August 6 marked the midpoint of summer. In Colorado, until recently, we’d experienced an extremely hot and dry season with smoky air-filled days due to the fires occurring in our state and elsewhere. I commented to a friend that I almost feel like I do in winter—when I stay indoors most of the time. In winter, being indoors feels natural, but in summertime … not so much. My body craves the sunlight and outdoor activities that the heat and smoke precluded me from enjoying.

I’m hopeful that the remaining days of summer will offer us a continued reprieve from the heat and more much-needed rain. And, of course, the chance for me to get back outside, walking, riding my bike, and getting in the water to paddleboard.

Creative Collaborations Now Out in the World

What these past many weeks have given me, though, is plenty of time to reflect. Moving beyond summer’s midpoint and well past the midpoint of the year, I took some time to look back. I started with revisiting journals and then turned to the blogs I’d written more recently to see what I’d shared publicly. I was surprised to see that I’d only written one blog this year, back in February. And the blogs I wrote in 2025 reflected my focus on regaining my strength and mobility while trying to reconnect with my personal writing. Although that writing seemed to be in a season of fallowness, I worked to complete a collaborative project, which culminated in publishing Circle Wisdom last October.

This year, I’ve had the honor and privilege to work on four publishing projects, three of which have now been birthed into the world. The fourth is about to enter the world at the end of this month. Two of these books have stretched me in ways I never dreamed. Creating a visually appealing journal and a coffee table photography book took incredible design work and collaboration to bring the authors’ visions to reality. I was graced with the ability to work with Melissa McQueen of Creative Reflections Design, whose gifts and talents are reflected on every page.

These projects have shown me that as much as I might believe my creativity is dormant, it is actually alive and well. What I haven’t been able to do, however, is turn my creative expression toward my own writing. In February, I declared that by the end of 2026, I’d have the draft of my second memoir complete. From today’s vantage point in late August, my sense is that a first draft by year’s end is highly unlikely.

This reminds me of all the times I make declarations (usually only to myself) and then fall short—whether it’s about exercise and movement or some other commitment I know is important for my health and longevity. Something seems to get in the way of sticking to my intentions … and that something seems to be me. I don’t say that to chastise myself, but I do see that I am the one who allows “other” to get in the way. And that “other” is not only how far I extend myself in the work I do for others, but also the ways I extend myself in my personal life. This year, much of my energy has gone into supporting my family and taking care of home projects. All important. All essential. All life interruptions that required my energy, focus, and attention. Yet, I’m aware that when the level of outside focus hits a tipping point, I am unable to focus on what I want and need for myself.

Trust Your Internal Spark

In my February blog, I shared that according to the Chinese zodiac, we are in the Year of the Fire Horse. I’ve thought about where I’ve been and where I am as it relates to the zodiac. The Year of the Fire Horse is traditionally associated with the need to break through barriers and pursue what sets the soul aflame. Fire illuminates, transforms, and reveals what can no longer remain hidden. Fire burns away what is no longer necessary, calling us toward a more authentic path forward. Yet, this intensity is balanced by other qualities associated with Horse, like calmness, connectedness, and curiosity.

At this midpoint, exactly six months since we entered the Year of the Fire Horse, this is where I am poised: standing with curiosity, looking at the opportunity to consider what has held me back and to ready myself to act more boldly, confront my fears (which include revisiting painful memories from my past), and trust that my internal spark will ignite and point me toward choosing myself and my story.

July marked my birthday and an invitation to another year around the sun. Feeling the profound gift of celebrating another birthday, I took some time to look at the significance of my birth year numerology. I discovered that in numerology, this next year is a personal 9 year. As I’ve read about what this can mean for me personally, I’ve discovered that a personal 9 year is a completion year. So maybe I’m right on time for finishing my manuscript. My year began in mid-July. This realization is freeing and offers me hope.

But what about the circumstances that pull me away from my writing? Well, it seems this is the year to take time to consider what “completion” can look like in those areas as well. This year can be a powerful time for me to complete unfinished business and resolve areas of “stickiness” in my life. It can also represent a year of strengthening what I’ll need for the next nine-year cycle of growth.

Daily Accountability Checklist

At the end of the day, no matter what I turn to for meaning and understanding, what happens next is primarily up to me. As much as possible, I need to do the internal work to make my writing a priority. That doesn’t mean I ignore or disregard all other (which I couldn’t do, no matter how hard I tried). But I can consider whether I’m making sure I and my needs and aspirations are part of the equation. And that’s where accountability and check-ins come into play—especially staying honest with myself and with my trusted friends and advisors.

So, here’s my brief daily accountability checklist. Feel free to use it in your day-to-day life in whatever ways it might serve you, whether for your writing or for making big or small life changes.

At the beginning of the day:

1. What is most important/essential for me to focus on today?
2. What/who do I have commitments to today?
3. What/who might be an unexpected interruption (based on the recent past)?
4. How might I mitigate any interruptions?
5. What is important/essential for me to make time for today to support my well-being and aspirations?

At or near the end of the day:

1. Was I able to fulfill the day’s commitments, including those to others? If not, what happened?
2. Did I experience any unexpected interruptions? If so, how did I manage them?
3. Did those interruptions take me off course completely or was I able to get back on track? How did I respond?
4. Was I able to support my well-being and aspirations today? If so, how? If not, why?
5. What have I learned to take with me into tomorrow?

Returning to Yourself

I believe we all experience periods in our lives when we feel disconnected from our aspirations, including our creativity. Yet, no matter how long those periods last, or why they’ve occurred, our deeper longings and forms of expression are never lost. Those deeper parts of ourselves are never gone, only waiting for our return. At those times when we have a knowing that we are meant to create, when we feel the undulating waves of desire to begin or to return to our creative endeavors, we are being invited back to ourselves. It’s up to us to find our way into listening and responding.

During these periods of time, it’s essential that we offer ourselves our own tender hearts and the generosity of curiosity, loving kindness, compassion, understanding, and our unwavering belief in ourselves and what we desire to create.

May this knowing be with you today and in all the days to follow.