Nine months ago I pitched an idea to my store-owner father about taking over a small room in the back of his bookshop. I have had a long-standing dream of a brick and mortar space where I can sell books, create networking opportunities, offer literary programming, and build brand awareness. This tiny space would allow me to scratch that itch without the outpouring of energy and staff required by a larger building.

First Friday Newsletter 02

It’s obviously unfair of me to have any feelings about this at all. I wasn’t even invited. And if you’re not invited, how can you miss out? I’m not even in the same country. And yet. My immediate response was jealousy and a wave of FOMO so heavy I wanted to stomp my foot like a toddler.

Have you ever felt the gut punch of confidence being knocked out of you? As much as I think it’s an important experience to go through (as long as it doesn’t put you in a position you can’t recover from), it’s a hard pill to swallow.

First Friday Newsletter 01

My son slipped out onto the platform. The doors closed. The train pulled away with five of us still inside. We were going the wrong direction, leaving one of our own behind.

I spent my morning with the executive director of an art gallery, discussing programming and collaboration opportunities and how merging creative disciplines is a powerful way to perpetuate the arts.

I believe in saying things out loud as a method of making them true. Manifesting.

I am wildly determined. Not because I was born that way, but because I make a choice each day to keep trying.

“It’s possible,” I said as traffic started to move through the lights.

As of today, I have reached 75% of the 2022 gross income goal I set for my small business.

Here I am. Six months into this self-employment journey. Twenty-six weeks since I could rely on a steady pay cheque. 150 days since I've had someone telling me what to do.

In the fifth grade, my friend Miranda was obsessed with New Kids on the Block and fully determined to marry Jordan Knight.

I believe in magic. I always have. It's why I devoured Tolkien as a child and how I know there's always something just beyond my reach.

Showing up to a job that doesn't move you or challenge you or encourage growth or empower you to do better is not a job; it's a chore.

Last week I shared in my Instagram stories about how I wanted to put up boundaries around my weekend.

2021 brought so much change. It opened the door to creating my own space for my business and the push I needed to finally leave my day job and pursue a full time career in publishing.