2025 was a huge year of loss. Friendships, security, and then my mom.

Our relationship was difficult. I have been processing so much since she passed.

In addition, a career change was/is looming.

And so, in September 2026, I’m facing a huge shift in just about every aspect of my life.

I am peeling off parts of myself that I’ve been wearing like skin and letting myself stretch and adjust to the air on my new self.

In this era of my life, I want to be less hesitant, more reliable. But instead of being more present and reliable for external entities that only benefit from my overextending and my exhaustion, I’m turning to my family and friends. Those who support the woman I want to be in this stage of life.

That being said, I want to focus more on myself. Pivoting to some type of Social Work, art therapy-based work. I am writing my statement of purpose for grad school, and I am applying to jobs in that area.

I ant to return to focusing on my website and learning the new tools to edit and share my art. I aim to share more art, make more longform content, and try to share hope now more than ever. My Print-a-Month club is still going strong, and I am absolutely so grateful for all my Patrons for helping me stay creative, especially in this challenging transition in life..

It feels at times, that I’m flailing around in the dark, and that is a terrifying feeling, but I have to reassure myself that if this position elimination didn’t happen, I may have remained stuck in a path that was growing increasingly less manageable and sustaining.

So, I’m taking a leap of faith, knowing that I can do new things. I can take risks. And I can let go of old dreams that do not fit me. And succeed at the news dreams I have in this stage of life.

I’m feeling hopeful again.

~Traci (aka MythicalMagpie)