On January 5, 2025, I published my first post on this blog.
At the time, I didn’t know exactly what this space would become. I only knew I needed somewhere gentle—somewhere honest—where writing didn’t have to be perfect, productive, or profitable to matter.
Today, one year later, I’m still here. And that alone feels worth celebrating.
This Year Wasn’t About Perfection
If you’ve been here for any length of time, you already know this hasn’t been a neat, aesthetic, perfectly paced year of content.
This year included:
- Burnout
- Chronic illness flare-ups
- GI issues and pain that made sitting and focusing difficult
- Depression and low-energy weeks
- Working a full-time job while trying to build something meaningful
- Projects that moved slowly—or rested longer than planned
And yet, the blog kept going.
Some days it was a full post.
Some days it was a quiet reflection.
Some days it was simply showing up when it would’ve been easier not to.
That matters more to me now than consistency metrics ever could.
What This Blog Became
Over the past year, this blog slowly shaped itself into something I didn’t rush or force:
- A place where unfinished stories are still honored
- A space where rest is treated as a creative skill
- A reminder that writing doesn’t disappear just because life gets heavy
- A sanctuary for writers who are tired, overwhelmed, or healing
It became less about how much I was producing and more about why I was writing at all.
And honestly? That shift saved my relationship with writing.
To the Quiet Readers
If you’ve ever read a post without commenting…
If you’ve bookmarked something for later…
If you’ve come back during a hard week…
If you’ve downloaded a freebie or shared a link…
Thank you.
This blog exists because someone out there needed to hear that writing can be soft, slow, and still powerful. Maybe that someone was you. Maybe sometimes it was me.
Either way, I’m grateful you’re here.
What I’m Carrying Into Year Two
I’m not entering this next year with rigid goals or pressure-heavy promises.
Instead, I’m carrying:
- Gentle structure instead of hustle
- Small creative sparks over grand plans
- Writing that fits around real life
- A deeper trust in slow growth
- A desire to keep creating resources that actually help writers feel supported
There are prompts, journals, and email courses ahead—but only if they’re built with care. Only if they serve the same values this blog was built on.
One Last Thing
If you’re reading this and thinking:
“I’ve fallen behind.”
“I haven’t written in months.”
“I don’t know if my work still matters.”
Let this be your reminder:
A year doesn’t have to be perfect to be meaningful.
Showing up counts.
Rest counts.
You count.
Here’s to another year of words that breathe instead of burn.
Thank you for being part of this space.
Thank you for letting me grow slowly.
Thank you for staying.
— Sara
Sara's Writing Sanctuary 