Welcome to March. This month always feels like we are shifting into something new. Winter slowly steps back, the light changes a little, and everything starts to wake up again. It feels like the right time to think about renewal.

Renewal does not have to be a big thing. It often shows up quietly. It might be a small change in your routine, a little more energy in your day, or a moment when something finally feels lighter. Sometimes it is as simple as looking at a part of your life with fresh eyes.

February’s theme is Love and Connection, and this month I’ve been thinking a lot about how love actually shows up in real life. Not the big, dramatic, movie-scene kind. The quiet kind. The kind that is part of everyday life.

The kind that looks like this:

At the start of the year, I shared my monthly themes for 2026 as a way to guide memory keeping, journaling, and creative projects throughout the year. I noticed last night after I sent out my newsletter (are you a subscriber?) that I had made a slight error.

Welcome to a new month. February always feels like a good time to slow down and pay attention to the relationships in our lives. While this month often gets framed around big romantic gestures, I love using it to notice the smaller, more meaningful ways love and connection show up in everyday life.

This month’s theme is Love and Connection, and it’s one of my favorites because it weaves its way through so many of our stories.

Do you pick a word for the year? I’ve been doing this every year since 2008, thanks to Ali Edwards’ "One Little Word" project. It’s a tradition I’ve grown to love—a simple way to set intentions and stay focused throughout the year. What makes it even more fun is that my whole family gets involved. Everyone picks their own word, and it’s something we talk about and cheer each other on for all year long. This year, we all “unveiled” our words as part of our family New Year’s weekend celebration.

One of the reminders I keep coming back to this month is this simple truth. You are allowed to grow at your own pace. Not someone else’s timeline. Not the version you thought you would be by now. Just yours. Growth is not a race. It is not a checklist. Most of the time, it’s not visible. It’s uneven and happening beneath the surface. We often remind our children of this when they feel frustrated about their progress, but we seem to forget this grace when we reach adulthood. I think we forget how much is happening when things look calm on the outside. You might be learning something new. Letting go of an old habit. Practicing patience. Showing up differently than you used to. Those shifts matter, even if they are not obvious yet.