My eyes were strained from screen time, so I picked up a word search book with definitions to passively learn while I relaxed. But the categories felt random, the definitions didn't connect to anything in my life, and the words didn't stick. What did stick? The margins. They became a space for stray thoughts, to-do lists, doodles, and half-formed ideas. Then I stopped because there was no point in finding words without learning from them.
Months later, after hours on the screen, I picked up a word search again. My teenage nephews came to mind: smart kids buried in their phones, a distraction from reflecting. That's when it hit me. I wanted to build something for them. Not just puzzles. Something where the words stuck because they connected to their lives.
What is Connect with Words?
Connect with Words is the first word search meets journaling book series. I publish it under my brand Haaah™ from Playa Del Rey, California. The name Haaah™ comes from a teenage memory of my Shih Tzu, Cookie. She'd plop onto the floor and let out the softest sigh. That exhale stuck with me. I wanted to build something that permitted people to do the same.
Each book is built with intention. Every curated word is chosen for a specific theme and comes in a little package: the word itself, its phonetic pronunciation, its meaning, and a prompt to connect it to your life, whether that's a reflection question, a pop culture nod, or a call to action. The dot-grid spaces are there to give you room for the prompts or whatever thoughts come up. It's more than a game; it's a space to breathe, to connect the word to your life.
Why this story matters during AAPI Heritage Month
I didn't set out to build a “Filipino American brand.” I set out to build something I wanted to use. But the way I approach things, building with purpose, not wasting time, making something that works without being in your face about it, that comes from how I grew up.
I'm a Filipino American woman building a publishing brand from scratch while working full-time. I wanted to turn rest into a practice, not leave it as a luxury. For anyone out there specifically searching for AAPI-founded or woman-owned brands, I'm glad you found Haaah™.
Where to find Connect with Words
Every title is available at amazon.com/author/haaah and here on haaahbrand.com.
As seen in Good Morning America and BuzzFeed.
Less scroll, more soul.
