Welcome 2025

Happy New Year! My New Year’s Eve was nice and quiet. Matthew had to work for a good chunk of it (2pm-10:30pm) but made it home for midnight. I was actually awake for the big moment which is highly unusual for me. I spent most of the evening watching Fellowship of the Ring, responding to emails, and knitting a sock. And now I’m here at my desk and starting the new year the way I intend to spend the rest of the year: writing to you.

Today’s post is a tiny reminder to myself to take things slowly and to be gentle with myself. Maybe it’s a reminder that will be helpful to you too?

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I was so excited to write in my new journal this morning. If you’re a notebook fan, you might notice that my picture is not of a Hobonichi! I’ve decided to use a Sterling Ink B6 Daily Planner for my morning journaling in 2025.

(I feel so silly sharing this but I’ve promised myself to be more honest on my blog this year:)
I had a moment of panic last night thinking that my current (and very simple) set-up was a bad idea. I mean — full blown panic. I put several other planners in various carts across the internet. Second-guessing decisions I’d made months earlier with months of preparation (all over a planner!). And then I put down my phone. I took many deep breaths and focused on the lump in my throat and my racing heart.

I reminded myself:
What I have is enough. My creativity to do something special with what I have is enough. I am enough and I don’t need things to convince myself of that.

But I do need to give myself these little pep-talks to remember. Quite often. And I know I’m not alone.

So I’m here today to remind myself (and maybe you? maybe not) to gently enter this new year. I have been thinking about Austin Kleon’s message to save our resolutions until February – January is dark and long and February is just 28 days – a nice, even number for goal tracking.

And I’m thinking of this tidbit from a lovely Moomin:

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A post shared by Johanna (@wonderled.life)

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And thanks to all of this brilliant advice, I’m holding off on more planner purchases, more expectations for myself, and more items on my to-do list. Instead, I’m focusing on the connection between my feet and my walking trail, my sit bones and my yoga mat, my fingers and my keyboard, and my heart and my family’s hearts. That is my January goal. And I’ll decide what the rest of the year will bring when the time comes.

So: welcome to 2025. I have lots of ideas for this blog and my writing and bookish life; I hope you’ll stick with me for another year with all of its ups and downs.

Here’s to another year together!