In this episode of Between the Drafts, I reflect on January as a month that felt less like a fresh start and more like an unexpected sparring match: challenging, revealing, but ultimately survivable.
January held a mix of meaningful moments: welcoming a new year with intention-filled traditions, decluttering and reorganizing my art and writing spaces, and rediscovering dozens of unfinished stories that reminded me just how much creative work I’ve been sitting on.
I reflect on the quiet power of organization as creative work, the joy of gifting my daughter her own paint kit, and the clarity that came from finally taking inventory of my ideas. I also celebrate time spent with people I love, laughing, resting, reconnecting, along with stepping outside of my comfort zone in ways that felt deeply empowering. With the experience reminded me that confidence and creativity can exist just for me.
Alongside the cheers, I name the jeers honestly: not doing as much fiction writing as I hoped, navigating yet another winter storm, and facing creative redirection that shifted my plans for 2026. Instead of seeing these moments as failures, I’m learning to view them as information, as opportunities to pause, reassess, and adjust.
I close the episode by sharing my biggest lesson of 2026 so far: choosing myself to win. I reflect on how often we pour into others even when we’re empty, and my commitment to learning how to pour back into myself without waiting for someone else to do it for me.
This episode is both a reflection and an invitation to take stock of your own cheers and jeers, to acknowledge the wins alongside the frustrations, and to move forward with clarity, intention, and self-compassion.
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