The Blank Page of 2024

...and the plans I'm making to write on it.

Quick note: Here’s how this will go—I have many paid subs, some of whom paid for a year’s worth of supporting me on this platform. There isn’t an easy way to issue a mass amount of refunds without going deep in the pocket. I’d like to eventually move everything over to Patreon —as your paid subscriptions come due, I will leave it up to you to decide if you’d like to continue your support over there, or leave it the way it is here or cancel altogether but I’m not comfortable paying for substack’s Nazi problem or abandoning my subs who generously support me. That’s how I’m handling this. I have future paid subscriptions turned off, so I’m not taking an new paid subs.

Moving on,

Hello! Happy New Year. ((hugs))

I’ve missed sitting at my desk with an eagerness in my heart to uplift you!

Encourage!

Inspire!

I’ve been thinking about all of you. What do you need? It’s the beginning of a new year with universally felt feelings and experiences. I love how there are two prevailing sentiments. There are the memes and articles with the whole “New Year, New Me” vibes, right? The folks who love making New Year’s resolutions. And, there are the people who HATE resolutions and resist setting goals in January and discourage people from doing that.

But I love the blank slate of a new year and I don’t see them as resolutions or some tired tradition of making goals you’ll never keep and more like reflecting on the past year to see if there are mistakes you made that you want to learn from so changes can be made heading into this year. Can I tell you what I discovered as I went through that process?

-Last year, I said “yes” to things/people that I wanted to say “no” to. This year, I’m saying no and I’m undoing those yeses

-Last year, I wasted time on things that did not serve my goals. This year, I let them go

-Last year, I sabotaged my mental health for things/people who did not support me. This year, I let those go

-Last year, I made an effort to make sustainable changes. This year, keep going.

-Last year, I learned more about what gives me peace and joy. This year, put them first!

-Last year, I let go of people-pleasing behaviors. This year, I won’t bring them back.

-Last year, I made hard decisions that prioritized my health. This year, keep going.

• I’m eating a more plant-based diet.

• I set exercise goals on my Peloton app.

• I’m keeping a book journal.

• Discovering new music

• I take no shit.

• I don’t put off visits to the doctor or dentist.

• I spend money on quality food and healthcare products.

• I spend less time worrying about things I can’t control.

• I recognize when I’m about to say yes to something because I feel obligated rather than because I want to

• I advocate for myself

• I say the thing I want to say, NEED to say

• I silence the voice in my head that bullies me. I replace it with the voice that encourages me

• I don’t chase or strive for the accolades of others. Being proud of myself and my achievements is all that matters

• I will say the kind thing that pops into my head, the encouraging word, give a smile, pay a compliment, vouch for someone, donate, volunteer, and praise

This year, you can expect me to come to this platform with enthusiasm, observations, encouragement, and information. This year, we’re going to put into practice the lessons we’ve learned and support each other in the journey. I’m writing a new book, what are you doing?

How can I help?

Happy New Year. We’re doing big things.

xx

author

Sadie Hartmann on Instagram

January 14, 2024