Framing for a Better 2025
It only took four months before the reality check set in. I have too much on my plate for this year, and if I didn’t start framing for a better 2025, my year could go downhill fast.
The disappointment i felt wasn’t because I’d overcommitted, or overplanned, or over-anythinged. It was disappointment over the blindness and denial I’d allowed to occur. Blindness to the fact that, overall, I accomplish less in this phase of my life than in decades past. Deaf to the thing I encourage others with when mentoring, which is to grant yourself grace when things aren’t as you dreamed, because there are rewards to be had everywhere. That hugging yourself for still dreaming carries immense value, and to celebrate the wins, even when they’re really losses that could have gone so much worse.
The denial part is both physical and mental. I still walk for an hour four to six times a week, but my distances are diminishing. And while my mind is still vibrant with ideas and considerations, my abilities to translate them into finished product has become less consistent and successful.
The latter is influenced by real life. Caring for a love one person with physical issues and executing a major home renovation are time consuming, but necessary. Then there are existing commitments to mentoring, tutoring, trailwork and sports officiating that are still more of a pleasant diversion than an weighty anchor.
But something still needed to change, and I needed to own it to keep depressive thoughts from overtaking me.
My reassessment leaned heavily into nerdy but effective skills from my past, those of risk assessment. Key to this is figuring out what might go wrong, how impactful it could be, then planning for them with reasonable time to succeed. I also had to ensure that there was enough time to care for myself, or react to those who could use moments of my time. Caregiving and renovation remain, of course. Physical activity time, once more prevalent, had to return to as close to the levels they were pre-pandemic. The wear on my body and psyche demanded immediate attention.
So, with those emphases in mind, I mapped my intentions:
SPICY STORIES
I chuckle whenever I hear what terms are “social media safe” each week for stories that involve, you know, that!
I’m having a great time writing content for the new Theo story site. Several of my stories are there, along with the novella A Second Chance at Submission. A number of them are free, with more in the queue. They range from heteronormative to bisexual and lesbian, couples to groups, vanilla to very rocky road, with a range of tropes and kinks to satisfy many a reader.
NOVELLAS
Thanks to the loving persuasion of Dr. Donna Jennings and others, I took the leap into writing a novella. Everything I had written up to that point was a stand alone short story, plus one where it became a two parter called A Lesson in Sensuality, found on the Rosy App.
And then, I wrote another! It turns out that I really (think) I can do this. Let me introduce you to my first two grown-ups.
The first one is A Second Chance at Submission, a 10 chapter (so far) novella exclusively available on the new Theo website, where I’m a founding author. It’s a tale of discovered sexual interests, shifting relationship dynamics, and finding your place among it all. Chapters 1 and 2 are free, giving you a chance to see if the story tickles your fancy. Here are the backgrounds for each:
Part 1: Riley and Rachel had a torrid six-week relationship while he was temporarily relocated that revealed sides of him he hadn’t recognized or embraced before, but loved exploring. Having to return home separated them, and when he failed to maintain connection, the relationship dissolved. Now, he has the opportunity to permanently reside near her, and calls with the great news. She’s happy for him, but there is a catch: she has moved on to someone else. His next choice could be life-altering.
Part 2: Riley’s budding kink of listening to Rachel and Chad having sex teases his curiosities enough that he goes into their rooms when home alone to associate sounds to locations, then can’t escape getting caught when one of them returns. Now what?
The second novella, Queenie and Little Dick, is complete and edited. Now I just have to get a cover made and have it formatted for eBook and paper versions. Here’s the background:
Abstract: Richard has been quietly obsessing over his hotwife and submission fantasies for some time. Gayle has seen the burgeoning shift in his demeanor and roleplay interests, but didn’t put it all together until she catches him masturbating. Armed with awareness, and buoying by interests of her own, she leads them on a salacious journey that will put him at a crossroads from which there may be no turning back.
There’s another book for another audience that has to get finished this year. My editor has been lovingly patient for too long.
ACTIVITY: Cue up the Aerosmith, because I’m Back in the Saddle Again! Feeling the aches, of course, but yoga and weights are a regular part of my life once more, and I couldn’t be happier. Hiking trail work, especially after the major January fires, is still a weekly event when other commits allow, and I’ve returned to walking or riding my bike for local errands. Every little bit helps.
SPORTS OFFICIATING: I’ll make good on my commitments through this year, then will decide how much to scale back.
OTHER WRITTEN CONTENT: I’ve heavily curtailed my other writings, with revolve around social commentary and musings. I still knock one out here and there to keep balance and sanity in my life, but have walked away from a paid gig for the rest of the year at least.
THE BACKBURNER LIST
MENTORING & TUTORING: I’ve stepped away from both. Middle school life skill mentoring will not return, nor will high school tutoring. High school senior mentoring on what options lay ahead will likely return in the fall. It’s a good motivation to tie off some of the other things I’ve brought up.
TRAVEL
Those of you that have known me long enough know travel is a big part of my life. Local, regional, and international; they all bring pleasure and diversion that feeds my insights and creativity. The home renovation I’ve embarked on will delay that for some time, both financially and in the need to watch over the work.
RECIPE CREATION
That’s another passion of mine, especially gluten and/or lactose free creations. While my kitchen time will be function for some time, I’m sure I’ll still be playing with my food on a regular basis.
AND NOW…
…what lay ahead. All I can say is thank goodness for voice to text! Framing for a better 2025 is all about my ability to be adaptive, roll with the punches, and come out the other side feeling comfort for responsibility and grace.