Though social media wasn’t around for most of her years, Beverly always knew everything happening in town. People knew her from church, Associated Gift—the store she ran on the Boulevard in Hasbrouck Heights, NJ for many years—or from various town activities. Even after she retired, trips to the grocery store would turn into social events, with multiple people eager to catch up with her.

She never had a bad word to say about anyone. She always saw the good in people and wore a constant smile. Her life was a testament to the power of positivity and connection.

I always knew I wanted to use “Mirth & Joy” for a project someday. I even purchased the domain while still in college, saving it for the right time.

When I started my business at the end of 2022, choosing the name for my LLC was the easiest part. Mirth and Joy encapsulated everything I wanted to bring into the world through my work.

In managing social media for small towns, my goal is to infuse Beverly’s spirit into every community I work with. Social media often gets a bad rap for fostering negativity and division, but I see it as a tool to promote kindness, joy, and warmth. I want to encourage people to know their neighbors, support local businesses, and engage positively with their community.

With Mirth and Joy, I aim to do away with the negativity, the keyboard warriors, and the divisiveness. Instead, I want to highlight the good, the uplifting stories, and the local heroes. I want to create a space where community members can interact, share, and celebrate each other, not just passively scroll through their feeds.

By bringing Beverly’s mantra to social media, my goal is to honor her legacy by creating vibrant, connected, and supportive small towns, both online and offline. Let’s get outside, interact, and become active participants in our communities. After all, a connected community is a happy community, filled with mirth and joy.