SECOND ACT STORIES

Hello, my friends,

As winter settles in and the year begins its quiet closing, I find myself reaching for warmth in all its forms—soft blankets, glowing lamps, long conversations, and yes, the comfort of words. December has always felt like a season made for reflection, but this year, I’m learning to welcome its stillness in a new way.

The holidays can be bright and bustling, but beneath all that noise there’s a softer rhythm, an invitation to slow down and savor the pieces of life we often rush through. For me, that rhythm shows up in my writing. When the world grows colder, the page becomes a hearth—somewhere I can sit, breathe, and reconnect with what matters.

This month, I wanted to share a bit of that warmth with you.

A Season for Poetry

Poetry has been my steady companion this year. Sometimes it arrived like a whisper, other times like a confession. It helped me trace the shape of healing, the edges of longing, and the unexpected beauty in a second act of life.

Below, you’ll find a couple of my favorite poems from this season—pieces that held my hand through transition, transformation, and the kind of quiet honesty winter brings. I hope they offer a moment of grounding for you, too.

If you’re reading this with a warm drink in hand—perfect. If not, consider this your nudge to pour one.

A Year of Turning Pages

2025 has been a year of momentum in my creative life:
✨ finishing and refining new poetry
✨ pushing deeper into The Taste of Crimson
✨ building this community of readers and fellow travelers
✨ learning to trust the pace of my own becoming

Not everything went according to the plan I sketched back in January… and somehow, that feels exactly right. The best stories rarely follow a straight line.

What has mattered most is showing up—word after word, day after day—and finding you here, reading, supporting, and walking alongside me. This newsletter has become one of my favorite places to meet you each month.

Until next time,