It’s 1:05 in the afternoon, and I’ve started this newsletter over again three times because I suffer from a delusion that everything I write must be perfect. I was anxious to finish so I can pull out a film and do my cross-stitching, but as I typed out “that’s the perfect way to end the day,” I remembered I actually had to do some editing and the cross-stitching must be deferred until tonight... so suddenly I am in need of procrastination fodder.

In all seriousness, though, I’ve been thinking lately about the idea of “a perfect life.” I’ve been writing (it’s November; iykyk 😉) and the other day I added a line into my manuscript which I’ve since taken out, but which actually resonated a lot with me.

Myriam helped with the housework and cooking in exchange for a reduction in board, and they had grown contented, if not outright happy. Central London was too busy, too dirty, and too noisy to be fully pleasant; but the house was close enough to both the church and Rupert’s workplace, and they were grateful for what they had.

© KHL, 2025 (emphasis added)

I’ve been participating in a challenge (hosted by the lovely Maddie!) where every day I share seven things I’m grateful for. It’s been revolutionary. I’ve never been very good at tracking the things God does for me, but with this challenge, I get to acknowledge the big and little blessings I receive and how even the difficulties have their small mercies. I’m contented. Am I happy? Well, I certainly have joyful moments; but when I look over my month as a whole there are too many repeated frustrations for me to characterize it as happy—it’s not satisfied; there are so many things I want fixed, from recurring health issues to relationship difficulties to unpleasant situations to broken appliances—but it is certainly grateful and contented nevertheless. It may not be fully pleasant, but it has so much! My lovely walking route compensates for the lack of community; my stronger mental health balances out my worsening physical health; my gorgeous bookshelf makes up for my lack of nice clothes... 😜

But seriously, letting go of the vision of a perfect life—accepting that even if I ever get the picture-perfect, aesthetic, fulfilling life I’ve dreamed of it will still have drawbacks and trials—has really been helpful. And surrounding the unpleasant things with what I love—cross-stitching before bed, instead of trying to cram in work; listening to an audiobook to fall asleep instead of letting my brain go crazy; reading Redwall during breaks at school; listening to Sherlock Holmes whenever I go anywhere to help mitigate the social anxiety; talking to friends while I take my walks so that I have a reason to go out into the cold; compiling music I adore for my exercise... all those little things add up. I’ve never passed through an autumn with so little depression—apart from a sharp bout in September, I’ve been surprisingly, maybe even wholly, free. Anxiety remains, but that’s a problem to tackle in the new year. 😉

So my challenge to you today is this: try to graft something you love into something that you find hard. Sing along to a favourite CD while you clean. Save an hour every morning to colour as you wake up. Pick a cozy book to only read when it’s raining outside. Be creative, be you, and be blessed. 🫶🏻

With love, Katja

|| News ||

// Once again, Perry Elisabeth Kirkpatrick’s Black Friday Book Sale is back. There are well over 600 indie books listed every year, all of which will be 99¢ or FREE. This is my second year participating and I am so excited!! Be sure to check it out, because there are so, sooo many amazing authors I love who will be offering sales and freebies.

// I’m hosting a short story contest!!! I’ve been wanting to do this for a while and finally, in a fit of impulse, bit the bullet. You can find out all about it here. A special shoutout goes to my friend Sara who set it up and created the gorgeous header. ♡

|| A Thought ||

I’ve been enjoying Tumblr a lot lately, and I’ve amassed quite a few amusing posts that made me laugh. If you too could use a giggle, here’s some humour for you! I can’t embed them, but you don’t need a Tumblr account to view them, so simply click on the links below.

• For those who like classic lit... You’ve Got a Friend in Horse
• For those who like hilarious mistakes... Ranibow Sprimkle
• For those who like historical mishaps... Walking Disaster Aaron Burr
• For those who like complete ridiculousness... His Name Was Slippy

Feel free to reply to this email and tell me about your day, your month, or your last favourite quote!