Each week is a new beginning
Not a lesson, just a reminder (and a giveaway!)
If this newsletter had a mantra, it would be: You can always begin again. It’s a concept I’ve written about many times, one that editor Becca and I remind each other of constantly. It’s also the guiding premise behind the weekly intentions document I create each year.
Miss a day of meditation, exercise, or Morning Pages? Return to drinking, smoking, or scrolling social media? Break a now to never-ever miss a deadline, payment, or writing goal?
It’s okay. You can always begin again. No need to panic, beat yourself up, or abandon your plans entirely. Give yourself grace — you’re human after all, navigating an unpredictable life. You can simply begin again.
I wanted to share this reminder because January 1, 2025, has already come and gone. I love the fresh-start feeling that comes with a new year, but I often have to remind myself that it’s not an all-or-nothing event. It’s not a test to see how long I can stick to a habit or the only opportunity to kickstart a new practice. It’s just a date — one we’ve collectively given extra significance.
And if we’ve done that for January 1, why not for other days? Today is January 5, 2025 — the first Sunday of the new year. Why shouldn’t this day feel significant, too?
For me, it does. It’s my first chance to set a full week of intentions for the year. It’s an opportunity to reflect on what I’d like to accomplish or change, then to try. And if I don’t succeed? I’ll begin again. I’ve got 52 other opportunities to do just that.
If you’ve been curious about trying weekly intentions, today is the perfect day to start. Just last week, I heard from a reader named Sofie who asked for a link to the accountability buddy version of the intentions document. “My friend and I love this document,” she wrote. “It’s changed my life!!!!”
Four exclamation points! Listen to Sofie, y’all — weekly intentions really are magic.
Creating these weekly intentions documents is a labor of love — one made possible by readers who are paying subscribers. If that’s you, thank you so much. The past few months have been financially stressful, and your support means the world. If you’ve been thinking about upgrading your support, you can do so here.
Still here? Awesome. This next part is just for you, paying subscribers. Hello, friends!