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NJ Simat 🤍's avatar

"But I’ve reached a kind of metaphorical save point, a place where I can finally pause, breathe, and take a look around." I feel this, or rather, I feel the essence of this, it's laid thinly over my need to keep progressing. I get swells of ideas, and I am learning to just pick one or two, and pace myself. Your energy is helpful in that regard-thankful for your presence here.

Ps. Part of my 2026 goals is to take more photos, simpatico!

Alix Klingenberg's avatar

Yes!! More photos please :)

Sarah Thompson's avatar

Ah, all those ideas, I can relate! I love my creative mind but I cannot possibly follow every spark. I'm still learning which ideas to invest in too.

NJ Simat 🤍's avatar

Yes, and there is a small grief ever-present knowing that you’ll never have enough time to explore everything you want to.

Christopher James's avatar

This is a prayer for the new year. May it be a good one.

Thank you for sharing the verses from everyone. It was so wonderful to read them again, especially those whose voices I could hear in my head.

Alix Klingenberg's avatar

Yes, it is so lovely to be able to hear people’s voices isn’t it

Leslie Ann Young's avatar

Do you know about ** photo corners ** ? You say "I find the prints a bit precious to glue down."

Alix Klingenberg's avatar

That’s a good idea! I have some around here somewhere actually….

Leslie Ann Young's avatar

The stationary aisle is my happy place.

Dr. Nicole Mirkin's avatar

January as a pause rather than a restart feels honest. The emphasis on fragments, unfinished meaning, and beginner’s mind matches the season’s tempo. Photo journaling as witness instead of interpretation keeps the work open, tactile, and alive. This invites attention without forcing conclusions, which suits winter well.

Alix Klingenberg's avatar

Thanks! I’m glad you agree :) winter is always a time when I need a lot of patience with myself ❤️

Sarah Thompson's avatar

I do love the idea of photo journalling. Does anyone have experience with those mini polaroid-like cameras?

Thank you Alix, for this wonderful community and for putting together the beautiful end of year review--it was such a pleasure to read through!

Loralee Clark's avatar

Thank you for your words and other offerings! They are very appreciated.

Alix Klingenberg's avatar

Thanks for reading!!

Memoir Mentors's avatar

Oh! I love this idea of pairing poetry, journaling, and collaging so much! It really makes me want to try it myself, but I also have to admit that I'm afraid. Afraid that I won't be "good enough." Afraid that I might spend hours of every day trying to get it "perfect." But oh, what a lovely dream to think I might try anyway...

Alix Klingenberg's avatar

Yes, let’s just try it and be not good at it! Seems like fun maybe?

Raquel Dionísio Abrantes's avatar

Beautiful letter, Alix! 🤍 Thank you so much for the lovely PDF.

Alix Klingenberg's avatar

Thank YOU!! 🥰🥰🥰🥰