Meet Ana Grace | Founder of a Creative Media Project

We had the good fortune of connecting with Ana Grace and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ana, can you talk to us a bit about the social impact of your business?
My project was born in the mountains — from silence and a deep desire to create something that brings calm when it’s needed the most.
Through meditative stories, I create a space where children and adults can find grounding and inner balance.
The stories will be freely available in Ukrainian to support those living in states of stress and anxiety.
The project fosters a culture of care and emotional resilience, helping listeners gradually develop self-soothing skills through gentle storytelling.
In the future, the stories will be translated into other languages to share this sense of support with the world.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
How did you get to where you are today professionally?

My work has always been connected, in one way or another, with children. For the past nine years — and still today — I have been creating original hand-knitted accessories for newborn photography sessions. For many families, these little details have become a cherished part of the memory of the most tender days of their child’s life.
But when the full-scale invasion began, my life — like the life of every Ukrainian — changed completely.
My daughter and I moved to the Carpathians, to a picturesque mountain village. I had to rebuild my business from scratch while creating a new life at the same time. Here, I went through the journey from buying to completely restoring a house on my own — without physical support of my husband, and with limited professional resources. It was difficult, often physically exhausting — but it was during that time that space for inner transformation appeared.
Walking through the mountains, filming nature, and embracing silence became my way of staying grounded and finding inner strength. Gradually, daily practices of yoga and dynamic meditation became part of my routine — they helped me restore energy, gather strength, and regain a sense of wholeness. Over time, I began to notice how these simple things could shift my emotional state.
It was from this experience that the idea for my new project — “Meditative Stories” — was born, a project I am now actively developing.
I remembered how I used to tell my daughter “sleepy stories” — tales created on the spot. She wanted to “visit the sea,” “walk through a magical forest,” or “rest in a meadow full of flowers.” Following her imagination, I painted those calming spaces with words. Sometimes, just five minutes were enough for her to fall asleep with a smile.
I decided to transform these bedtime stories into a public audio format — a series of professionally recorded meditative tales, freely available on YouTube as audio-visual pieces with minimalist design. This format allows both children and adults to listen anytime: before sleep, on the road, in a shelter, or at home.

What lessons have you learned from this journey?

The most important lesson is that creativity is not only about talent — it’s about resilience.
Every challenge has shaped me into a stronger, more empathetic, and more purposeful person. Another essential lesson is the power of listening — to the world around you and to your own intuition.

What sets you apart from others?

What makes me unique is that my creativity always grows out of personal experience and deep observation of the world. I combine meditative storytelling, the sounds of nature, and imagery to create a space of silence and calm. For me, the voice is not just a means of expression — it is a tool for healing. I believe that through words, tone, and the sounds of nature, one can convey a state of inner balance and offer support to those who need it most.

What do you want the world to know about you, your brand, and your story?

My work is not just about stories or meditations — it’s about creating a safe emotional space where people can reconnect with themselves.
“Meditative Stories” is my way of offering peace, imagination, and healing — especially in the moments when it’s needed most.
I am currently seeking support for a project that was born in the mountains — in silence, out of a desire to create something that, one evening, might help someone find peace.
The texts of eight stories are already written, and two have been recorded in a professional studio.
Each contribution will help to:
– record a new story,
– create its visual world,
– and launch a marketing campaign so that as many people as possible can find comfort and calm within these stories.
The next important step will be translating the stories into English, so they can reach hearts across different countries and support those who need it most.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I love showing people the beauty of the Ukrainian Carpathian Mountains — especially the authentic spirit of the Hutsul region. These places are not just beautiful; they are about inner silence and returning to yourself.
Imagine a small wooden cabin high in the mountains. In the morning — the sunrise over misty ridges; in the evening — the sunset painting the sky in shades of pink and gold. Nearby, you hear the gentle sound of cowbells, and the scent of freshly cut grass mingles with wildflowers and wood smoke from the stove.
On the first day, we’d go to the local market: taste handmade mountain cheeses, ripe berries, and mushrooms; meet Hutsul artisans who create true masterpieces — from carved wooden plates to woolen rugs with traditional patterns.
Then — the wood-fired hot tub, a deep warmth under the open sky. It’s not just relaxation — it’s cleansing and renewal.
Next comes the silence of the mountains. We’d walk along one of my favorite trails, where words become unnecessary — only breathing, footsteps, birds, and wind remain.
The rest of the days would be devoted to the soul: intuitive painting, dancing on a mountaintop, singing local songs by the fire, and crafting by hand. And of course — horseback rides, because being near a horse helps you feel part of nature.
This kind of journey, I believe, allows you to truly feel yourself — to savor the moment and immerse in the beauty of the Carpathians. It’s a blend of restoration, creativity, and the authenticity of local culture — the kind of week that stays with you forever.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Climbing to a summit is always a personal journey. Step by step, we move forward — sometimes exhausted, sometimes pausing to gather strength — and then continuing again. Yet when there are people beside us, the experience changes. Someone might ease the tension with a joke, another might share water, or extend a hand at the very moment it feels impossible to go on. The path doesn’t become shorter, but it certainly becomes lighter.
That’s why I call those who walked beside me my angels. Their role in my story is invaluable. Even if every summit I’ve reached has been with my own steps, the strength they gave me made the journey possible.
I also pay attention to signals from the outside. When more than ten people pointed out the calming quality of my voice, it was a revelation. I realized I could bring peace and inspiration to others — and this became the seed of my project.
So my shoutout goes to all those who walked with me: to those who helped me rebuild life in a new place; to my business coach for four years of steady professional guidance; to my friends who lifted my spirits; to everyone who affirmed the soothing quality of my voice and appreciated my photo and video art. And a special thanks to a trusted creative partner, who believed in the value of Meditative Stories from the very beginning and became a co-author of the texts.

Website: https://meditativestories.wayforpay.shop

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/a.n.a.g.r.a.c.e?igsh=cGJkaDFzMzN0dWdh&utm_source=qr

Image Credits
fogmysteries.ph
alinapavlyk.ph
tianakrystalss