I went through a lot of breakups in 2020. I got divorced, which is obviously The Big One, but I also stopped shaving my armpits, ended my toxic relationship with jeans, changed jobs, moved across the country, and culled approximately 75 percent of my belongings. To be honest, I have no idea how any of these breakups will affect me long-term, because they’re all very fresh.

What I do know is that the last year has forced me to stop going through the motions and actually think about what I want, why I want it, and how I plan to get it. I wrote the word “manifestation” in my planner at the start of 2020, then used that as a jumping-off point to map out my goals. I don’t think I need to tell you how absolutely sideways that went, but the general idea has persisted, even as my entire life has been rolled through a tumble dryer on high.

Although it may seem superficial, starting my portfolio site over is a major step for me, and I’m excited to be launching this version of the site today. Leaving WordPress behind is something I’ve waffled over for years, and part of me is scared to leave behind the content I published there — but the rest of me is excited for a “clean slate,” so to speak, so I can build something new that’s more reflective of where I am in my career right now (and where I hope to be in the future).

I’m terrible at “housekeeping” blog posts, so don’t expect too many update-style entries like this one, but do expect more blog posts generally. There’s so much I want to write about and talk about and do, and I’m hoping to host all of that right here.

I have a ton of projects in progress that I’ll (hopefully) be tackling soon, and I’m feeling a bit more hopeful about the future now than I was at this time last year. I’ll be honest: My mental health has been through more ups and downs in the last 12 months than I ever could have predicted, and I’m not entirely proud of how I’ve processed and reacted to major changes. But I’m dedicated to doing and being better. If you’re reading this, and you’ve been following my work at all, thank you. I appreciate you, your patience, and your kindness. I don’t know what the rest of 2021 will bring, but I’m as ready for it as I can be.

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