Adults surprised me the most. Over and over, I heard from people who didn't realize how much their bodies benefited from deep pressure until they experienced it in a way that felt practical and comfortable. Those stories reminded me that regulation isn't a child issue. It's a human issue.

Then came a moment that changed everything for Calmily.

In July, I had the opportunity to share the Calmily story on SiriusXM's Highway Hustlers with Cody Alan and Lauryn Snapp. As a small business owner from rural New York, being invited onto a national radio show felt surreal. I went into the interview simply hoping to share what I've spent years learning as a therapist: that regulation starts in the body and that supporting a nervous system doesn't have to be complicated.

What happened next caught me completely off guard.

Thousands of people visited the website. Messages poured in from parents, therapists, educators, healthcare professionals, and adults across the country. The interview was replayed because of the response it received, and even weeks later, I continue to hear from people who discovered Calmily through SiriusXM. The attention was exciting, but what meant the most was seeing how many people immediately understood the mission. They understood that Calmily isn't really about a pillow. It's about listening to what our bodies are asking for and giving ourselves permission to respond. For a business that started with a small batch of pillows and a big belief, that moment was incredibly meaningful.

Another highlight this year was partnering with Maxwell Farms Lavender Fields.  One of the unexpected gifts of building Calmily has been connecting with other small businesses that care deeply about helping people feel their best. Pairing Calmily with Maxwell Farms' locally made lavender products felt like a natural fit because both businesses were built around the same idea: helping people slow down, rest, and care for themselves in simple, practical ways.

As I look back on this first year, it's easy to point to the milestones the media features, the SiriusXM interview, the partnerships, the growth but those aren't the things I'll remember most. I'll remember the parent who finally found something that helped. The therapist who recommended Calmily to a family. The adult who realized support wasn't something they had to outgrow. The family who packed it for every vacation because they didn't want to leave home without it. Those are the moments that stay with me because they represent real people, real lives, and real change happening in everyday moments.

There have been plenty of times this year where I've had no idea what I was doing. I've learned about manufacturing, shipping, websites, trademarks, media interviews, and more than I ever expected to know about packing boxes. I've celebrated wins, made mistakes, changed plans, and learned as I went. Through all of it, one thing has stayed remarkably clear. The mission hasn't changed. I still believe the body deserves support first. I still believe that regulation isn't something we force; it's something we support. And I still believe that when people understand what their bodies are asking for, everything gets a little easier.

One year ago, we picked up a small batch of pillows and hoped they would help a few families. Today, Calmily has found its way into homes across the country. That's more than I ever could have imagined. Whether you've been here since the beginning, discovered Calmily through SiriusXM, met us at an event, or are just finding us now, thank you for being part of this story. The first year has been incredible, and I have a feeling the second one is going to be even better.

— Libby