i found myself spending less and less time creating and sharing my thoughts online than ever before, a hiatus from my social media presence since joining in the early 2000s. growing up in a strict latin household, my identity has always had an online component. as social media expanded, and more platforms were created, i found myself increasingly pushing my own voice into the background, writing and creating less and less. the fear of people actually seeing me grew as I stunted my own growth.

this space has amassed a total of 260,085 all-time readers, a fact that astonishes me. i'm aware that some sites achieve that kind of readership in a month, a week, or even a day.  and considering i launched this blog back in 2015, 260,085 might not seem like a massive number, but truthfully, it's far beyond what i ever anticipated for visitors to my corner of the internet. it's something i should embrace and celebrate, not shy away from. 

growth – that's my mantra for the year. i've sowed numerous seeds throughout my life, and it's about time to let them grow. i need to present myself as i am, where i am – to be disciplined enough to create even when i lack motivation and disciplined enough to rest when it's necessary. last year came with its challenges, uncharted territory for both my husband and me to navigate. i can't predict where the next year will take me, but i'm entering it with a readiness to enjoy the journey and trust in my own guidance.