It was the Sunday after Christmas, and I couldn't have been more excited- or optimistic about the new year. I didn't know exactly what I was looking forward to. I had no plans, no resolution, no expectations. I just wanted to sit inside the energy of fresh start and let it meet me where I was. Like any other Sunday, I began my day with the excitement of trying a new coffee recipe. I slipped out of bed and made my way into the bathroom, easing into my weekend morning skincare routine. As I stood at the mirror, reading my affirmations out loud, I felt myself realigning with the woman staring back at me- the one who deserves a life worth living. Gratitude came easily. I'm blessed. I'm financially disciplined. I have a career that allows me to pay my bills comfortably. I get the opportunity to wake up in a high-rise apartment. I'm surrounded by a small circle of friends I truly love. And then, out of nowhere, a familiar thought crept in- quiet but heavy. My life is beautiful... except when it comes to love. That part stills feels complicated. Unclear. Undefined. Not wanting to sit too long in that space, I moved quickly through the rest of my routine, slipped into one of my new cozy pajama sets, and made my way into the kitchen. Instinctively, I fluffed my flower arrangement on the counter. It had become a ritual- something grounding about fresh blooms greeting me in the mornings. I set my coffee machine to my latte preferences and reached into the cabinet for one of the mugs Layla gifted me for Christmas. It was heavy, stone-textured, and wide enough to display latte art- the kind of mug that makes you want to slow down and sip. Today's recipe was a Vanilla Teddy Graham latte, something I'd saved from Noir Lux Coffee's Instagram. While it brewed, I opened the blinds to let natural light pour into the room. I lit a few warm scented candles and grabbed the notebook I'd recently started using as a creative outlet. When the coffee finished brewing, I slowly walked back into the kitchen, romanticizing the pour. French vanilla and cinnamon intertwined in the air, wrapping the room in comfort. Instantly, the mug warmed my hands. I could help but to take a sip. It was the creamiest cup of coffee I'd ever made. My latte art wasn't perfect- the heart I poured came out a little deformed- but it made me smile anyway. It sparked something in me. A small sense of pride. Creation. And possibility. I placed my mug on a coaster and began to write. A few minutes in, my phone buzzed. Russel: Hey September, do you want to bring the new year in together? I stared at the screen longer than I wanted to admit. The message didn't feel bad- but it didn't feel clear either. It added to the uncertainty I'd been trying to gently avoid. My response came easier than my honesty. Yes! What I wanted to ask was different. Like, what are we doing? Where is this going? Why does everything feel undefined? After the conversation ended, a realization settled in quietly- almost like a resolution I didn't plan on making. This year, I want clarity. I want consistency. I want to entertain people and situations that feel right, not confusing. As I reached the bottom of my Vanilla Teddy Graham latte, I finally understood something I hadn't been able to put a finger on. I didn't want to chase clarity any longer. I want it to meet me- naturally, honestly, and without questions. And for the first time in a long time, this felt like a new beginning which was the right place for me to begin.