A few months ago, I started going back to hot yoga. As I've been trying out different class times that fit with my schedule, it's been interesting to notice the different teaching styles of all the instructors. Some teachers encourage you to be present, here in the moment. And maybe intentionally or unintentionally, they don't really tell you what's coming up next during the class. You're in this set of poses, then you move into the next set. You can only see the pose you're in, maybe the next one, but that's it. Sometimes I would want to take a break, lay down on my mat, but I wasn't sure if this was the last time we would do this set, and have built in rest time coming? Should I push through and I'll get to rest after, or is this my only chance? There's always an element of FOMO. The planner in me wanted to know what the whole plan was.
But other instructors tell us exactly what's coming throughout the session so we can plan out our practice. We're going to do 4 flow sets, the first and third will be high energy with music, the second and fourth will be slower. Then we'll do some balance poses that will be good for your spine. Then we'll be on our backs for awhile, etc. I knew exactly what was coming up next, exactly when to take my breaks to not miss my favorite poses, when to skip the ones I knew were hard on my back.
Some days I prefer the planned out sessions, but other days I'm learning to enjoy the mystery ones. The sessions that force me to just be in the moment. Rest when I need it, don't worry about what you'll miss. You can't miss out on what's meant for you, right? But yoga imitates life. Sometimes you'll know exactly what's coming and you can plan accordingly. Sometimes you won't know a thing. Except what's right in front of you in this very moment. Only the pose you're in.
This year is teaching me a lesson — to be less focused on the future, and even less focused on the past. Focus on the here and now. Be present. Here in this space, there is exactly that: S-P-A-C-E. More freedom, time, space to explore ideas, relationships, mediums. Time to get creative, headspace to flow freely into whatever your heart desires. Wherever your mind wanders. Whatever movements feel good and right to your body.
The planner in me doesn't particularly like this lesson.
My business has changed a lot since Covid, both for pandemic reasons and my own shift in priorities and interests. As a single parent who runs a solo business that she literally just made up out of nothing, the pressure to keep it all going can be a lot to carry. While my business has created the life I knew I wanted, it doesn't feel as sustainable as it used to pre-pandemic. Some course-based businesses thrived in the wake of Covid, with the flux of people entering the online space for work and suddenly needing to stay home, learn new skills, etc. But that certainly wasn't the case for all course-based businesses. If your work life also took a hit, and you've been struggling to know what to do next or where to focus your energy, you're not alone. 💛
Stay present. Be here, in this moment. Don't worry about the future or where things will end up, just take it day by day. In some seasons you'll have a map laid out in front of you with a clear path. In others, you just have to go with the flow. My current season? 100% flow. Honestly not really sure where it'll lead, but I'm just gonna keep going and stay present.
Before I can look ahead to what might be next in 2023, let's take a look back at how my 2022 shakes out. I love reading peoples' yearly recaps all over the internet as the new year approaches, so here's my usual recap to add to the mix...
January
Rough start – got Covid, and it took me down for about 3 weeks (thankfully Poppy never got it, despite her adorable lack of personal space).
Went back to therapy – best decision I made all year.
February
Started working with my makeup artist friend Emily to help her launch her first online course, The Bride’s Guide to Beauty – suuuch a fun project to work on, and with a dear friend.
launched the Maud+Faye website and email list for all things pottery, plus hosted my first pottery sale of the year (sold out in 24 hours 🤯).
Took Poppy to her first concert – Jojo Siwa! We had a blast and stayed up way too late on a school night.
March
Wrapped up work with Emily as she launched BGB!
Turned 34 years old... whew.
April
Hosted the spring sale for The InDesign Field Guide course.
Started some fun book design projects for a client.
Met up with my family in NYC for Easter weekend.
May
Finished an absolute dreeeam project – designed a children's book for a client! Happy Beeing Me is available here.
Built a raised garden bed, a long overdue house project.
Finally built a landing page for book design clients — check it out here.
June
Finished up a few book design projects.
Checked off lots of small house projects like installing front porch ceiling fan, adding basement lighting, and planted the first garden in my raised beds.
July
Made a bunch of pottery this summer!
Hosted my annual summer mini-class sale.
Celebrated Poppy turning 8 (How? HOW?!).
August
Hosted my second pottery sale of the year (still a few select pieces that never got snatched up!).
Released a new batch of short InDesign tutorials on YouTube.
Made a trip to Nashville to see family.
Chatted with Abbey Ashley on her Business Savvy podcast about all things burn out — we went deep, friends, give it a listen here.
September
Started some new book design projects for a new client.
Fled the country and all responsibilities for a glorious, much needed week in Italy with my brother! We visited Lake Como and the Cinque Terre area, ate our weight in pasta, and it was a blast.
October
Finished a few big book design projects.
Hosted the fall sale for The InDesign Field Guide course.
Helped my mom move back to Missouri from Nashville — to a house right around the corner from me!
Started going back to yoga a few times per week — second best decision all year!
Got back on the pottery wheel after way too much time away.
November
Hosted some sweeeet Black Friday / Cyber Monday sales.
Worked on a few small book design projects that trickled in.
Roadtripped to the mountains of Georgia to spend Thanksgiving in a cozy cabin with the family.
December
Enjoying the holidays with loved ones and planning for some big shifts in 2023 🫣
Other things I did this year that I’m proud of:
Read 25 books so far, these were my favorites:
Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix Harrow
All The Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doehrr
Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony Doehrr
Sea of Tranquility by Emily St. John Mandel
This Time Tomorrow by Emma Straub (my #1 fave!)
Big Friendship by Aminatou Sow + Anna Friedman
How to Talk So Kids Will Listen, and Listen So Kids Will Talk by Adele Faber + Elaine Mazlish
The Bible Tells Me So by Peter Enns
Come As You Are by Emily Nagoski
The Body Keeps The Score by Bessel van der Kolk
Pure by Linda Kay Klein
Went back to therapy. In January, I started going back to therapy. I hadn't been back since leaving Nashville in 2016, and it was loooong overdue. I'm so glad I finally took the steps to go back, it proved to be V-I-T-A-L later in the year. Whew. If you're thinking about seeing a therapist or counselor, I can't recommend it enough. It has been so incredibly helpful and grounding to have a neutral person who can help you process what's happening in your life, navigate relationships, and unlearn unhealthy patterns.
Went back to yoga. Speaking of grounding, I also went back to yoga! I used to do hot yoga a couple times a week before Covid, and I hadn't been back since the week the world shut down in March 2020. This fall I was feeling pretty sedentary and like I needed to move my body way more than I was. Enter hot yoga and a whoooole lotta sweat. I've been going 2-3 times a week since October, and the consistent practice of checking in with my body and mind has been revolutionary (as you read at the beginning of this post).
Started writing regularly again. I tend to write a lot more when I'm in a dating relationship, aaaand I've been writing way more the last half of this year, wink wink. 😜 Writing and journaling has always helped me process my thoughts and feelings about what's going on around me. And the last few months, the extra writing has me thinking about ideas for book number two... someday... maybe... no promises.
Dating. I always include this update in my recaps, and so this year I'll just describe it as 😵💫 and then 🥰 (I feel like I should sign off here with XOXO, Gossip Girl, but I'll refrain.)
By the time I hit November, I'm usually already looking ahead to the new year and making plans for my business. I'm mapping out marketing schedules, exploring new ideas, planning each month out to a T. But this year has been different. I'm hanging on my mat in the yoga class with the instructor who keeps me guessing. November rolled around, and I'll be honest – I had nothing. This feels pretty vulnerable to type on the Internet, but I've been bringing nothing but honesty for the last decade on here, so here it goes — I feel a little lost going into 2023. My usual long string of ideas is more like a couple snippets of loose thread.
But I'm trusting the process. Or at least trying reeeeally hard to. It's a forced lesson in just taking it one day at a time. I'm trying not to put pressure on myself to have it all figured out on January 1st. Stay present, be here. Inhale. Exhale. It'll all work out in the end.
Year-End Survey
Tell me what you want, what you really really want!
If you want to help me pull on these loose threads (or just see what the threads are), would you take my quick 60-second survey? Spoiler: one question is about my email newsletter, one is a list of ideas I'm thinking about for 2023, and one is about Book #2. 👀 These surveys help me plan (ish!) my year, and they're always a huge source of inspiration and motivation for me, seeing what you all are interested in. And this year, it's more important than ever – ha! I would be super grateful for your input, I read every single entry (usually many times over).
