January was kind of a big month! Not only was it the start of the decade, but it was also the beginning of my adult life. This was the month I started working and began learning how to exist in the real world. And it’s been a struggle. As much as I resent being put on a schedule for class or work, at least it keeps me accountable for functioning. As a freelancer, I’m learning self-discipline and I are not well-acquainted. But I’m trying, and I think that’s what counts. At least for now.

Since I’m not in school anymore, I thought I’d switch up my blog format. On my monthly reflection posts, I’ll talk about my creative process, my work life, and being a human being. For my second monthly blog post (yeah, 2 posts a month from me, get used to a content overload), I’ll review the things I’ve read and watched to give me more room to express my opinions.

Oh, you may have noticed I changed my logo. This was a spur-of-the-moment passion project I decided to just do. When I commissioned my logo a few years ago, I really needed some guidance in rebranding and establishing myself professionally, and I still appreciate that logo. But I wanted to take control of my branding by creating something myself, something a little simpler, something authentic to me. So now there’s a new logo in town, and I personally love it.

Now update time!

to create

I’ve taken a bit of a break from writing, which seems contrary to my goal of entering the publishing world this year. But right now, I just need time away from writing. I’m letting myself miss it and building up that passion for storytelling again. As ideas churn, I Pinterest a lot, but haven’t written much other than the occasional brainstorm. At some point, I’ll miss writing too much to stay away, and that’s when I’ll launch back into it.

In the meantime, here are the videos and posts I’ve made this month.

I Graduated College: 2019 Reflection: If you missed my first blog of the month/year/decade, here’s the wrapup on 2019 and my final year in college.

New Year, New Road Trip: Over on my personal channel with my partner Ray, we did a little vlog about our road trip to Virginia.

Capstone Chronicles #4: I finally edited the wrapup of my 2019 spring semester writing experience.

Don’t Postpone Joy: 2020 Resolutions: I wasn’t kidding about 2 blog posts a month. I discuss my New Years resolutions for 2020 in this one – and why it’s okay to be imperfect at keeping them.

Capstone Chronicles #5: Did I mention 2 videos a month as well? Yeah, I’m on a post-grad roll. This is another belated video about my experience doing Camp NaNoWriMo in July 2019. Don’t know what that is? Watch the video to find out.

to work

This was my first month as a full-time freelance writer!

I had a big project to do with one of my clients and I ended up working 9-5 in their office for two weeks to finish it. And I gotta say, I did not like the 9-5 grind. Maybe it’s just because my attention span can’t handle it, or maybe I just consistently didn’t prepare myself for a productive morning. But every day, I sat exhausted for the first 3 hours of work, hardly getting anything done. Then I went home for lunch and to see my dog, while trying not to nap (sometimes unsuccessfully). During my lunch break, I usually got a coffee that got me through the rest of the day. But wow, it was boring.

Every day, I felt like I wasted so much time being in an office. I couldn’t concentrate on tedious tasks long enough to work the entire 7 hours, so I had to take breaks. And those breaks would have been so much more fulfilling if I weren’t trapped in an office the whole time. The only way I got through it was by listening to podcasts that kept me engaged in the day.

The next couple weeks, I was able to work from home, and it was lifechanging. I realized I love freelance – when it’s actually working on my own time. I was able to schedule meetings to hold me accountable and work wherever was most productive for me. Plus, during my downtime throughout the day, I could actually do something productive, like take my dog for a walk or run to the store, instead of sitting in an office for the sake of “being at work.”

As unstable as freelancing is, I have to say I love having the freedom of setting my own schedule. Even if I’m struggling with the self-discipline to make that schedule.

But perhaps the best part of being a working professional is this amazing laptop bag my mom got me for Christmas. It’s gorgeous, it’s durable, it holds everything I need and more. And damn, is it professional.

to live

January 1-5: Road trip to Virginia

As mentioned in the link for my vlog, Ray and I took a road trip to Virginia with her mom and sister and our collective four dogs. The main goal of the trip was to visit Ray’s horse, Gus. Due to the uncertainty of the future, Ray wanted Gus to have a more stable (lol) home and sold him to her former horse riding student, who was moving to a family farm in Virginia.

On the trip, we got to visit Gus at his beautiful new stable, hang out with his new parents, and even take a short trip up to D.C., where Pi saw the city in the comfort of a backpack. See the vlog for more incredible footage.

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January 8: Obi Wan

Ray wore me down. Her mom is a middle school science teacher with a class pet: a leopard gecko named Cornelius Wigglebottom III. After becoming obsessed with Cornelius, Ray pestered me about wanting a lizard for weeks. I finally relented and said I would be comfortable with her getting one, and she hopped on the opportunity. After a few trips to Petsmart, we found The One, the leopard gecko of Ray’s dreams.

This little guy is Obi Wan. He’s pretty young, so we get to see him grow up. He’s taken some acclimating to his new home, but he’s warming up to human contact a little more every day. He’s officially perfect.

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And that’s January! Tell me how the first month of the year went for you. Any traveling or new opportunities? Did you impulse-buy a leopard gecko? Tell me all about it. Feel free to like this post or follow my blog as you see fit.

That’s all for now. Thanks for reading!