Fall is an appropriate season for reflection. Nature is purging itself of the old dried out leaves and releasing fruits to fall for the harvest. All are steps to prepare for the fresh new year, or spring, when new blossoms and branches appear. The destruction and elimination leads room to start planning. There’s a long winter ahead of us that can utilized to find clarity and prepare for a fresh start in the spring. We finish out the year with celebrations, holidays, time with family and friends, then we head into January ready to start over again. It is an interesting annual process and I for one, would like to take better advantage of this natural time to think and process.
It feels like the holidays are well underway at my home. My dining table is covered in holiday decor, preparing for shoots and sponsored posts. My days of late are spent finding props, choosing flowers and brainstorming recipes. But from your perspective, it’s as if I’ve gone silent. Not too many blog posts or social media (mostly Instagram when I feel a photo is good enough). I have started my process of reflection while I continue my freelance work.
I recently took an amazing class taught by Justina Blakeney and it set me on a path of deep reflection. I have become a doer, completing various tasks and jobs without really connecting the dots, little strategy which is very unlike me. I received some much needed advice from Justina to clarify, build my niche and regroup everything Planning Pretty has become. My two year blog anniversary is coming up (November 5th) and creates the opportunity to decide on a direction.
I’m taking this much needed time between now and the 5th to work through a lot of ideas and chose a path. I’m spending most mornings deep in pensive thought, afternoons brainstorming, evenings discussing options with Mr. Planning Pretty and my freelance work in between.
Self-reflection is a difficult task, but can have a very rewarding end. I’ve found a few helpful resources to work through this season. Jess Lively produces a wonderful podcast for anyone in a transition. Listen to her Life with Intention series on your way home, working out, or cleaning up. She interviews top creatives and bloggers but the lessons are applicable to any industry or stage in life.
While I take this fall season to deeply reflect, I will post every now and then. Please share if there’s anything you’ve particularly loved on Planning Pretty or my contributions out in the internet world. Your feedback will aid in this decision process towards recommitting or changing course.
Have a wonderful week!
It’s so funny that you posted this because I also follow Jess Lively and just finished listening to her podcast about using the tool of an accountability partner to focus Lately like you, I’ve been doing a lot of self reflection and reflecting over my design & party planning business because, in addition to it, I work full time & I’m a wife & mom; and time is priceless to me. It’s so easy, especially as a freelancer to get wrapped up in client projects and not take the time out to focus on maintaining your business.
I very much enjoy your blog and get excited about all your project reveals. So I encourage you to keep blogging and designing if you feel it means staying true to YOU.
Thank you Anita for your comment and feedback! It definitely helps to have friends + peers out in the world who get this crazy creative world. I’m getting my ducks in row because I do believe this brand is very much so a reflection of me!