Advice, Thoughts & Inspiration from 1-800-Flowers.com Founder Jim McCann

Grandparents Day: Celebrating the Special Relationship Between Grandparents & Grandkids

Written by our Founder and CEO, our Celebrations Pulse letters aim to engage with our community. By welcoming your ideas and sharing your stories, we want to help you strengthen your relationships with the most important people in your life.

Every time I drive on Ocean Parkway, a road that crosses the south shore of Long Island, I think of my grandfather and taking the same route with him on our fishing trips many years ago. For a few seconds, the rush of excitement that I felt as a child returns to my now grown-up self.

In these moments, I wonder if he knew that I’d remember our summertime excursions decades later. Did he realize he was teaching life lessons or planting the seeds of a lifelong love of the water? Or was Grandpa’s grand plan just to spend time with me outside my universe of Queens, New York? It’s probably all the above.

As a grandfather now, I imagine that the joy I feel with my seven grandchildren is the same joy my grandpa felt with his. The grandparent-grandchild relationship is a special one that generates lifelong memories. And it’s a two-way gift: Grandparents and grandchildren both benefit when they spend time together. Whether it’s the grandparents being more physically active or the kids learning something new (that’s actually old), we all need to cherish these moments.

Especially today, Grandparents Day, because there is a lot to celebrate!

Lessons from our grandparents

Everyone lucky enough to have one or more grandparents in their lives growing up is likely to have a story to tell about their influence. The topic has come up repeatedly during Celebrations Chatter podcasts and conversations around the office.

A few weeks ago, I spoke with celebrity chef and restaurateur Tom Colicchio, and he shared memories of his grandparents. He told me that not only did his grandfather teach him how to fish, but also how to garden. In fact, in an interview with Wine Spectator, Tom said: “I get up in the morning at six. I’m out in the garden for two hours and then my day starts, and it’s just a much better day. It makes me so happy.”

What a special gift from his grandpa!

I also recently spoke with Oscar Munoz, the former CEO of United Airlines. He told me about how he was raised by his grandmother for about seven years when he was young, and that while she didn’t have a job or a home, the two of them traveled through Mexico, staying with various family members, and relying on their love and support.

My grandmother was always so bright and cheery and joyful, and sweet and giving. And she passed those values on to me. When I have faced issues and had to make tough decisions about certain things, those values come up, and it’s very much helped form my leadership style, which is one of outreach and of bridging gaps, listening, and learning. All of those came directly from her.

Hear more of my conversation with Oscar in this week’s Celebrations Chatter podcast.

My wife, Marylou, and I are so fortunate that all our kids and grandkids (ages 23 months to 14) live nearby because we get to see them a lot. We go to their sporting events, dance recitals, and social activities without any of the responsibility of getting them there. We just get to go and enjoy it. Marylou and I also do things with them individually and all these activities provide us with such special memories.

At our recent family reunion, for instance, our granddaughters Abby, 14, and Emma, 9, joined Marylou and me in the kitchen to make pizzas, chop lettuce, and get everything ready. It was great to talk about baking and food. It was even greater to catch up on their lives and hear their excitement for a new school year.

Recently, I took Abby to a corporate event in New York City. And what I remember most about that day is how it opened up the world for her. She met several women who are leaders in their fields. And during the ride on the train, she experienced for the first time someone reading a newspaper – me!

And Kurt, our 5-year-old grandson, loves to go fishing on the boat, like my grandfather and I did. I’m hoping these moments are impactful for them as I know they have been for me.

Sometimes I surprise them. One of my favorite memories involved taking them to a concert of one of my favorite bands. They weren’t expecting Coldplay! I guess they thought I was too old to appreciate a band that was outside my generation.

Ways to celebrate Grandparents Day

There are so many things you can do on Grandparents Day to show them your appreciation for how much they’ve shaped your life. Just the simple act of setting aside some time for them and letting them know you care has numerous benefits, for young and old alike. Tend to their yard or garden. Take them out to lunch, during which you can ask them to share stories of their youth. Send them a handwritten note if they’re far away.

As we get older and start to lose our grandparents, we recall them fondly, and the life lessons they taught us. On Grandparents Day, it’s important to remember them and all the memories they gave us, and, if you’re a grandparent now, aim to provide meaningful memories for your grandkids so that they can remember you lovingly as they get older.

All the best,

Jim

Celebrating Workers & Relationships on Labor Day

As Labor Day approaches, I’ve been thinking about all the jobs I’ve had over the years, the people who’ve guided me, and the lessons I’ve learned.

One of the first stops on my career journey involved running the St. John’s Home for Boys in Queens, New York. It sharpened my skills of persuasion as I helped the boys find summer jobs. I saw first-hand how work gave them a sense of purpose and taught them the value of money.

Though my job was to help the boys, they also guided me. One of them, Norman, was hired by a local hardware store that was owned by a man with a similar background. Norman honed his skills to help customers, and by the end of the summer, he had earned a promotion. Before long, a future revealed itself to Norman: He could now contemplate the possibilities for his life.

The story had such an impact on me that I’ve always encouraged my children to consider service jobs so that they could experience the relationships they create and the skills that they develop.

Relationships at work

As my career progressed, I learned a lot about the value of teamwork. Not long after buying my first flower shop, I learned that working together is far more powerful than someone toiling alone. Our success – especially during the Valentine’s Day and Mother’s Day seasons – would have been impossible without the clerks, drivers, and other employees.

Each member of a team holds a valuable place in the company. Think about all the people you work with, and just imagine if one member of the team was suddenly missing, and how that would affect all the other team members.

This Labor Day week, take a moment to reach out to those you work with. Let them know – whether it’s in person or via email or text – how much they mean to you and how much you appreciate all that they do at work and beyond. When you use your power of connection, you will make their day – and yours.

A labor of love and salad

I recently visited our facilities in Melrose Park, Illinois, where several of our brands – Simply Chocolate, 1-800-Baskets, The Popcorn Factory, and DesignPac – are based. It’s always fascinating to see the teamwork that takes place in the offices, warehouses, and kitchens of our brands.

This time, however, I was most struck by what was happening in the breakroom. My visit was on a Wednesday that coincided with the team’s potluck salad bar. Once a month for nearly a decade, employees bring lettuce, dressings, and other fixings to enjoy a healthy meal together.

Bob Nathan, who organizes the events, shared a bit of the history:

Nearly 10 years ago, three of us thought that we should try setting up a salad bar in the kitchen, where anyone interested would bring an appropriate item. We set up a sign-up sheet and it was a big success. A couple of months later, everyone was asking when we would do it again… so we did!

After another couple months, due to popular demand, I decided to assume the responsibility as the organizer and coordinator.  Like any other Melrose Park success, it takes a village!

Thank you, Bob, for organizing Salad Wednesdays and inspiring all of us!

If you’d like to try it at your company, here is a link to the signs and sign-up forms Bob and the team have created for their event. It works for both large and small companies. To keep group sizes small, larger ones might consider having individual departments invite another team that they do not work with every day. We’ll even try assigned seating to give people an opportunity to get to know one another.

Let us know when you try your own version of Salad Wednesdays – or what similar activities employees have organized at your businesses. I’ll share your stories in an upcoming Celebrations Pulse.

More than a paycheck

Over the years, I’ve learned that work is more than a paycheck and more than “something to do” between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. It’s a chance to express yourself, learn new skills, and build relationships with people you’d otherwise never meet.

It’s one of the reasons that we started Smile Farms, which helps people with disabilities find meaningful work in agriculture and hospitality. Historically, they have struggled in the job market and have not been given an opportunity to enjoy everything employment has to offer.

It’s often said that our jobs form a major part of our identity, but it’s not just the work that makes us. It’s also the relationships we build in the workplace and how we choose to maintain them.

Lessons from our grandparents

Next Sunday, Sept. 10, is Grandparents Day. If you’re lucky enough to still have a grandma or grandpa, it’s a great opportunity to reach out and show your appreciation for everything they’ve done for you over the years. If you’ve lost your grandparents, it’s a time to remember them and share stories with your family and friends.

My grandmother, Margaret McCann, is a legend in our family. When her husband died unexpectedly in 1949, she took over his painting business while my 22-year-old dad learned the ropes. He was the public face of the company, but it was Margaret who knew how to price products and services, write up estimates, and manage the budgets.

The story of her keeping the family business alive has stuck with me and my siblings over the years and helped inspire me to build my own business.

How have your grandparents inspired you in life? Share your story with us for a chance to be included in next Sunday’s Celebrations Pulse.

All the best,

Jim

The Importance of Grief Awareness

Most of us experience grief at some point in our lives. It could be the result of the loss of a friend or family member. Or a divorce, the loss of a job, or the death of a pet.

You might feel empty or numb, as if in shock. Your body might tremble and feel weak. Amid feelings of sadness and sorrow, you might have trouble eating and sleeping. These are all part of the various stages of grief. Above all, it’s a profound sense of loss and knowing what’s missing will never return.

Given that grief is a universal experience, it might seem unnecessary to have a day dedicated to the awareness of the emotion. But Wednesday is National Grief Awareness Day, which organizers say is a time to reflect on the pain suffered by the grieving and ways they can be supported.

I believe the importance of the day, which falls on Aug. 30 each year, can’t be understated. Grief encompasses a variety of emotions, and people react to it in different ways. If there’s a time people need help, it’s in their time of grief. Yet many struggle to help, not knowing what to say – or saying the wrong thing – or how to act.

Helping someone who is grieving

Grief can be one of the most difficult emotions to deal with, both privately and publicly, says Rebecca Soffer, an author and co-founder of Modern Loss, an online community of people who help each other grieve. Rebecca, who also hosts our Light After Loss events on Facebook, says the best way to deal with grief is to acknowledge it.

Grieving people are fully aware that their presence might be weird for many people around them, and many are nervous about being the ‘buzz kill’ in any setting, especially a festive one. It’s OK to acknowledge to them out loud that the topic is awkward for you: Just naming the elephant in the room can be incredibly powerful. – Rebecca Soffer.

The first step of reaching out is often the most difficult. Fear of saying the wrong thing often holds us back.

I consulted with Dr. Chloe Carmichael, a clinical psychologist and member of our Connectivity Council for advice. She recommends a technique called “narrating the experience,” wherein we take our internal experience surrounding the uncertainty and put it into words.

Here’s an example in a text message:

Hi, I just wanted to check in and let you know that I’m thinking of you. I wasn’t sure if I should reach out because I know it’s such a personal time, but I still wanted to let you know I’m thinking of you and if you want to talk, I’m here for you.

This approach communicates to the bereaved that you’re aware that people process grief in different ways and you’re not trying to shape their process. It also makes room for the fact that they may or may not want to talk about it.

And if they do? “Consider just hitting the dial button on the phone,” Dr. Chloe says. Reflective listening – the act of simply repeating back what someone says – is a great approach to take here. It shows the person that you’re listening which actually stimulates them to share more.

More ideas for support

Our Connectivity Council provided additional ideas for extending a helping hand to someone who is grieving:

Find the right support is important

Navigating loss is never easy, and everyone will have a different reaction to it. Some people will find therapy and support groups helpful, while others will prefer grieving with just a few close friends. Working through grief could also involve taking up new hobbies, like art or writing.

It’s within our power to make a difference when someone is grieving and let them know – in big ways or small – that they are not alone in their moment of despair.

All the best,
Jim

Dog Days: Unleashing the Joy of Celebrating Our Furry Friends

The “Happy Birthday!” banner was hung with care above a cake surrounded by chips, popcorn, and cookies. Dozens of guests passed a stack of gifts as the first song of a carefully curated playlist sounded from the speakers.

“Who let the dogs out? Who, who, who, who, who?”

A few weeks ago, employees at our Long Island headquarters celebrated the first birthday of Sox, the McCann family’s service dog-in-training (more about him below). Everyone had a great time during the party, and the extremely well-behaved guest of honor lapped it all up with gusto.

The party exceeded all expectations. The very happy pup loved his snacks and gifts, which were selected by the team that oversees our Max & Milo collection. And all the humans in the crowd got a chance to connect with their co-workers. Topics of conversation included the dogs they grew up with, their current canines, and other pet stories.

We like to celebrate everything at 1-800-Flowers.com, from birthdays and years of service to holidays big and small. Sox’s party, however, was the first time we came together to fete a four-legged friend. Then again, we never had a dog to celebrate!

Reasons to celebrate your dog

With National Dog Day next Saturday, it’s a great time to be thinking about the importance of dogs and why it’s important to celebrate them, whether it’s on their birthday, adoption anniversary, or any other milestone.

First, dogs are often called our best friends for a reason. Their adoration is never questioned, and their companionship and love are unconditional. No matter how difficult a day you’ve had, your furry friend will be there for you.

Second, they play a critical role in our social lives. As we saw at Sox’s birthday party, dog owners have an automatic conversation starter with other dog owners. You’ll always have something to talk about, whether it’s Fido’s unique personality or his latest stunt.

Third, dogs and other pets play a critical role in our well-being. Research shows people with pets tend to be less lonely, get more exercise, and have lower blood pressure than those without four-legged companions. All the social interaction pays off: Dog owners have less stress, better moods, and less heart disease.

Giving is the gift, even for canines

Do dogs care about what’s happening at a party? Do they understand what Christmas is or that it’s their birthday? No. But, they like to be included in the things we’re doing, and if they see you giving a gift to someone else and see the happy reaction, they’re primed to enjoy it if you give something to them as well.

“It helps them feel part of the family.” – Dr. Zazie Todd, animal behaviorist and author of the blog Companion Animal Psychology.

And while toys and snacks are great ideas for dog gifts, giving the gift of your time and company is just as important as what you give.

“Pets love the things we give them and being there to see them enjoy them brings us closer to them. We get to share that experience with them and see the happiness it brings them. Positive experiences like that are good for their welfare, and it builds a better bond between you.” – Dr. Todd.

It’s also important to remember that giving, whether to your children, your friends, or your pets, is a two-way street. Research shows that giving your pet – or anyone, actually – a gift lifts your mood as well. I know it certainly lifted our family’s mood watching Sox play with all his new toys for his birthday.

“When you give a gift to your dog, it’s sort of pure. You just assume the dog is going to like it, you feel relaxed, the dog senses that you’re relaxed, and the interaction is loving,” – Dr. Ellen Langer, professor of psychology, Harvard University.

Sox: A very special pup

Last year, I was visiting with John Miller, a friend who was an executive at the health technology company Medtronic. He told me about Canine Companions, an organization that trains service dogs and then gives them away for free to veterans and people with disabilities.

I immediately wanted to share Canine Companions’ story and do more to bring awareness to the role of service dogs in helping people live more independent lives. It was also a chance for this grandpa to bring his grandkids (and Celebrations Pulse readers) into the mix.

And so, we adopted a service dog.

Sox was born a year ago and named by our grandchildren with the help of the millions of readers of this letter. His puppy raiser, Brooke, has been providing updates, and the black Lab/Golden Retriever mix has become a cause célèbre at our office in Jericho, New York.

During the party, we got an update on his progress and got to see first-hand his exceptional behavior. He sat patiently (despite the doggie cake) until Brooke gave him permission to dig in.

Sox will continue his basic training with Brooke for about six more months when he’ll graduate to an academy, where he’ll receive advanced training and, hopefully, will be matched with someone in need of his assistance.

Sox has a long journey ahead, and I’m looking forward to updating you on his progress. In the meantime, we’ll celebrate every step of the way.

All the best,

Jim

Cherishing Back-to-School Memories

Last weekend, my family gathered on Long Island for our annual family reunion. It was a chance to catch up, share memories and create new ones, and talk about what’s on the horizon for each of the individual families that make up our clan.

The youngest among us seemed to have the most to talk about. In just a few weeks, they’ll be starting a new school year, and the freedom of summer will quickly become the more regimented schedules of fall, winter, and spring.

Was there a tinge of sadness? Absolutely! But there was also excitement as they talked about reuniting with friends, tackling new sports, and taking on new classes with new teachers. The mixed emotions were also abundant for the parents and grandparents who are astonished at how quickly time passes.

The change of seasons is a reminder to make the most of the time you have with your little ones. Rather than dread the back-to-school shopping and other rituals, use them as an opportunity to strengthen your relationship with your children. Talk to them about what excites or worries them. Share stories about how you overcame similar concerns when growing up.

Sailing into kindergarten

A big topic of the McCann reunion was my son James’ child, Kurt (or Kurty as his 20-month-old little sister calls him). Later this month, he is taking the first step in his academic journey as he starts kindergarten.

Like all parents with soon-to-be kindergartners, James is feeling mixed emotions. On the one hand, he can’t believe how quickly five years have passed. It seems like only yesterday that he and his wife were bringing the little guy home from the hospital. On the other hand, James is excited to see what the future holds for his son.

James took advantage of the warm, dry weather during the reunion to take all the kids (and this grandpa) on a fishing trip. I loved sitting back and watching my son cherish the time he has with his son in the last weeks of summer.

I also couldn’t help but notice that if there was a skipper of the cruise, it was Kurt. He’s been on so many fishing trips, he’s already an old salt when it comes to the sea, whether it’s reeling in the fish or making sure everyone is having a good time aboard. I don’t think he’s going to have any trouble navigating kindergarten and beyond!

New grades, new adventures

For parents, the start of the school year is like prepping for a big game. First, it’s clothes shopping, maybe new shoes and a new backpack, and those crucial supplies. Then there’s the early ringing of alarm clocks, signifying game time. Those pesky alarms are a sure sign that the days of sleeping in are over.

The start of school means guiding your children through the process of shifting gears into a new academic year. Parents have rituals of their own this time of year, from getting the kids in the right mindset to driving them to stores and reconfiguring their schedules for after-school clubs, practices, games, theater rehearsals, and weekend recitals.

And for parents with college-age kids, school takes on an entirely new aspect. Last year, we talked to our team member Matt who was sending his son to college for the first time. He spoke about seeing his son starting down a new pathway as an adult, ready to tackle everything that life will bring to him, throw at him, and amaze him.

I checked in with Matt last week to see how he’s doing. He reported that the first year went extremely well and his son came home for the summer and looking forward to returning to campus. Matt and his wife also reported that his son’s new social circle has expanded their circle of friends, too. Mom and Dad hosted their son’s roommates and regularly chat with their parents.

As the new school year starts, Matt says there are tinges of sadness at another departure, but he’s glad that he could spend another summer with his son.

Treasure every moment

I can relate to what Matt’s going through. Marylou and I had our own experience with becoming empty nesters. Now, when August comes, we watch our kids pick up the annual rituals that we passed down to them for back-to-school. As grandparents, we do our part to help – and admire how our children have become fantastic parents. We couldn’t be prouder of them!

It’s easy to get caught up in our busy lives and forget that every moment we spend with our children, while they are in our nests, should be cherished.

All the best,

Jim

Celebrating Family at Summer’s End

Just a few days ago, I was on the phone with Yanique Woodall, a good friend who once led communications at 1-800-Flowers.com and is now vice president of communications and customer service at CVS Health. We were catching up on old times when she hit me with some startling news: In Atlanta, where she now lives, school started last week!

Where did the summer go?

For families like Yanique’s, the stretch of barbecues, pool parties, and beach outings are already being replaced by the rumbling roar of school buses. For others, there are just a few more weeks before school resumes amid falling leaves and all things pumpkin.

We can be sad about summer’s end, or we can choose to make the most of what remains. I suggest we use this time as an opportunity to focus on our relationships. As Connectivity Council member Dr. George Everly says, we should nurture the relationships we have, rekindle relationships we’ve lost, and create relationships we wish we had.

Where do you start? If you look at the calendar, you’ll see that today is Sisters Day, and National Son & Daughter Day is Friday, Aug. 11. These may be minor occasions but are important reminders: Before the kids return to school, and fall is in full swing, let’s focus on our family relationships.

If you’re lucky to have a sibling who is a sister (like me) or have a son or daughter (also like me), use these days to reach out to them and let them know what they mean to you. And if you’re on the receiving end of such a conversation, turn the table and share the same feelings.

Celebrating family on the road

August’s two family-focused occasions coincide for many with the time many families take their annual road trip to a campground, amusement park, or another place that’s not home.

When I was a kid, my parents and siblings (seven of us in all!) piled into a car and drove somewhere, often a rented cabin or a house in Upstate New York. We had boisterous debates over who got to control the AM radio.

Today, family road trips are likely to be much quieter, with everyone in silence holding a device plugged into headphones. I have a recommendation: Ask everyone to pack their phones and keep them in the trunk. The car radio? Say it’s broken, as my dad once claimed.

There might be some complaints or moments of awkward silence. But just come armed with some simple conversation starters like, “What have you enjoyed most about summer so far?” or “What are you looking forward to most when school starts?” Looking for something less seasonal? How about: “If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?”

With no distractions and some luck, the conversation will start, time will fly, and you’ll have a stronger connection with your family at the end of the trip. And everyone will forget to ask, “Are we there yet?”

The season of family reunions

The endpoint of many road trips is often the annual family reunion. Many are quick to joke about having to listen to the loudmouth uncle or being forced to eat your aunt’s dry macaroni salad. But this tradition is worth maintaining for a simple reason: They provide a great opportunity to reminisce over old memories and create new ones, especially if you’re meeting relatives for the first time.

Outside a holiday feast, family reunions are the best chance to strengthen the all-important community that is your kin. Sure, you might have political differences, judgmental in-laws, or over-imbibing cousins. But all those can be overcome if you devise a plan for redirecting difficult conversations or encounters.

Your plan could include a selection of cooperative games that require everyone to work together to win. One of my favorites is a jigsaw puzzle made of an old family photo (perhaps from a reunion past) or a more traditional game like Jenga.

If your family does not have a reunion scheduled, it’s never too late to begin arranging one. Once you’ve set a date and location, begin sending the invitations and writing down your plan. If distance prevents relatives from attending, open your pandemic playbook and have virtual visits.

Let’s make the most of what remains of summer!

All the best,

Jim

Celebrating Friendships on International Friendship Day

Written by our Founder and CEO, our Celebrations Pulse Sunday Letters aim to engage with our community. By welcoming your ideas and sharing your stories, we want to help you strengthen your relationships with the most important people in your life.

Today is the International Day of Friendship, an occasion that reminds us of the important role friends play in our well-being – and society’s.

Last week, I shared research that showed how having friends benefits our physical and mental health. The International Day of Friendship goes a step further. Established by the United Nations in 2011, it was created to celebrate friendship not just between people but also countries.

In fact, there is a link between personal friendships and national ones. Relationships between countries are forged on the connections of their people. And like personal friendships, these relationships mutually benefit everyone involved.

Personal friendship, however, is a rare commodity these days. In the United States, we’re experiencing an epidemic of loneliness. We’ve written in the past about how men have trouble forging bonds with other men. Without friends, we’re less happy individually and as a community.

Last week’s Celebrations Pulse challenged you to use the past week to tune up your friendships. The six-day Friendship Challenge offered ideas to reach out, make connections, and celebrate your friends. We invited everyone in the community to share the results.

Taking the Friendship Challenge

Within minutes of sending last week’s letter, we were deluged with stories from readers who shared testimonials of the friends in their lives. Here are a few of my favorites.

35 years of friendship and counting

Lanie told us about Kim, her friend of over 35 years. Residents of a small town, they both found boyfriends with a common passion – and it brought future generations together.

Our boyfriends chose to start riding bulls at the same time. We both thought they were crazy, but out of that moment, a friendship bloomed. Our lives were never the same after that. Our boyfriends became our husbands, and we’re both still married to them for over 30 years. Our children grew up together, and now our grandchildren are becoming friends. We have shared many ups and downs, and loss and laughs.

Supportive friends

Sheri, a community member from Texas, told us about how her friends helped her during tough times in her life.

My daddy passed away in February 2023, and my friends were front and center, offering so much support. Whether it was sending gift cards, sending food, or just being there at my side, they all came through for me. They know how much my daddy meant to me.

In April 2023, those friendship bonds were put to the test again. I ended up being admitted to the hospital, and I was told that I almost died. My friends were there once again for me. They would come and sit with me in the hospital, and they would bring me food and beverages from my favorite restaurant. It was during those times I found out how much they really did care about me, and how much they love me.

Fun through the years

Laura shared how common interests in elementary school evolved over the years with Jessica, her best friend since the fifth grade. The two shared fun times with Pokémon, Dance Dance Revolution, and other arcade games. Jessica moved in middle school and the two went their separate ways – or so it seemed.

Fate intervened in 8th grade when our schools both met at Cedar Point amusement park in Sandusky, Ohio, on the exact same day for field trips. I was ecstatic knowing Jessica was going to be there.

Our friendship continued through high school. We even went to each other’s proms together. After graduating high school, our friendship has stood the test of time and after 20 years, it is still going strong!

These are just a few of the emails, and I’ll be sharing more in the near future. In the meantime, it’s not too late to use your power and cultivate both new and old friendships. You and your friends will be better for it – and so will the world.

All the best,

Jim

Celebrating the Gift of Friendship

What’s the secret to a happy life? Study after study show it’s not wealth, educational status, or achievements at work. The key, researchers found, is the strength of our connections with other people: Those with more friends lead happier lives.

Harvard University researchers have been tracking thousands of people since 1938. In what’s believed to be the largest such study ever. Generation after generation, participants with the strongest relationships reported greater happiness than those with fewer friends.

The researchers also found that taking care of your health is another important factor, although it’s not as important. But other studies have uncovered that good health is also related to the depth and breadth of a person’s social circles.

According to the National Institutes of Health, strong social ties are linked to better health outcomes and longer life. Social relationships contribute to reduced stress and heart-related risks, and might even improve your ability to fight off germs. At the very least, friendships can help provide you with a more positive outlook on life.

Giving the gift of friendship

It’s a blessing to have friends who will be there for you at a moment’s notice. And inversely, friends that we help when they call upon us. Friends are there in good times and bad. They are true gifts, giving to us when we need them most.

Because life can get away from us, or distance between us, friendships may wane, and our other priorities in life may cause us to take friendships for granted.

Next Sunday, July 30, is the International Day of Friendship, which serves as a reminder of the significance of friendship. It provides a reason to reach out to as many friends as possible, and in the process, strengthen your relationships and increase your overall happiness.

Introducing the Friendship Challenge

Cultivating a friendship isn’t hard. It just takes intent and time. In our busy lives, it’s too easy to put off a phone call, email, or a lunch to reconnect and check in with friends. That’s why we’ve put together the 1-800-Flowers.com Friendship Challenge. This six-day challenge is a fun and easy way to use your power of connection to rekindle or strengthen all your friendships.

Talk Tuesday

On Tuesday, post a photo on Facebook, Instagram, Threads, or wherever you connect with your friends on social media, and challenge someone else to do the same. Share a story of how a friend helped you when you were in need, or how you helped one of your friends. Talk about how good it made both of you feel.

Consider this a version of pay-it-forward. When others see you taking the time to share a story about a friend you helped, or thanking a friend who helped you, they might just feel the urge to do the same.

Wise Friends Wednesday

Today, post your favorite quote about friendship and tag your friends. Challenge them to do the same with their favorite friendship quote.

Why is this important? Motivational quotes have a way of succinctly conveying wisdom in a clever way. The National Institutes of Health even conducted a study about how motivational quotes help those with low self-esteem or have chronic illnesses.

Throwback Thursday

On Thursday, find and post an image of you and your friend enjoying an activity from your past. It could be a candid moment from a high school or college activity, a weekend trip, or a memorable party. Just pick something that’ll elicit some surprise reactions – in a good way of course!

Most social media platforms provide “memories” for anniversaries of posts you created years ago, helping you to find images much easier. One of the many ways we retain friendships is through special moments we share from our past, so this is a great way to relive a memory with a dear friend.

Fab Friend Friday

On the fourth day of the Friendship Challenge, share a photo of you and your best friend. Maybe one you’ve held close through the years, or one you met as an adult, or a best friend from the office.

If you just have one best friend, consider yourself lucky. Sometimes that’s all you need. Others may have variations on their best friend. Regardless of how the person became your best friend, celebrate the gift of their friendship on Friday and let them know what they mean to you.

Send a Smile Saturday

Today’s the day to reconnect with friends you miss. Surprise them with an e-card or another gesture that shows you’re thinking of them.

All too often, we can be reluctant to tell someone how much we miss them. It’s nice to take the opportunity to let them know that we’re thinking about them, and that there’s a gap in our lives because we haven’t seen them in a long time. Reaching out and telling someone you miss them, might prompt a reunion!

International Friendship Day

Sunday is International Friendship Day! Tell us how you’ve reconnected with a friend, whether it’s someone you haven’t seen for some time and that you miss, or a friend from work who makes every day brighter for you. In next week’s Celebrations Pulse, we will share back your stories about friendship to help celebrate International Friendship Day.

Remember that hearing from you just might make their day. Don’t be afraid to reach out, even if it’s been a while. One of the gifts of friendships is that they only go away if you don’t cultivate them.

All the best,

Jim

Using Technology to Strengthen Relationships

Summer is traditionally a time to enjoy swimming parties, backyard barbeques, and family reunions. This year, it’s also time to figure out what in the world is going on with technology – and how it might help or hurt our relationships with each other.

Better or worse, technology plays an essential and growing role in our lives, especially our relationships. It’s been credited with bringing us closer together and blasted for pulling us apart.

The debate has only grown hotter this summer. Everyone is talking about the future of AI after ChatGPT gained 100 million users in just two months. Then, Meta launched Threads, a social media platform that attracted 100 million subscribers in five days. And let’s not forget Apple, which previewed an augmented reality headset that promises to change nothing less than how we see the world.

An argument for optimism

The latest innovations, like all tech, can be detrimental to our relationships. A bot like ChatGPT can disrupt our jobs, oversimplify expression, and even dull our sense of critical thinking. Social media can distract us and steal minutes (or hours) of our attention, which may cause mental strife. And virtual reality can remove us from the real world entirely.

But I’m an optimist who looks for ways in which these tools can help strengthen our relationships. ChatGPT can give us the right words when we’re drawing a blank. Social platforms can keep us connected regardless of distance. And virtual reality can add depth to our relationships when it’s designed to augment rather than replace reality.

My optimism is rooted in history. 1-800-Flowers.com has been confronted with new technology since its earliest days. We made decisions based on how each innovation might help or hurt our relationships with customers and their relationships with each other.

In the 1980s, we embraced the toll-free phone number to build (and name!) a national flower delivery service. In the 1990s, we pioneered online shopping over less connected tech like CD-ROMs. And since the start of the new millennium, we jumped into mobile, content, social media, and more. As a business, each tool allowed us to sell gifts in new ways. More importantly, they deepened relationships and helped us do more than sell products; now, we’re building a community of gift givers.

Introducing AI

This summer, we’re seeing a flurry of new innovations, and AI is at the top of our list. The latest form – generative artificial intelligence using large language models – allows you to ask questions and get answers as if they were written by the smartest person in the world.

We immediately recognized that ChatGPT could be leveraged to help people express themselves. For Mother’s Day, we launched the 1-800-Flowers.com MomVerse, which instantly created a song or poem based on your mother’s interests. For Father’s Day, we turned it on dad jokes. Tens of thousands of you used this service to see what AI can do – and express yourself to your parents.

Because we had so much success, and because many of you told us how much you enjoyed interacting with ChatGPT, we’re planning to update it for other occasions in the future.

The fourth industrial revolution

Message generation is just at the tip of the AI iceberg. I recently had serial entrepreneur and New York Times best-selling author Dave Kerpen on my “Celebrations Chatter” podcast. Dave is best known for writing books on new technologies in their infancy. He’s also the co-founder and co-CEO of Apprentice, a platform that connects entrepreneurs with the brightest college students to help address the biggest business challenges of the day.

Dave explains that we’ve seen other technological innovations develop the same way. “Before Facebook, there was Myspace, Friendster, and other social networks, but it was Facebook that really built the product that changed everything and got social networking to a point where it reached critical mass.

“I definitely think generative AI is bigger than social media, and I would put it right up there with the Industrial Revolution, and the Internet,” Dave continues. “In fact, many people are calling the advancement of AI the fourth industrial revolution.”

As for relationships, Dave points to how his company is using AI to improve how people listen to each other, which is key to better relationships.

Most of us think we’re pretty good listeners, but sometimes we’re not actually listening; we’re waiting to talk. When we focus on better listening and not thinking about what you’re gonna say next, you’re really hearing them and mirroring and validating them. That’s a skill that changed everything in my relationships.

Dave thinks tools like ChatGPT can help. In fact, salespeople at Dave’s company use an AI-based training tool that records conversations and then analyzes them to determine whether the employees were really listening to what the other person had to say. It then offers advice on how to be even more engaging and thoughtful in future conversations.

It’s clear that AI technology has the potential to change the world and, in the process, strengthen our relationships. Looking back on our history, we felt the same way about AI that we did with toll-free phone numbers, the Internet, and smartphones. We’re proud of our history of guiding people into the future. And we don’t want our company – or our customers – to miss out on what’s next and what’s possible.

All the best,

Jim

Lessons from our grandparents

Sharing the love of grandparenting

Ways to celebrate Grandparents Day

Relationships at work

A labor of love and salad

More than a paycheck

Lessons from our grandparents

Helping someone who is grieving

More ideas for support

Find the right support is important

Reasons to celebrate your dog

Giving is the gift, even for canines

Sox: A very special pup

Sailing into kindergarten

Treasure every moment

Celebrating family on the road

The season of family reunions

Taking the Friendship Challenge

35 years of friendship and counting

Supportive friends

Fun through the years

Giving the gift of friendship

Introducing the Friendship Challenge

Talk Tuesday

Wise Friends Wednesday

Throwback Thursday

Fab Friend Friday

Send a Smile Saturday

International Friendship Day

An argument for optimism

Introducing AI

The fourth industrial revolution