Embracing a New Chapter: Intentions for Creative Living and Authentic Growth in the New Year

Hello, dear friends! It truly feels like an eternity since my last post graced these digital pages. How have you been? I sincerely hope your holiday break was filled with joy, warmth, and exactly what you needed. Are you currently battling frosty, sub-zero temperatures like I am? (*Raises hand enthusiastically*) I’m officially back, feeling refreshed and renewed after several blissful weeks of completely unplugging and dedicating precious time to Connor, my wonderful family, and reconnecting with cherished old friends.

My faithful companion, Marley, and I successfully navigated the incredibly long and unbelievably freezing journey home to Washington, D.C. The mercury dipped to a bone-chilling -12 degrees Fahrenheit for much of our drive, making it a truly memorable (and frosty!) experience. Approximately 13 hours, countless reassuring (and sometimes slightly exasperated) shouts of ‘Marley, lie down!’ directed to the backseat, and six very large cups of strong coffee later, we finally arrived in one piece. Our timing wasn’t perfect, as Connor had to work on both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day morning. However, he managed to fly out for a whirlwind 24-hour visit, squeezing in a short but incredibly sweet reunion. At the eleventh hour, we decided to seize the opportunity of Connor’s scheduled January vacation and extend our stay in D.C., allowing us to spend even more quality time with both of our parents. I’m immensely grateful that we made that decision – those extra days were truly priceless.

Our days flowed by in a delightful rhythm, filled with invigorating walks and scenic hikes, spontaneous and undocumented cooking sessions that often involved comforting stews and fresh-baked goods, bottomless mugs of steaming coffee, and the simple pleasure of reading the daily paper together. Marley, ever the connoisseur of comfort, diligently tested out every sofa in both our parents’ houses, ensuring each one met her high standards for napping. Meanwhile, I found myself spending approximately 0.01% of my time online, a stark contrast to my usual routine. It was, in a word, glorious. The quiet, the presence, the simplicity – it was a much-needed reset for my soul.

Embracing the New Year: Decluttering and Setting Intentions

Somehow, despite my best intentions to be prepared, New Year’s Day seems to creep up on me faster and faster each passing year. Yet, without fail, like so many of you, I experience an unmistakable fresh burst of energy and renewed motivation with the start of a new calendar year. This surge isn’t just limited to my work life; it extends to every facet of my existence. This past week, I’ve been in full ‘spring cleaning’ mode, tackling various tasks with a fervent enthusiasm. The holiday decorations have been carefully packed away, old papers meticulously sorted and recycled, unused clothes lovingly donated, and my digital life has seen a major overhaul with tools like inbox cleanup. I’ve also been pairing down unused kitchen items, creating more functional space, and even tackling a few small DIY projects that had been on the back burner. This deep clean isn’t just about physical space; it’s about clearing mental clutter too.

It has been enormously satisfying, and dare I say, fun? There’s a profound sense of accomplishment that comes with bringing order to chaos. For as long as I can remember, cleaning and organizing have always been an incredibly meditative activity for me, even when I was just a kid! The process truly improves my mood, significantly boosts my overall productivity, and sharpens my ability to focus on what truly matters. If you’re feeling overwhelmed or stagnant, I highly recommend dedicating some time to decluttering your surroundings – you might be surprised by the positive impact it has on your mind and spirit.

Reflecting on a Challenging Year and Forging a New Path

With this newfound clarity and refreshed perspective, I’ve been making a very conscious effort to reflect deeply on this past year and thoughtfully plan for the year that lies ahead. Instead of sugarcoating things or skirting around the edges, I’m going to be completely and utterly real with you. This past year has been undeniably challenging for me, both on a deeply personal level and professionally. It was challenging in both good ways, which pushed me to grow, and in profoundly difficult ways, which tested my resilience. I know I’m not alone in this; it has been a tough year for many of us, and recognizing that is perfectly okay.

Looking back, so much transpired. I rebranded this very space (exactly one year ago), a process that was exciting yet demanding. I embarked on a dream project, pouring my heart into it, only to realize halfway through that it simply wasn’t the right fit for me, leading to a difficult but necessary pivot. My life was wonderfully complicated by adjusting to an adorable rescue dog, Marley, who came with her own set of challenges, particularly separation anxiety – she’s truly the best, despite the occasional accidents galore! I also adapted to Connor’s demanding second-year residency schedule, which often felt like a relentless uphill battle, taking a toll on our time together. We collectively survived the 2016 election, an event that needs no further explanation given its profound impact. Amidst all of this, we also managed to travel near and far, exploring incredible places like Alaska, the ethereal landscapes of Iceland, the historic beauty of England, and the familiar charm of Michigan. Then, unexpectedly in November, I lost my beloved grandmother, affectionately known as Grannybird, an immense loss that left a gaping hole in my heart.

In hindsight, I definitely took on a bit more than I could chew. As a direct result of this relentless pace and the sheer volume of life events, I experienced a severe case of culinary and creative burnout. Instead of finding joy in the many aspects of this job that I genuinely adore – like the artistry of food photography, the satisfaction of recipe development, and the catharsis of writing – I began to over-analyze every single step, and sadly, even dread them. The passion that once fueled me started to wane under the pressure.

Overcoming Creative Burnout and Self-Doubt

I allowed the impressive work of others to stifle my own nascent ideas and unique voice. Instead of confidently hitting publish on that spontaneous, heartfelt post (I feared it wasn’t perfect enough), starting that exciting new project (convinced it wasn’t original enough), sharing a personal anecdote (thinking people only wanted recipes), talking about my life in Chicago (believing it wasn’t relevant to anyone), sharing that overly-ambitious recipe (fearing it wasn’t Pinterest-friendly) or that ridiculously simple recipe (assuming someone else had probably already done it better), I let my inner perfectionist and self-doubt get the absolute best of me. Consequently, I did none of those things. Does that make sense? Um, no. Not at all. It’s a self-defeating cycle that many creatives grapple with, and it’s one I’m determined to break free from.

As one of my all-time favorite books so eloquently declares, offering a powerful antidote to such creative paralysis:

“Recognizing that people’s reactions don’t belong to you is the only sane way to create. If people enjoy what you’ve created, terrific. If people ignore what you’ve created, too bad. If people misunderstand what you’ve created, don’t sweat it. And what if people absolutely hate what you’ve created? What if people attack you with savage vitriol, and insult your intelligence, and malign your motives, and drag your good name through the mud? Just smile sweetly and suggest – as politely as you possibly can – that they go make their own fucking art. Then stubbornly continue making yours.” – Elizabeth Gilbert, Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear

You know what inevitably happens when you over-analyze absolutely everything? It becomes progressively harder and harder to accomplish anything meaningful. It also makes it increasingly difficult to jump back into, well, everything. This insidious habit absolutely *kills* creativity, smothers spontaneity, and completely drains joy from the process. Moreover, it happens to be utterly exhausting. Really, truly exhausting. To put it quite simply, I’m over it. I’m ready to move past this debilitating cycle of self-doubt and reclaim the boundless joy of creation.

My Guiding Intention for 2017: Embrace

So, instead of compiling a simple list of resolutions this year – which often feel rigid and destined for failure – I’ve made a deliberate decision to focus on one singular, overarching theme and intention. That powerful word is: Embrace.

It is my strongest intention to make 2017 the year that I wholeheartedly embrace imperfection, understanding that true beauty often lies in the flaws and honest human touch. I will embrace authenticity, allowing my true self to shine through without filters or pretenses, both here on the blog and in my daily life. I will embrace vulnerability, recognizing that opening myself up, despite the inherent risks, is essential for deeper connection and genuine growth. Embracing uncertainty means learning to navigate the unknown with curiosity and resilience, rather than fear. Mindfulness will be a cornerstone, allowing me to be fully present in each moment, savoring the small joys and facing challenges with greater awareness. I intend to embrace new passions, giving myself permission to explore uncharted territories and rekindle old interests without judgment.

Perhaps most crucially for my creative journey, I will embrace the fear of being perceived as ‘unoriginal’ in what often feels like an overly saturated internet world. I’m committing to embrace creativity for creativity’s sake, finding pure joy in the process of making, experimenting, and sharing, rather than solely focusing on outcomes or external validation. This means consciously choosing to stop overthinking and start doing. It means forging my own unique path, guided by intuition and personal vision, instead of begrudgingly following the perceived successes of others. This profound shift in mindset will begin right here, within the welcoming confines of this space, and I have every hope that it will extend beautifully into every other aspect of my life.

Cheers to new beginnings, renewed purpose, and the courage to embrace it all! And as always, thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for being here, for reading, and for your unwavering support. It truly means the world to me. xoxo