January really did what it needed to do. Came in quietly, made a few observations, then dipped. No fireworks, no dramatics, just vibes, reflection, and a little recalibration.
I turned 52 this month, which feels less shocking than it sounds. I no longer act like I’m 22. I don’t even pretend to. I’d say I operate somewhere around 35-ish now. Is that growth? Is that restraint? Is that self respect finally clocking in on time? Sure. Let’s call it improvement and keep it moving.
This month felt less about reinvention and more about acceptance. Knowing what I like, what I don’t, and not forcing myself into habits or aesthetics that don’t fit anymore. Very FW26 energy. Controlled. Intentional. Still indulgent, just smarter about it.
Self-Indulgence, But Make It CONCIOUS
The FW26 January blueprint was built around self-indulgence, and yes, that was for you, the reader. I stand by the idea that most people don’t indulge enough. They ration pleasure like it’s going out of style. I do not suffer from that condition.
That said, even I can admit there was a brief overindulgence moment when it came to alcohol. One week. A little too enthusiastic. We clocked it, and then hung it up. No shame, just awareness.
January also unlocked a new obsession in the kitchen. The air fryer has been busy and wildly productive, but the real star was homemade rosemary bread. Fresh, fragrant, slightly dangerous. Eating half a loaf in under a day absolutely counts as self-indulgence and I regret absolutely nothing.
Creative Shifts + Quiet Joys
Creatively, January pushed me in a new direction. Baroque Medusa is evolving again, this time through writing. Amazon remains deeply uncooperative when it comes to inserting photographs of people into books, so instead of fighting the system, I pivoted.
The result is a weekly visual poetry series released on BaroqueMedusa.com and across BM socials. Minimalist black and white selfies paired with haikus. It feels full circle. Haikus were the first form of writing I ever learned and fell in love with back in elementary school. Returning to that format feels grounding and oddly powerful.
You can find the project here: This is What Remains – Baroque Medusa
Outside of writing, January grounded me in a very different way. I started volunteering at a horse sanctuary with my “snow bird” bestie, Greta. Feeding, raking, cleaning stables. Real work. Honest work. The horses range from retired thoroughbreds who once raced, to an abandoned by their owner horse, to a miniature horse named Penny. Penny was spared from becoming dog food and now lives out her days at the sanctuary, fully committed to her best life. I’ll be adding a photo of her because she deserves the spotlight.
Psst! A “snow bird” is someone who leaves a colder climate to spend the winter months in the desert, typically from November to April.
Creative Reset, In Color
And finally, I picked coloring back up. Yes, the Christmas Palm Desert page was supposed to be done in December. Time is fake. Creativity doesn’t expire. Better late than never still applies.
January wasn’t loud, but it was solid. It set the tone. Less chaos, more intention. Still indulgent. Still creative.
Onward, babes.
Medusa
