The Future I Stopped Pretending Not to Want

Woman drawing at a desk in a home studio, with a faint, ghosted image of her younger self in the background.

I thought that, when I retired, stepping away from goals and schedules would bring peace. Instead, I discovered restlessness, distraction, and a loss of meaning. This week I reflect on how I found my way back in 2025—not to obligation, but to making, learning, and respecting my real nature.

The secret power of mini-projects

A hand holding a small illustrated zine titled “How to Catch a Story” in front of a larger unfinished oil pastel portrait of a male paladin in armor.

Sometimes the secret to finishing creative work isn’t more time or more discipline — it’s thinking smaller. Here’s why mini projects have helped me finish more in two months than I did in the last two years.