2025: A Year of Wins, Lessons, and Looking Ahead

2025: A Year of Wins, Lessons, and Looking Ahead

As 2025 comes to a close, I find myself reflecting on a year that brought both challenges and incredible victories. It has been a year of growth, resilience, and stepping more fully into what Make Love Your Compass® is meant to be.

The Big Wins

The trademark is official. After years of dedication and navigating the legal process, my Make Love Your Compass® trademark is now officially registered, published, and listed. When I saw that envelope from the government, I did not even have to open it—I just knew. It was a validation that this heart-driven vision is now recognized and protected, ready to grow on even bigger stages.

The brand is stronger. From refining our collections to improving our store experience, every part of this year has been about building something that lasts. Something rooted in quality, heart, and Canadian pride.

The Lessons

Not everything worked. I learned that more is not always better, especially when it comes to email campaigns. I learned to listen more closely to what my customers actually want. I learned that building a brand is not about perfection; it is about showing up with authenticity and care, even when things do not go as planned.

Every setback taught me something. Every challenge made the brand stronger.

Never Going Back

The past three years have been difficult. There were moments when I questioned everything, when the weight of it all felt too heavy.

But someone special reminded me: never go back. Keep moving forward. Keep believing in what you are building.

That reminder has become my anchor. When doubt creeps in, I hear those words. When the path feels uncertain, I remember that I am not meant to go backward, only forward, with purpose and heart.

Part of moving forward means leaving behind people, places, and things that no longer fit my life, my vision, and my mission. It means protecting what I have built and honoring the vision that brought me here. It means choosing growth over comfort, and courage over fear.

I have new hope now. And I am holding onto it.

Looking Ahead to 2026

This coming year feels full of possibility.

The What Would Love Do? journal is launching. This has been a labor of love, and I cannot wait to share it with you. It is a tool for reflection, growth, and living with intention.  There is so much more to come.  

We are expanding shipping into the United States. Make Love Your Compass® is ready to reach more hearts across North America, bringing Canadian kindness and quality to a wider audience, while staying committed to our Canadian fulfillment centers as part of this vision.

More art, more products, more connection. I am committed to creating beautiful, meaningful pieces that inspire and uplift. Every product will continue to be designed with care, rooted in the values that started this brand.

2025 taught me that persistence and purpose always meet at the same place: progress.

And I am never going back.

Thank you for walking this path with me. Here is to a 2026 filled with growth, heart, and making love our compass in everything we do.

With loving kindness,
Caterina Barregar
Founder, Make Love Your Compass®