Good morning, my loves. How are you doing? No… don’t give me that generic ass answer. How are you really doing?

Yes… I care.

I know times are hard for everyone and the state of the world is uncertain. I’ll be opening up my DMs here and my email — authorswmarie@gmail.com for anyone who needs someone to vent to. You never know who may be alone and just needs to know that someone out there cares.

You’re not alone.

Also, I want to apologize for today’s newsletter being late — our neighbors were up partying til 3 in the damn morning with NO regard for anyone in our building. So let’s just say we were up… against our will!

With that being said, I also want to share that my beginners writing course came out this past Friday! I will share the link below and you can take a look and see if it’s something you’d be interested in!

From Idea to Ink Writing Course

So, grab your coffee or mimosa and let’s chat a little bit.

📰 The Sunday Essay

2025 said it had somewhere to be, huh? I never seen a year go by so fast in my life, LOL. This year taught me more than I think I was able to handle honestly. I turned 29 this year and apparently that means I’m going through my “Saturn Return”. It’s kind of a lot to explain so if you’ve never heard of it, you can look it up. I thought it was complete BS until I got to my 29th year and realized — holy fuck… how does this match up so perfectly to what I’m currently going through?

I lost so much — friendships, myself for a while, and the version of myself that I used to be. If anyone knew me even last year and hasn’t spoken to me since, they don’t know me anymore. My mindset, my life, the way I operate on the day to day is all so different now. I have learned how to let go of things, not allow things to consume me the way I used to, not reacting the way I used to, opening up my mind and heart to accepting constructive criticism from the people closest to me, opening up my space to allow a small community of people to be there for me as I am there for them. Just a lot of new things that I’m not really used to I’ve had to open my mind up to that. This year was a lot, lol. But we are here at the end pretty much. If this year was life changing for you, whether good or bad, there was a reason for it.

Something I like to do as the year comes to a close is reflect on what worked and what didn’t. I don’t like to go into a new year with the same bad habits I carried from the year before. I do my best to be better. I stopped focusing on New Years Resolutions and instead I go in with intentions. I also don’t wait until the New Year to start changing or working on myself — I instead start evaluating towards the end of the year what worked for me this year, what I need to work on within myself and my life, what didn’t work for me, where I need to start making changes and then I start. Right then. I go into the New Year already practicing my new habits because that’s what works for me!

So as we wind down for the new year, maybe it’s time to retreat a little bit. I’m not saying go into a hole and not speak to anyone — but it may be time to start sitting with yourself and your thoughts more now than you were before. Say no to things you don’t want to be a part of on that day, rest your mental, your body, and close your calendar to things that aren’t going to serve you in any way. If you’re anything like me… then you don’t say no as often as you can or should. Now is the time to get your mind prepared for 2026.

During this time of year, most people cram their schedules with so many things because of the holidays. People rarely take time for themselves. They go into the new year exhausted from people pleasing, spending a ridiculous amount of money, and trying to hit the ground running with all of their new years resolutions.

What I’m asking you to do is wind tf down, lol. PLEASE! Wind down. Take yourself out on a few dates alone, get a new journal and set some intentions for who you’re trying to be and start becoming that. Shower yourself with love and self care. Write a letter to who you were at the beginning of 2025 and then write a letter to your future self. Put that positive energy out into the universe and love on you. Yes — attend the family get togethers if you choose, yes — spend time with friends for the holidays, but don’t forget to do the inner work you need to do before the new year starts. Don’t end the year doing everything and anything for everyone else but yourself.

☕ The Sunday Sip

This week’s sip — Self-care Roast

The last Sunday Chronicle asked you to do some self-care for yourself because of how crazy life has been.

This week’s self-care is different. This week requires inner work.

Journal out the things we just talked about — what was challenging about this year? What didn’t work for you? What should you have done differently? What will you do differently going into the new year? What habits are you keeping? What habits do you need to kick? And most importantly — WHO do you need to give the boot to in your life? You know exactly who I’m talking about too…

Don’t be shy in your answers. You also may be surprised at your answers if you answer honestly and that’s okay!

📝 Margin Notes

Write these in your planner, your phone notes, or the back of your grocery list:

Letting go is not losing out… it’s making room for what’s meant to stay.

You can’t outgrow your past if you keep watering it.

“Retreat” doesn’t mean you’re hiding — it means you’re recharging for your next chapter.

Stop calling peace “boring.” That’s the calm you prayed for.

Say no without guilt… you’re not here to be accessible, you’re here to be intentional. This one is super important!!!

Start practicing your 2026 habits now. You don’t have to wait for January to choose yourself.

And baby… don’t end this year running on empty for people who never filled your cup.

That’s it for this week my love. I hope to see you back next Sunday!!! I hope you have a great and successful November!