BOO!

Look who popped in your inbox like a Jack in the box!

I did not disappear. I simply decided to post once a season, and fall is fast upon us.

It feels like forever ago since I wrote to you, friends. I am still me, and yet, whoa, don’t I also feel like a whole new person.

What do you all think about the October Theory?

I’ve always loved New Year’s, as you might know. But these three months leading up to it feel to me like the perfect time for reflections, conclusions and transitions.

Not sure where or when this “theory” originated, but basically, it’s just an approach that eases you out of this year. You’re supposed to look back at your goals for 2024 and reflect on what’s become of them. Not in a judgmental, down on yourself way. Nothing but love and honesty. I opened my current planner with an open mind and immediately smiled when I saw that I had named it “The Year of Living.”

Because — hell yes, I’ve been doing just that!

My intentions for the year were:

• 100 percent real, no fucks given. It had felt so ambitious to write this back then, but team, I’ve made such strides. I think I’m there, or nearly there. And it feels freeing as fuck.
• Creativity, fun and play. OMG literally. This has been my year.
• Consistency, productivity, flow (build on gains from before, keep expanding from there). Okay, consistency in showing up to write and create and play — 100 percent yes. Flow? Yes. Productivity and building on gains — okay, I haven’t really done that part as much. My pace of writing slowed (though never stopped!) But that’s because I made time for other things. Now I can consider, do I want to amp up “production” before New Year’s? I could. But I’m not sure that’s what is needed right now. It’s is okay to change your mind on some things! (But maybe I still will. NanNoWriMo is kind of calling my name a little? I just gotta reflect and decide, that is all!)
• Learning craft, learning fun things, stretching! I mean, yeah. This has been the year of learning. The writing craft? Some, absolutely, but then I veered into other arts and other crafts, and I have no regrets!
• Take care of my body more. Yes. Not perfectly. Maybe not super consistently, even. But throughout the year, this absolutely has been a theme. I’ve put in time at the gym, changed my eating habits, had some fun with yoga, worked to unblock my chakras, and now I find myself trying to dance and kettlebell my way back into a new regular routine. So I take it back: I am totally doing this!
• Get out of my head more. Fuck yes. So much!!! (Okay, what’s also true is that I’m still a thinker. But now there’s like a separation between my busybody mind and me. I don’t get caught up anymore. I don’t get trapped in there. I can step out, be a loving observer, sometimes an amused one, to be honest. It’s been great!
• Keep it lean when it comes to expenses. Okay, I did not do so great in that area. (Etsy has been my main downfall, and I have a lovely collection of bracelets and rings to show for it.) Maybe this one I can do better with for the rest of this year, just to prove to myself that I can?

New Year’s resolutions get a bad rep. But I think if we set intentions from a strong, authentic place, we are likely to surprise ourselves by the end of the year.

Happy fall!

Love,

Katia