No. 08: Starting Fresh
Change can be gentle and nice.
TL;DR
In 2023, I took a creative reset. I let go of what I couldn’t fix and made space for what I could create.
I co-founded a startup, completed a Pilates teacher training program, picked up painting again after a decade, and leaned into mentorship and community.
This post is about choosing clarity, meaning, and starting over.
💌 New Is Nice, Always.
In 2023, I released what I couldn't change to focus on what I can. I let go of trying to fix things to make room for creativity.
I hit a point where work no longer aligned with what mattered to me, and I needed more. More joy and healthier relationships.
Creative leadership isn’t about chasing titles. It’s about choosing direction. And mine needed a reset. I needed time to evaluate the impact from years of dysfunction.
Burnout had crept in slowly for a second time. I was the only designer at a fast-growing company, spread thin and constantly context-switching. Eventually the design team grew, but I had hit a career ceiling. I bought a house thinking it would ground me. Instead, it amplified my depression. I sold it. I went to Japan. I came back ready to redesign my life.
I finally had the space to love myself a little more. To live with integrity.
What I Made Space For
Co-founded a startup — because I still believe that I'm a good designer
550 hours of Pilates training — I love learning about humans and helping people
Painting again after 10 years — I needed to know I was still an artist
Mentorship & writing — because I grow when I help others, and healing happens in community
Community & family — because success means nothing if you’re disconnected
Work should be meaningful. Joyful. Human. Not just a transaction.
Wellbeing means living in alignment—ethically, critically, and collectively.
This kind of clarity comes when you start trying to feel whole.
If you’re in a season of reset, you’re not late. You’re not lost.
You’re exactly where you need to be to begin again.
The Upside of Starting Fresh
Starting over isn’t failure. It’s like what we do as designers. Intentional. Iterative. Strategic.
When you choose to reset with purpose, you don’t leave the past behind—you integrate it.
Here’s what this has meant for me in my career and my personal life:
Joy and health as priorities
Space for creativity
Better boundaries
Aligned relationships
Simplification — less clutter
Redefinition of success
Fresh starts build discernment. I'm hoping they reward courage too.
So What Comes Next?
Maybe you’re not sure what your next move is. That’s okay. Starting fresh doesn’t mean you need a five-year plan. Sometimes, it just means giving yourself permission to start listening.
"New is Nice Always" isn’t about constant reinvention. It’s about recognizing that change is allowed to be soft. Quiet. Even nice. It doesn’t have to come from a breakdown. It can come from curiosity, courage, or just the simple desire to feel more like yourself again.
Your next chapter doesn’t need a title yet. Just a little space. And a little faith in the version of you that’s still unfolding.
Maybe a tiny affirmation is helpful. I release what I can’t change. I create what I can.
💌 New Is Nice, Always. — Eva