Happy New Year!
Happiest of New Years to you and yours. For me, the New Year is always a moment of great hope and excitement, regardless of what the previous year turned into. It’s a moment to be grateful for what the past year brought or taught and a chance to celebrate another year, while looking ahead to what is possible in the next 365 days.
2025 was a year of unplanned changes but filled with memorable moments. Leaving my secure Federal Government 9-5 was not on the bucket list of goals for 2025, but a journey the universe had in store for me. The removal of remote work for Federal Employees meant one of two choices for my family and me: moving back within driving distance of the base or resigning. The first was not an option; we’d just celebrated one year of purchasing our home and our move for my husband’s career, and we were not returning. Through all the emotions, I will forever be grateful for the Deferred Resignation Program and what it offered me in this season of transition, even though I still hold a little frustration with the complete elimination of remote work, including those who kicked *ss in their jobs and proved location was not a factor in performance. However, with time, I have come to realize the Universe has other plans for me, and my role with the DAF was just a speck of time in my life and not meant to be my full story. It took almost the full seven months to find myself again, but she started peaking through mid-summer, when my mind was understimulated, and my creativity was calling. Thus, an idea was born, not sure what, but something was calling me. Slowly, but surely, my vision was born over the late Summer months and delicious espresso-filled brain dumps. I took a leap of faith and bet on myself (with the full support of my husband).
In the early days, I wasn’t quite sure the direction I was going or what I truly wanted; my past kept calling me, but deep in my heart, I knew it was just comfort and fear of the unknown. I wasn’t willing to go backwards, and I knew my heart could never handle owning a dance studio again. I still have moments of deep sadness from saying goodbye to that life, even though it was a true blessing-in-disguise, as we wouldn’t be in this home we love or have experienced the past five years the way we did if I were still running the dance studio. But, inside those dreams, the sadness, and the comfort, I knew there was something... it just took a little time to uncover what exactly I missed and craved. What was I meant to be doing right now? What parts of me did I miss the most during my time in a 9-5? What parts of the dance studio grew with me over time and can be applied to my future? These were all things I sat with, moments I took for myself, sun beaming down on my face, doggies playing in the yard. Who was I born to be? What opportunities is the universe opening for me? How can I be proud of myself without letting myself and my family down? It may sound cheesy or a little too deep. But, for me, it was deep. This was a chance to step into myself again and not run on autopilot. Taking the time to allow the emotions of the answers to these questions to wash over me gave me such clarity and understanding in who I am today and what I want out of life. I’ve always believed you can do anything you set your mind to; limitations are just barriers we place on ourselves without realizing it. When I sat with these emotions, and took time to find truth in my answers, I realized - my truth wasn’t behind a desk in a 9-5 or taking the “safe” job that I was easily good at but truthfully so bored with, the universe just gave me the nudge I needed to step into something bigger, something more aligned. And, so my leap to bet on myself finally brought to fruition my dream, October House Co., a creative pursuit that is continuing to evolve over time.
So welcome, welcome to October House Co. I’m grateful you are here and can watch this dream grow over time. I look forward to sharing 2026 with you and opening new experiences for you as the months unfold. I hope this piece of the internet and the creations of October House Co. can bring you a spark of joy, bring you home to yourself, and offer you an opportunity to enjoy the creativity that lives within you, even just for a moment.
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