Today marks one whole year since my first proper Drafting newsletter went out. It was orchestrated specifically. 21st February is the 52nd day of the calendar year and 52 is my favourite number. I often do this. Find little ways to make things align and feel more special or of greater significance to me. I’m not sure this exactly counts as romanticising my life but I suppose I can sort of attach it. An approach to life that looks for signs or glimmers as reassurance and confirmation of being on the right path. Even if you’re the mastermind behind the whole thing.
Aside from my arbitrary reasons for picking the 21st February I don’t think the date has any real importance generally. Not according to Wikipedia anyway. Although I’m finding it nice to think about what else is happening around us. Looking for links back to where I find myself in the here and now. Forming thoughts and ideas about what lies ahead. So, what else is there?
We’re in the zodiac sign of Pisces. A water sign characterised by traits of a strong intuition and an emotional capacity that leans itself towards feeling things very deeply. The season of Pisces is all about building connections and everything blurring into one single stream. People, influences, art, your dreams - all these things merging into what makes you who you are.
We’ve also had a taste of Fool’s Spring this past week. Mild, balmy days that give way to dreamy thoughts of lighter evenings and more time spent outdoors. As I sit and write I feel tiny pinpricks of hope and new possibilities. Perhaps this feeling comes in line with starting my new job next week and preparing for a whole new day-to-day routine to the one I’ve had for the past few months.
There’s a full moon brewing ready to reveal itself this weekend. The second full moon of the year is dubbed the ‘snow moon’ in Native North America. Although many different cultures and countries have names for the different types of full moons that occur throughout the year, particularly in relation to the weather conditions for farming. A ‘snow moon’ in February will mean absolutely nothing to someone in the southern hemisphere. We might all see and share the same moon, but she’s a multitasker.
It goes without saying why the ‘snow moon’ has been given its name. But with the following full moon in March known as the ‘worm moon’, emphasising the start of spring, the ‘snow moon’ marks the end of a winter chapter and the promise of new beginnings.
As I hit this one year milestone, I’m trying not to measure success in a lateral way. Not in terms of subscribers, or the reach of this newsletter and definitely not on the basis of my ability to regularly post each week. To do so would be setting myself up for failure and I am at capacity with that already when it comes to recent thoughts I’ve had about my writing. Success then, is still being here. Trying. Not letting one of my greatest passions fall to the wayside even during the times I’ve felt like I haven’t much to give. I won’t even attempt to make promises about what the next year will bring. I only hope I will be sending out another newsletter next 21st February.
feel you so hard on trying not to measure success and set yourself up for failure, it's so hard when your brain is already telling you your worst fears. but you're here, you're doing it, and that's something to celebrate. cheers to another year, happy to be along for the ride!
Loved this ❤️ happy Substack-aversary, Mary. Looking forward to your 21st Feb 2025 post already. And congrats on the new job xxx