Hi Reader!

How's your January going? Are you the type of person who makes news year's resolutions? Do you assess how the past year went? Does it feel like a fresh start, a clean slate full of possibilities?

To be honest, this January has been a bit of a struggle for me. I was sick during most of our December trip, and coming home into the flurry of new year activity online was completely overwhelming. I was resentful of all the people I saw on social media who seemed to be kicking ass and powering full steam ahead. I feel like I'm letting my business down by not seizing the new year resolution energy to sign clients.

Am I struggling because I'm still recovering from being sick? Or from not seeing the sun for days on end? From the cold weather & short days this time of year? It could be any number of things, but all I know is that I am still exhausted.

I actually did my 2022 year review and 2023 planning back in November. One of the main things I wrote down to remember is: Beauty, joy and ease matter.

Then I stuck that note on a wall and let it blend in to the rest of the scenery I pay zero attention to every day.

But around the end of the year, people started posting about their "word of the year" and I kept hearing the word "ease" every time I saw those posts. So "ease" keeps coming back to me. Something in me--whether you believe it's a spirit, a soul, intuition, or something along those lines--keeps telling me to make things easy. To take it easy.

And that's a rather frightening thing! I'm starting a brand new business! Doesn't my gut know I need to be hustling? I need to be working harder than ever! I need to make this business profitable, successful, something I can point to as proof that leaving my software job wasn't a foolish decision.

I don't have a nice, easy way to tie up this email. I just wanted to let you know that if you're struggling too, it's ok. And if you're not, that's great too. Either way, this is a good time to make sure your support network is strong, and that you take care to refill your "energy cup" with activities you love.

Some days I believe in prioritizing ease, and some days I think I'm ridiculous for choosing that word for 2023. All I really know is that change is inevitable. And that we get up every day and try again.