I used to be one of those people - You know the ones "Next year will be my year" and it's not that I would leave everything to chance, but there was also no plan on how to get to where I wanted to be, it was always on the fly little things I thought maybe will help work towards it, and generally I'd get to the end of the year and I wouldn't have hit those goals.

We all need to take an active part in pursuing our goals AND work towards them every day. Last year, I was working on the fly not because I wasn't actively pursuing my goals or working towards the bigger picture, but I needed a whole mindset recalibration and I had so much to learn that left little time for forward planning (ok maybe I could have done better, but at the same time I just didn't FEEL the capacity to).

At the end of last year I sat down and worked out exactly how I wanted my creative business to feel and look like and during my break (because it's never really a full break is it) I sat down and created a detailed plan of how that will look like, what I can do Quarter to Quarter to hit those milestones and achieve the goals I want to turn into reality.

So, you might ask yourself where is Born at Night Creations heading in 2026? (That's exactly what I did) and this is what I came up with:

1. New Pattern Releases for Q2, Q3 and Q4 – I have mentioned it before I like to create slowly, but boy do I have ideas zooming around my head just waiting for a moment to be brought into existence! With the website creation and other pieces, you have to put in place behind the scenes to launch behind me (or waiting in the shadows to be thrust upon the world) I have more space to create at my own pace and share the stories in art form next year. These releases aren't just about having new products—they're about having the time and headspace to bring each story to life the way it deserves.

2. BTS Content: The Stories Behind the Patterns – Did you know as a creative business owner you don't just get to make pretty things? You also have to be AMAZING at marketing and creating content too. When I am in flow creating, I often forget to take those BTS videos and photos. So this year I will hopefully be able to create a space that is more "set and forget" so that there isn't much work to also show everyone that creative process and help you connect with the stories behind the patterns. By documenting these moments intentionally, I'm creating a bridge between the work I love and the people who resonate with it—and that's where the real connection happens.

3. Pursue Collaborations – This is the year for going for it. Like I mentioned at the beginning, I am not sitting here waiting for things to happen for me or to me. I will be going for it – This means showing up differently, reaching out to businesses and creators who resonate with what I'm building, and opening myself to possibilities I might not have considered before. Born at Night Creations has so much to offer and sometimes you can't wait to be seen, you need to show up in that LOUD outfit and say "look at me, I am here and ready". These collaborations will let my work reach new spaces and new people, and they'll give me the chance to create in ways I might not have explored alone. If there's a story that speaks to you or a vision you'd like to bring to life, I'm here and open to it.

4. Create With Intention and Belong to My Own Work – This is perhaps the most important one, because it holds all the others together. For the first time, I have found a space where I can just be - where creating brings me peace and calm, like I'm connecting with what I was made to do. There's no need for external validation or permission to exist in this space. In 2026, I'm protecting that. I'm building structure around my creative practice so that the business admin doesn't overshadow the joy of creation. I'm creating for the stories, for the process, and for myself—and that's enough. This year is about deepening my relationship with my own work and trusting that when you create from a place of belonging, everything else follows naturally.

This is my year not because I'm waiting for it to be, but because I'm building it intentionally, one creative decision at a time.