Oh hi. It’s me.
In case you forgot. It’s been a hot minute since I’ve sat down to write here. Cheers to you for being brave enough to read my thoughts and feelings.
Life has shifted heavily toward Instagram over the last few years. Between the algorithm and the pace of everything, most of my creative energy outside of work goes into my IG @denvershewrote, and sometimes work and denvershewrote blur together entirely. But like I used to do every holiday season, I’m sitting down to reflect on the year behind me and the year ahead.
If you’ve been around for a while, you might remember these annual reflection posts. When I looked back, I realized the last one I wrote was in 2022. A lot can change in three years. Somehow, the time just keeps moving faster.
This year feels different. Heavier. I’ve been more introspective than usual today, mostly because I finally have the mental space to be. For much of the year, I was operating in fight or flight. Staying afloat. Staying motivated. Staying ahead. It felt like one misstep could unravel everything. I have been trying to give myself this week to step back and relax a little
I think most people would say this was a hard year. That almost feels like the default now. Honestly, I don’t know that I’ve felt overwhelmingly positive about a year since before the pandemic. But this is where I’m trying to pause myself. Yes, this year was hard. One of my hardest. Work, home, physical health, mental health — it felt like a fight. And yet, when I really take inventory, the blessings followed close behind each struggle.
At the end of January, I lost my dream job. Writing that still brings tears to my eyes. Work has always been deeply personal to me. When you love what you do, you give it everything. And when you finally find something that doesn’t feel like work, losing it isn’t just a job change. It’s a loss of confidence. Of identity. Of safety.
I’ve always valued security and stability above everything else. That’s how I was raised. I never believed you could love what you do as a job. Jobs or to check the box and just have stability. Every personality test I’ve ever taken agrees…planner, risk averse, security seeking. This year, that rug was pulled out from under me, and it was deeply humbling.
For years, I watched other people go through seasons of “finding themselves,” and I never really related. I always knew who I was, what I wanted, where I was going. I wasn’t afraid to speak up or stand in my truth. This year was the first time I truly questioned all of that. Who am I without being attached to a well-known brand? Am I making the right decisions? Am I even going in the right direction?
At some point, my worth started to feel measured by my performance and how others perceived my performance. And that is a dark place to sit. Is this a midlife crisis? A liminal phase? A cocoon before the butterfly? Maybe. I hope so. But I also believe this uncomfortable season is necessary. You don’t discover purpose without sitting in the questions first.
So here I am. Crying over my own words like the highly sensitive, emotional person that I am. Taking a pause before turning toward what’s next. Because if I don’t start living more intentionally, I’ll keep treading water. And I don’t want to just stay afloat anymore.
So let’s rewind and talk about the blessings.
When I replay the year, I see the roadblocks first. BUTTTT looking closer, I also see the people who showed up every time I hit a wall.
My parents, first and foremost. I truly cannot thank them enough. Some people don’t have parents at all, and I honestly don’t know where I would be without mine. My mom is my best friend and therapist at times ;). Our relationship as adults is something I treasure deeply.
My grandparents have been my soft place to land. Their home feels like home in a way no other place does. Knowing I can show up anytime and be met with love, prayer, and support means everything to me.
I’m endlessly grateful for my friends. Friends facing their own hard seasons who still showed up for me. Friends who listened to my excitement about new business ideas and sat with me through tears when things weren’t working out. Even when I felt my most lonely, they showed up and never LET me feel alone, and that is a gift.
And then there are the people who took a chance on me this year in my new business.
They may not even know how much that meant. They trusted me with work during a season when my confidence was shaken. I know I’m good at what I do. I know I’m creative, passionate, and capable. But for a moment, I forgot. Their trust handed me pieces of my confidence back and helped me believe in myself again. And because I’ve made my career such a big part of my identity, that meant everything to me. Thank you.
So where does that leave me now?
First, I need to stop making my career my entire life. Wild thing to admit while launching a new business, but it’s true. I need boundaries. Focus. And a life outside of work.
That’s hard when your hobbies blur into your job, which mine absolutely do. So, in 2026, I’m choosing intention over overextension. I’ve already started by stepping back from denvershewrote a little bit this holiday season. Not quitting — just being more thoughtful. Fewer yeses. More space. A fuller life alongside it. I had time to do things spontaneously and be in places I wouldn’t have been if my whole week had already been planned out.
Here’s what I want moving forward, clearly and simply:
I want a healthier relationship with my body and my mind. More movement. More meditation. More walks with Ziggy. More presence.
I want hobbies that don’t always turn into content. Reading physical books. Sewing. Taking photos with my camera just because. Creating without an audience.
I want to be more present in my own life. Less scrolling. More cooking at home. Mastering sourdough. Hosting. Building routines that support the kind of future I want.
I want community. New friendships. Deeper connections. A life that expands beyond what it has been. Expanding my social life to include new things and groups.
I want rest AND ambition, just not at the same time. Less weekend work. More hikes. More travel. I didn’t step foot in an airport once this year, and that needs to change. More structure and planning around my business itself and where I am going to take it. I am still going to be a power house, I just need to be intentional about boundaries.
I’m simply looking for balance.
Lastly, I need to work on my habit of comparing myself to others.
This one is hard. Being 38 without a family, kids, a house, financial freedom, or a long tenure can feel lonely. There’s a life I once imagined for myself, and my reality looks different than I thought it would by now.
So, this year is about setting goals and working toward them, while staying open to what God has planned for me. Because that’s where this all leads. God. He has always had my back, even when I couldn’t see it. And sometimes his plan is different than our plan. I have to let go of control.
I don’t know how to perfectly wrap this up, but I know this: this year was hard. I’m deeply grateful for the blessings that showed up in the mess. And I can’t wait to see what’s ahead.
The year of “shedding” is over.
2026 is going to be my year of growth.
Growth in myself. In my business. In my success. And hopefully in my family — whether that means meeting someone special or just getting Ziggy a brother is still TBD.
Expect a shift in denvershewrote. Expect to see my career continue to flourish. And don’t mind me as I promote myself, my work, and explore new ways we can work together in 2026. Social media can do incredible things for small business owners, and I want to be part of that.
If you made it this far — wow. You’re a real one. So much love to you.
Cheers to what’s coming. Damn it, 2026… you’re going to be my year.