New Journal, New Outlook, New Year

For the first time in a long time, the new year has corresponded with the start of my new journal. I spent over a year in the last one, so this is somewhat of a surprise to me that I FINALLY filled the 200 page book and am getting to start another one. We will see how long this one lasts me before I can start another one, but there is something pretty fun and satisfying about transferring from one book to the next one.

I am really taking my 2026 word of the year to heart right now. Metamorphosis is coming. I am heading towards a new phase of existence, and while it is a bit scary, it is also exhilarating. I am getting ready to become something else in my profession, and I am both excited and terrified of the transition!

I took some steps towards my new existence on Friday by opening my business accounts with the seed money I have saved over the years. New accounts and a new bank. I have had a bill that will be covered by the business next year (I am hoping), and that is something that I am pretty giddy about right now. Thinking about expenses that will move over to the business rather than my "hobby." It is time to get some more knowledge about how to do all of this!

So, that means a bit of a new outlook.

The best thing about this year, so far, has been the establishment of my new business. Things are officially official. This fact gives me stomach flutters and makes my anxiety spike, but I will also figure out what I don't know right now.

I am not someone who feels like a new journal will "fix" the situations in my life that I want to "fix," but I enjoy the start of a new book. My sister did not want me to decorate the book with my usual Star Wars stickers, but I did anyway. I am enjoying the visual of the red cover with an R2-D2 sticker on the front and a Darth Vader sticker on the back. The brown journal is now complete, so I will be retiring it to the shelf in the next couple of weeks.

I have a shelf of my old planning journals where I store my past. Now most of the time, this blog acts more as a diary than my journals, but there are times when my planner acts as a diary. I keep them but don't look at them often. The brown one will go to the shelf soon.

Right now, I am getting myself ready to host a symposium about working with adolescents. It will be happening on January 24th from 10-1 Central time. Click here if you want more information. This is the first thing that my business will be hosting. I am looking forward to the conversations that I hope will start up during this symposium.

Be on the lookout for more changes happening around here. I am in the last day of my winter break, so I will be doing some brainstorming about the things that I want to accomplish this year. Blogging is always on that list. Time to get started with the entire process - see you tomorrow.

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