Studio Files .11

2025 : A Year of Intentional Action.

images clockwise : 1, 2, 3, 4

Each January I spend a good bit of time in reflection. Quietly absorbing the year we’ve just exited. Free writing thoughts of gratitude, letters of disappointment, lists of wins and of misses.

This blank space of winding down before beginning again is a ritual that works well for me, grounding me in the present moment. Forcing me to take stock of the days behind - to both celebrate and honor all that happened in the past year, AND also notice where I fell short of my dreams.

A perpetual list-maker, type A, recovering perfectionist, I tend to live in my head a lot - January, and the months that follow are no exception.

Dreaming, writing, obsessing, planning about the things I want to do, need to do, want to learn.

All of this spinning can leave me paralyzed in thought. Well-read and studied, but not always well-motioned.

In 2025, I’m looking to live more in a state of MOVEMENT..

To FEEL into the day, vs THINK into the day.

To focus on the DOING, along with the BEING.

To live with intention, AND to embrace action.

To dial down my consumption, while dialing up my creating.

Get into the habit of asking yourself, "Does this support the life I'm trying to create?”

―Kristi Ling Spencer

2025 : my year of intentional action.

With my time. My people. My work.

My body. My art. My involvement in the world around me.

The real magic in being intentional with my time and thoughts, is actually putting my best intentions into the world.

To make the art, the sourdough, the bed, vs. dreaming about the making.

To host the party, take the trip, make the call, vs. endlessly researching.

To do the thing, eat the frog, make a mess, vs. journaling and meditating on it.

The intention is the seed, the beginning, the nudge. A seed never watered, never seeing sunlight, never nurtured stays just that…small and unseen.

Action, even imperfect, is the goal. The best teacher in the world. The surest way to make progress is to show up, messy, in learning, always.

So, today, ask yourself (as am I):

• What’s your intention?

• What’s one small action you can take toward it?

• Can you let go of perfection and just take that step?

Let’s do this.

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A small list of things bringing me joy these days:

my favorite pen in frosted pink.

this amazing + super simple salmon dish on repeat.

the most perfect cobalt blue bowl, on sale!

these amazing works by artist john vitale.

these mineral watercolors, a gift from my artist mom.

our two orchids, bold in their rebloom.

YOU. Thanks for being here with me!