January 1 doesn’t feel like a starting gun to me. It feels more like a pause.
A deep breath before the next step.
This past year was full—creatively, emotionally, and logistically. There were moments of excitement and momentum, and moments where everything felt uncertain and out of my control. Selling our home to live a nomadic life, running a small business, and staying creatively grounded all at once has taught me something important:
I don’t need a full reinvention every January.
I need a gentle reset.
What I’m Carrying Into the New Year
✨ Consistency over perfection
Showing up imperfectly but honestly has always worked better for me than waiting until something feels “ready.”
✨ Creativity as care, not pressure
Drawing, photographing, and designing doesn't need to justify themselves with metrics. They get to exist because they bring calm, joy, and connection.
✨ Building a business that fits my life
Not the other way around. One that allows room for flexibility, rest, and being present where my feet (and paws) are.
✨ Joy in small moments
Morning light. A sketch that finally clicks. Packaging an order knowing it’s headed somewhere meaningful.
What I’m Letting Go Of
🖤 Hustle-for-hustle’s-sake
If it costs peace, it’s too expensive.
🖤 Comparison
Someone else’s timeline doesn’t invalidate mine.
🖤 The pressure to constantly explain or justify my path
This life and this business make sense because they work—for me.
A Little Help From Oz & Rocky
Oz reminds me to slow down and observe.
Rocky reminds me that sometimes you leap first and figure it out midair.
Together, they’ve taught me that joy doesn’t come from having it all mapped out—it comes from showing up, tail wagging, ready anyway.
So as this new year begins, I’m not chasing a “new me.”
I’m choosing to carry what already feels aligned—and gently release the rest.
If you’re reading this today, I hope you give yourself permission to do the same.
Happy New Year 🤍
0 comments