Laura Distin

Has cancer touched your life or someone you love?

As a Student Visionary Candidate, our daughter has been working to raise funds for Blood Cancer United, and she is just short of reaching her fundraising goal. Watching her step outside her comfort zone to advocate for families affected by blood cancers has been incredibly meaningful for our family.

I would love to show her what happens when people come together — when a community shows up united for something bigger than themselves.

If you’ve been impacted by cancer in any way and feel moved to help, we would be deeply grateful for your support today. Every contribution brings her one step closer to her goal and helps fund critical support and research for those affected.

👉 https://pages.lls.org/svoy/ga/svoyatlanta26/pdistin

Thank you for helping us show her the power of people showing up for one another.

Phoebe's Student Visionaries of the Year Fundraiser Visionaries look to the future—and see infinite possibility. They challenge the status quo—and make the impossible possible. They boldly imagine a better world – and lead the charge to create it. Blood Cancer United was built on that same vision - of a better world - one without blood cancers....

Marketing explains. Storytelling connects.
Link in my bio, and in my story, for this Part 1 of 2 blog series to get you thinking differently in 2026.

Throwback to my little retail shop — a dream built with heart, late nights, and a whole lot of belief in community. ✨
We create these spaces for you. For the community we love, for the chance to serve, and for the joy that comes every time someone walks through the door.
And not to mention — it’s important for us as humans to hold on to the tactile, sensory magic of shopping in a real store. The smells, the music, the textures, the way each item is displayed with intention… it awakens something in us that online shopping simply can’t replicate.
When you shop small, you’re doing more than buying a product — you’re validating someone’s idea, supporting their courage, and strengthening your own community. Small business owners pour their time, talent, and heart into creating spaces meant to make your world a little brighter.
So this season, if you can, step into that local shop, say hello, and choose small. It matters more than you know. 🖤✨

🎸 To artists who loathe social media:
I get it. The pressure to post, share, engage… it can feel like a second job — and not the fun kind..
Back in the day it really was a grind. Up-and-coming bands spent days driving from venue to venue, sleeping in vans, knocking on doors, charming house managers, hoping the headliner didn’t show so they could step in and play. Doors slammed in their faces. Nights went by wondering if anyone would ever notice them. The hustle was relentless, exhausting, and often invisible.
Now? It’s loud out there. Everyone and anyone can make content. The noise is overwhelming. But here’s the thing: you can reach people from wherever you are, connect directly with your fans, and show your work on your own terms. I want you to learn to embrace it in a positive way — it actually puts so much more control back into your hands as an artist.
You get to choose what’s important. You get to decide how and when to show up. And compared to the bands back in the day, it can actually save you time — because you’re being more intentional than ever instead of taking shots in the dark.
Pros and cons? Of course. But perspective matters. What feels like pressure is also an opportunity: to be seen, to grow your audience, and to build your story without waiting for a venue to take a chance on you.
Your art deserves an audience — and today, social media is your new stage.
📸 by me