Amid personal turmoil following a breakup, Rene Mondy, the founder of Dear John The Box, found herself grappling with low confidence and the need to redefine her beliefs and aspirations. This introspective journey became the inspiration for the creation of a unique support system tailored for women navigating the challenges of divorce. The founder’s determination to confront obstacles hindering self-belief eventually led to the establishment of Dear John The Box as a divorce support group in Atlanta.
Can you share the inspiration behind the creation of Dear John The Box and how your personal experience with divorce led to its foundation as a support group for women?
Like so many women after a breakup, I experienced low confidence and had to step back and define what I believed in and examine how it impacted my life and the life I wanted to live. Back then, I had to face whatever was getting in the way of my ability to believe in myself to move forward. I reminded myself daily to see myself worthy of that opportunity. I had to take a step back and assess just what it was I believed in, what contributed to my beliefs, and how it was affecting my future. I realized that I needed to confront the obstacles preventing me from believing in myself so I could move forward.
Dear John The Box has evolved from a divorce support group in Atlanta to a comprehensive self-care box and registry. How did the transition occur, and what role did the pandemic play in shaping the direction of your business?
The pandemic made in-person group divorce recovery counseling meetings impossible, which inspired the creation of Dear John The Box. I wanted a way to send women encouragement and support while helping them maintain a safe distance. Like in traditional person counseling sessions, the subscription boxes accomplish the goals of empowering newly single women to make intentional choices about their next chapter. It encourages mindfulness and self-care, and it promotes investing quality time with yourself. The boxes also encourage women to explore new things among friends without guilt or shame.
The self-care boxes from Dear John include therapy aids backed by research. Could you elaborate on how these therapy aids are selected and customized to help women navigate the challenges of a breakup journey?
Our selection process for box items is grounded in therapeutic research that helps women achieve their recovery goals. I’ve also seen firsthand these items help transform the lives of women I’ve worked with during in-person counseling sessions. Every box empowers women by helping them accomplish the following.
Each box is designed to help women achieve the following:
Empowering Choice and Mindful Decision-Making: The box includes a Dinner and Movie Dice to empower newly single ladies to be present in the moment and gain a sense of control and ownership over their solo date or a girls’ night in experiences. The act of rolling the dice promotes mindfulness, encouraging single women to be present in the moment and make decisions with a playful, lighthearted approach.
Self-Care Rituals: Boxes include a Shower Affirmation Card Deck for positive energy to their day to help elevate transitions to going solo that encourages intentional self-care rituals, promoting a positive and nurturing environment in the comfort of your home.
Emotional Wellness: Next Chapter Rose Charm Necklace and Ring Sets and matching affirmations come inside each box to stimulate positive emotions from within.
Social Connection during Girls Night In: Ladies can buy boxes for friends to enhance social connections by creating shared experiences and facilitating enjoyable conversations among friends. Ladies can also collaborate on box activities with their therapist or mental health professional to enhance their experiences.
Besides therapy aids, Dear John The Box now offers products like jewelry, fidget rings, crystals, and candles. How do these items contribute to empowering women and fostering a sense of self-love and connection after a breakup?
My goal is for the box to inspire women who have overcome divorce to support others going through something similar. It fills me with joy when a box subscriber shares or buys one for their loved ones.
As a licensed therapist, how do you envision the impact of Dear John The Box on the mental and emotional well-being of women going through a breakup? How does the concept of delivering support to their doorstep contribute to building a sisterhood of self-love and connection?
Boxes empower friends to articulate and visualize their post-divorce goals, which often strengthens their friendship. Even when boxes are not enjoyed together, witnessing a friend actively share their post-divorce narrative is life-changing. I’m here for it, and so excited to see the difference it is making in women’s lives.
