It feels like almost everyday you see people posting how they are starting in their new era or going on a quest of discovery for themselves. I love seeing those posts. Also, I had some envy for those posts. Honestly, it started feeling like I was the character watching everyone have a quest bestowed upon them while sitting there and wondering if it will ever be my turn. It can now be said that it’s my turn.

Well, I’m making it my turn. Some quests are gifted to you, some you’re directed on, and some are self imposed. This one is a self-imposed quest, or journey if you will. To be honest, it’s the journey part that I’m after, not the destination.

This blog, as well as my YouTube channel, have been on and off for the last 2 years. If you haven’t been following, don’t worry about it. I’m bringing some changes both here and on YouTube. Before I get too far ahead of myself, let’s dive in to see the problems that have caused all this in the first place.

Consistency. Until a couple days ago when I had my first little breakthrough in a while, I considered this word my nemesis. In my own little world, the ADHD despised this habit because I didn’t understand how to make it work for me. Yes, I consistently show up for my day job, do the work, and clock out. Yes, I consistently remember to feed myself (not always the healthiest foods though). Yes, I wake up and follow everyday routines. The one thing that didn’t click until recently was the pressure that was driving the consistency. Being accountable to other people was much easier than being accountable to myself. However, it does come with its own set of problems. The pressure I felt to meet the expectations being put upon me, especially in the day job environment.

The last 7 months of this year were dragging me further into the ground. It felt like no matter how hard I worked, how many adjustments or fine tuning I made to a process, or even the extra hours of work it felt like I wasn’t getting ahead. Now, I’m not referring to climbing up the ladder. The reference is to all the projects that had been put on my plate with the belief that I was going to be able to handle them. It wasn’t true. There was a struggle to adjust with the last project I was handed. Then I was handed another. It was all going well until one of the projects handed over exploded in my face because the person who gave it to me wasn’t able to handle it well either. Myself and my boss at the time caught all the fallout. Yes, conversations were had to get things removed from my plate. Did it happen? No. Somehow, by the end I was coerced into keeping it on my plate.

Going through all that, it took away a good part of the mental space I had for my creative expression. It was now a bigger challenge to leave work behind when I drove away from the building. The stress was eating away at me. Trying to tell people it was too much wasn’t working. I never felt heard. So, I left and took a job (plus a pay cut) that is a better fit for my mental health. Since leaving my creativity is starting to come back, my stress levels are lower, my sleep has improved, and now I have the time for getting back to this. By this, I mean all the projects I started but didn’t stick to the consistency of making them work. Unfortunately, I have no set publishing schedule at the moment. I’m going to let that come naturally. There will still be goals that I’m going to meet though.

This leads to the next topic of what is going to change. I do love to travel and find new places. However, with the budget being a little tighter and the rising cost of gas, those adventures will be less frequent. In between those little trips I manage to take, I’ll be working on the crafty side of things. Currently, we are working on decorating the new place we are in and I’m going to really let my creativity lose by theming some of the spaces. One adventure will be figuring out how to build cat shelving so our feline trio can have high places to perch and judge us from.

More than anything, this is my way of recovering from the burnout state my last job left me in. Currently, I’m imagining all the ways I can make this blog and the YouTube channel work for me. As unfun as it sounds, one of the first steps was to create a schedule for me to work on it. At the start, it will be only 3-5 hours a week. Writing articles takes time and so does filming a video. While I do enjoy just hitting record and seeing what happens, that’s not what I am imagining moving forward into this next chapter.

What can you expect from me moving forward? As nice as it might be to have this big paragraph of ‘here’s the plan and here’s what we’re doing now!’, that’s not what I have for you. Moving forward, I’ll be publishing in unison with the channel. Why look at both? They will each have their own elements to them. For any topic, the blog will be great because I’ll list crafting supplies or addresses for must see places all in one article to avoid rewatching or finding that video again. Another bonus for this platform, I’ll be giving more behind-the-scenes details, photos, and detailed instructions. All the little things you won’t get in the videos.

Oh, and let’s not forget the most important disclaimer for this new chapter. I’m starting in the awkward phase! The one that happens while a person figures out their own writing/filming style and develops new skills. Yes, it will be awkward and I hope you will stick around to see me grow.

This journey is one that I have been looking forward to. It did take longer than I wanted to figure out the starting point, but even that is part of the whole journey.

Welcome everyone, to the awkward start of the journey and hopefully to my new successful chapter in life!

Check out my YouTube Channel HERE

Check out my Instagram HERE