Living a life without regrets

This is the first year in a long time that I have allowed myself to winter.

My summer in 2025 stretched from April to September as I soaked up the warmth and freedom of this new life I built for myself, full of sunny afternoons, beach cat sits, walks by the coast. 

Normally summer always feels too short, a litany of missed opportunities, and endless reasons why I could have left the house but didn't. But last year was different. 

I threw out the parts of my life that made me miserable, and emerged a whole new person. Or maybe I just became more myself than I have ever been. Someone who spends the summer in East Sussex, sketches on the beach, and write poetry at 7am with a cat curled in her lap. 

I don't have a single regret about last year.

So when autumn drew in, leaves dropping as the weather turned, for once I felt ready. Ready for cosy evenings on the sofa, ready my new favourite jumpers, ready for hot drinks, cute kitties in my bed, and making peace with the weather asking me to slow down.

I just came back from a six-week solo catsit in Finland over December and January. I was lucky enough to look after the two most loving cats in a beautiful house on the edge of a winter wonderland forest. I'd watch snow fall while deers sauntered into the garden. I’d bundle myself into my snow gear before leaving the house, marvelling at how warm I could feel even in -15 degrees weather.

When I first got to London now 13 years ago, I had all the wrong clothes to make it through an English winter. I don't know why I refused to buy a better coat, or some actual jumpers. I guess I wanted to look good. But also... I was freezing. I caught so many colds that winter.

And let's be real: my refusal to get the support I needed in my life was much bigger than my dismal winter wardrobe.

This past year has been all about softening and giving into what my body needs. What my brain needs. What my nervous system needs. And that has been life changing. 

With that softening also came a much more peaceful attitude towards winter. Maybe I could make less social plans and stay cosy. Maybe I could wear cosy soft things even if they didn’t flatter my body shape. Maybe I could wear big ugly snow boots that keep my feet warm.

Maybe I could hibernate along with the sun.

I kicked off the first cohort of my Unlock Your Creative Blocks course a few weeks ago. It's an outstanding group of creatives, and it's been amazing - and a privilege - to take them on a journey to becoming softer with themselves. I love this work so much.

It has also taken up quite a lot of my energy, which means I didn't get a chance to write a newsletter over the last few weeks. And I decided: that’s okay. I want to listen to my body. I have to rest when I need to. And I want to celebrate myself for doing so, too.

My newfound love of winter feels like extension of my journey with tuning into my body more, and allowing myself the softness that I have been craving for most of my life.

Wherever you are in your life, however you’re feeling, I hope you can be a little softer with yourself, and give yourself the rest, support and love that you need.

With love and big feelings, always,

Laurie xx