Dear Friend,

September means back to school. Do you embrace this time of year? For me, this feels more like a fresh start and new beginning than the new calendar year is known for. August and September mean new schedules, new teachers and friends, new opportunities, new activities, a new welcomed-after-the-heat-of-summer season, and the idea of finishing the year strong, on a positive note.

“Be willing to be a beginner every single morning.” -Meister Eckhart

Somewhere I read that we should be beginners. The concept goes back for centuries, actually. It is healthy for us to learn new things, try things we haven’t done before, get out of our comfort zone of knowing, and embrace learning. And the liberating part of this mindset is that failure most likely will come, but that it’s okay. It’s all part of the beauty of beginning.

Steve Jobs said it well:

“The heaviness of being successful was replaced by the lightness of being a beginner again, less sure about everything. It freed me to enter one of the most creative periods of my life.”

I practiced this concept over the summer. The hard season I’m in has had me feeling foggy, dull, and like my creativity needed a new spark. So I became intentional to try something new. I added some space in my days to both learn to needlepoint and learn to play mahjong. My brain responded joyfully to this hands-on newness of creativity, concepts, and strategic thinking.

So what’s new for me in this final season of the year? I’m using this time to begin writing my newsletter again. A few other new things that I’m finally tackling and putting some energy into are finalizing my new look for branding, building my Pinterest page and making pins (a fun creative outlet!)(go find me!), getting used to posting on Instagram again (why does it feel a little weird these days?), and planning out my next collection to begin illustrating (looking at you, pretty songbirds).

What about you? Do you embrace this last quarter of our calendar year with the anticipation of new things? What are you starting? What are you beginning again? What do you WANT to begin again? I’d love to know- hit reply and share your start!

And this brings me to who you know… who in your world is taking on something new? Beginning again after a hard season? Embracing a fresh fall start?

Here’s your sign to write them a letter. Tell them you are excited for them. Let them know how proud you are of them. Offer them support and encouragement for their journey ahead. Take the time to put in writing what your mind thinks of when you think of them. I promise you will make their day!

Starter Sayings to get your thoughts going:

​ ”I heard you were starting a new journey doing _____. You deserve to go after these dreams you’ve had and put your best foot forward. I’m rooting for you as you… “

​ ”It takes a lot of courage to begin again. I want you to know how proud I am that you… “

​ ”Look at you taking this opportunity to start ______ this fall! I can’t wait to see what lies ahead as you put yourself out there to… “

Happy Writing!

​
❤️ Jill

P.S If you have a friend who you think may enjoy my newsletter, I’d be so grateful if you would forward this to them.

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