#JustCheckingIn, July 2025

How’s everyone doing?

Six Months Into 2025

At the beginning of each year, I create a wild mind map of what I want to accomplish. Monthly check-ins help me see what I’ve actually done instead of fixating on that ever-growing list of impossible tasks. I exist in a state of restless chaos, balancing on a dark edge—imposing order is the only way to keep that balance.

Reset

After a tumultuous two years, I wanted to shift from reacting to whatever landed on my desk to actively moving things in a chosen direction. On a scale of 1 (dreadful) to 5 (exceptional), I’d give myself a 3 (okay) on that front.

Habits

Moving from goals to habits continues to work well. I look after myself, keep things moving, and incrementally improve my environment while working toward a more minimalist lifestyle. A solid 4 (acceptable).

Slowing Down

1 (dreadful)… that will always be aspirational.

Intent—Working With a Plan in Mind

3 (okay). Even though things haven’t gone to plan so far, I’m working from a strategic foundation.

So… Where Are Things in July 2025?

I usually subsidise my creative adventures through IT consulting, but that work has dried up. Combine this with a severe economic downturn, a cost-of-living crisis, and a world gone mad—it has a tendency to do that—and we can all agree we live in interesting times.

To make it more interesting, I decided not to chase paid work but instead split my time between renovations, art, and writing: three things that need money to move forward.

I said I have a plan. I didn’t say I was reasonable or sane. 🙂

Writing

The very painful latest iteration of revision is done. Yay! The manuscript for The House sits at around 140,000 words, and the current revision focuses on copyediting and proofreading while trimming. I learned heaps—like how not to do things. Fingers crossed The Spheres, Book Three will go better!

And, before I forget, the first teaser for The Fragments, Chapter 1—Lost is out. I am still experimenting with the format, so I can’t wait to hear what you think!

Art

The usual frantic running in circles, with ups and downs. Not surprisingly, sales remain slow to non-existent.

July Shop Update

The July shop update is live, bringing back the Winter tribe.

Queenstown Art Show

I was accepted into the Queenstown Art Show! Equally scary and exciting! I’ll tell you more about it soon.

Renovations

Pruning, shredding, and mulching take up most of my time at the moment. Not exciting, but it needs to be done. 🙂

That’s about it from me, really.

#studiovisit #artistlife #artistinthestudio #artstudio #lifeupdate