Today we’d like to introduce you to Meenu Howland.
Hi Meenu, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I started My Current Obsessions Company because my brain has never worked in straight lines. I’m ADHD and proudly neurodivergent, which means my creativity comes in waves, my ideas arrive fast, and my interests evolve in big, beautiful cycles. For most of my life, that was something I tried to hide or “manage.” Eventually I realized it was actually my greatest strength.
My “obsessions” aren’t random. They are how my brain processes the world. When something lights me up — a scent, a stone, a color story, a design idea, a metaphor. I dive in completely, which becomes an “all or nothing” perspective. Then, when that cycle is done, I move to the next spark. It’s how I innovate, how I create, and how I stay connected to myself.
My Current Obsessions Company was born from that truth.
I needed a place where my creativity could breathe instead of being boxed in. A place where shifting fascinations weren’t a liability but a superpower. Candles, crystals, aesthetics, seasonal collections — they all became a way for me to channel the way my mind works into something tangible.
The store changes constantly because I change constantly. And instead of hiding that, I built a business that embraces it. New lines, new displays, new ideas, new layouts. For me, that’s not chaos, its a structure all of its own. That’s how a neurodivergent brain builds beauty and meaning. In addition, I knew others were like me, so I wanted them to come on this journey and give them a space to sell their beautiful obsessions too! So I invited local vendors to start selling our of my location. This makes it so much more meaningful when you can help other business creativity thrive.
So in other words, what started as a personal creative outlet has grown into something much bigger. A community space. A place where people feel safe, curious, inspired, and understood. A place where other neurodivergent folks often say, “This feels like home,” because it doesn’t demand sameness. It celebrates evolution.
My Current Obsessions Company lets me blend creativity, craft, and community in a way that reflects every part of who I am. It helps support my family, gives a platform to local makers, offers teens their first jobs, and brings a little magic into Hastings.
Most of all, it honors the way my brain works.
And it shows people that constant reinvention isn’t inconsistency. It’s brilliance in motion.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Running My Current Obsessions Company comes with layers of challenges that go far beyond stocking shelves and greeting customers. As a neurodivergent entrepreneur with ADHD, I balance bursts of creativity with moments of overwhelm, and the same energy that fuels constant reinvention can also make structure harder to maintain. At the same time, the retail landscape is shifting around me. Foot traffic rises and falls unpredictably, online sales patterns change every season, and local spending habits have been impacted by broader economic uncertainty. Many of my products are literally pulled from the earth on the other side of the world, which means I’m tied to international shipping costs, wholesale volatility, tariffs, and supply chain delays that are outside my control.
Those realities create unavoidable financial pressure, especially when traffic dips or buying slows down. All of this is happening while I’m also running a corporate consulting business, operating in the Data and AI space I’ve worked in for almost twenty years, and writing books that help companies rethink how they govern and use their data. Balancing a storefront with a global consulting career and authorship can be overwhelming, and there are days when it feels like I’m living three different lives at once. But each role feeds a different part of who I am, and every challenge pushes me to stay adaptive, honest, and deeply committed to the work I believe in.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about My Current Obsessions Company?
My Current Obsessions Company is a constantly evolving crystal, candle, and gift boutique built around curiosity, creativity. We specialize in offering a curated mix of carefully hand chosen crystals, handmade candles, crafty and creative items, and unique aesthetic pieces that you simply won’t find in big box stores. People know us for our ever-changing inventory, our intentional product selection, our multiple small local vendors who sell their products here, and the feeling you get the moment you walk through the door. The shop has become a safe, welcoming space where customers can explore, slow down, and find something that feels meaningful.
What sets us apart is that nothing about this business is cookie-cutter. I built a brand that embraces hearts, minds, empathy, and creativity all in one. The store changes often because my creative focus changes often, which means customers always experience something new: new product lines, new displays, new candles, new crystal selections, and new collections driven by genuine inspiration rather than trends. I also take pride in the transparency and integrity behind everything I sell. Many of the stones come from other parts of the world, and I work hard to source them responsibly so customers know they’re buying from a place that values authenticity over mass-market shortcuts.
Brand-wise, I’m most proud that My Current Obsessions Company has grown into more than a shop. It’s a community space. It gives local makers opportunities, offers teens their first jobs, supports neighbors through events and donations, and creates a sense of belonging that people feel the moment they step inside. Even in a changing retail landscape, even with rising sourcing and shipping costs, even with the unpredictable patterns of foot traffic, our brand has stayed rooted in quality, intention, and genuine human connection.
I want readers to know that when you support My Current Obsessions Company, you’re supporting a business that is built with heart, creativity, and a whole lot of lived experience. You’re supporting a brand created by someone who spends her days operating in the corporate Data and AI world and her nights pouring candles, designing displays, and connecting with customers. You’re supporting a place that believes small businesses strengthen communities, that beauty matters, and that curiosity should never be something you outgrow. Plus, our staff is second to NONE. The pride and love shown by our staff for our store and our customers can been seen from the second you walk in the door.
We really pride ourselves on affordable and unique gifts. From candles and crystals to curated gifts and seasonal lines, everything we sell is meant to inspire, ground, and bring a little intentional magic into everyday life.
We love surprises, fun facts and unexpected stories. Is there something you can share that might surprise us?
Most people are surprised to learn that the person running a cozy, whimsical crystal and candle shop is also someone who writes books on enterprise data strategy and advises global companies on AI governance. I live fully in the analytical world and fully in the creative world at the same time. It’s an unusual mix, but it’s exactly what makes my brand what it is.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.mycurrentobsessionscompany.com
- Instagram: @my.current.obsessions.co
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mycurrentobsessionscompany
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mhowland101/
- Other: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FG24JKHL
