A few weeks ago, we closed Creekside Scoop. I could have tried another idea, another pivot, another season. There is almost always something else we could try.

But at some point, I realized I didn’t want to anymore.

This week’s Love Monday is about the difference between quitting because something is hard and deciding you’ve given something enough of your time, energy, attention and money. And maybe the question isn’t whether you could keep trying.

Maybe it’s whether you still want to.

Wanting to is a good enough reason.

Love,

Katy ❤️

Oh, and I celebrated five years alcohol-free.

Five years ago, I thought quitting drinking meant giving something up. I couldn’t have known how much of my life I was about to get back.

In this episode of Love Monday, I’m talking about beginnings and endings, grief and celebration, kids growing up, people we love leaving us, and what it means to actually be present for all of it.

Being alcohol-free didn’t make my life easier.

It made me available for it.

And after a week like this one, I’m more grateful for that than ever.

I’m Katy Ripp, a writer, entrepreneur, lifelong starter of things, and a woman figuring out midlife right alongside you.

Love Monday started as a Monday morning email and has grown into a place for stories about midlife, reinvention, creativity, work, family, alcohol-free life, becoming who we are, and figuring out what the hell we’re doing in real time.

Now, you can listen too.

New episodes every Monday. Sometimes I’ll read what I’ve written. Sometimes we’ll talk. Sometimes we’ll probably wander completely off course.

No perfect formulas. Just stories, ideas, and a little permission to build a life that actually feels good to live.

Welcome to Love Monday. I’m really glad you’re here.

Read more and subscribe to the Love Monday newsletter at katyripp.com/love-monday.