When You Make It One Year

The Moment You Realize What a Year Really Brings

I was in my usual Saturday morning writing spot—quiet house, giant cup of coffee, before the kids wake up—when it hit me.

I wasn’t just writing blog number 51. I was writing number 52.

A full year.

And I paused—not because I didn’t know what to write next, but because I realized I had crossed a threshold. I’d made it a year. And I didn’t want to let that pass by without noticing.

So I let myself sit in it—not just the productivity, not just the checkmark, but the moment. Because once you realize you’ve made it through something consistently for a full year, the reflection hits differently. The pace slows. The meaning deepens. You get to say, “I did that”—not hypothetically, but really. Tangibly. Week after week.

That’s what I’m writing for you today.

Not a recap. Not a checklist. Just real-world reflections on what it means to keep showing up, long enough to look back and recognize you’ve created something—and you’re different now because of it.

When You Stick With It, You Shift

At the beginning, I didn’t know if I could keep this up. I had ideas, yes—but would I actually have enough to say? Would I stay consistent? Would it matter?

Less than six weeks in, I had one of those weekends—travel, family, life—and I pushed the blog off until late Sunday night. Our personal deadline was always midnight. And this time, I just missed it. I didn’t decide to skip it, exactly. I just forgot. I went to bed around 10 p.m., exhausted.

And then my husband—my partner in business and life, who really understands what we’re building with Leaders Uplifted—walked into the room and gently nudged me awake.

“Hey,” he said, “you still have a blog to write.”

I leapt out of bed with a dramatic flare and quickly settled down to studiously compose. It wasn’t harsh. It wasn’t pressure. It was a reminder.

In that moment, it shifted something.

It stopped being just a creative outlet. It became a commitment—not just to the blog, but to myself. It reminded me that this wasn’t just about publishing content; it was about honoring my voice. Honoring my thoughts. Carving out time to hear myself think and making that visible on the page.

Looking back, I can see how the habit took root. And over time, something grew from it. The fear of running out of ideas disappeared. I started writing two blogs at a time—sometimes three. I stopped looking for articles or quotes to justify what I wanted to say and started trusting that my perspective had value on its own.

That was the shift.

And now? I’ll never go back.

The Power of Looking Back

If I could zoom out and look at this past year from the satellite view, I think I’d see a pattern.

I’m not very good at doing things the way everyone else does them—and I think that’s the point.

This blog isn’t packed with SEO keywords or viral titles. It doesn’t have seven hacks or ultimate guides. It’s not optimized for an algorithm.

It’s honest.

It’s a space for everyday leadership. For real-life mindset shifts. For practical action steps that come from paying attention—not from curating perfection.

And if you’ve made it this far with me, I imagine you’re someone who resonates with that beat. The offbeat. The internal rhythm. The drum you hear that no one else hears—but you follow it anyway.

That’s what I see now. That’s what a year reveals.

I might not have the most attention-grabbing hook. But I know I’ve written with heart. And if anything I’ve shared has made you pause, reflect, or move just a little differently in your leadership—then it’s working.

And that’s enough.

OK, Let’s Play

Let’s call this your anniversary edition, you made it this far for a reason, so let’s mark the moment.

Ready: You’ve already done more than you realize. Every late night, every missed step, every unexpected win—that’s your proof.

Set: Find the rhythm that keeps you going. Maybe it’s music, maybe it’s a friend, maybe it’s a calendar reminder. Ritual matters.

Go:

Make the celebration actionable. Take the victory lap—literally. Walk a loop around your house. Circle the block. Blast your walk-up song in the car. Remind yourself that this matters—because it does.

• You don’t need to go viral—you need to keep going.
• You don’t need to be loud—you need to be steady.
• You don’t need the next big thing—you need to respect what’s already working.
• You don’t need external validation—you need internal conviction.

For Anyone Who’s Building Something

We’re only given so much time.

And those of us who are building something—writing, teaching, leading, creating, lifting—are building quietly, sometimes without much fanfare. But don’t underestimate what’s taking shape.

You can’t rush the process. You can’t always see progress in the moment. You have to trust the sunk costs—the effort already poured in, the thinking already done, the heart already given.

Even if no one sees it yet.
Even if it doesn’t feel perfect.
Even if it feels like you’re shouting into the void.

Your voice makes a difference.

This blog has helped me capture a version of myself in real time, week after week. And even if no one had ever read it—I would still be glad I wrote it.

But you did read it.

And that makes it even better.

Here’s to the year that was—and the stories still to come.

Let’s go again.
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Hey there! I’m Blair Bloomston, author of UPLIFTED WEEKLY and your friendly consultant, facilitator, and game-based educator on-call, bringing a passion and penchant for all things play (I’m also alliteratively all-in). As the founder of Leaders Uplifted, I help leaders like you tap into creativity, connection, and confidence to make work feel less like a grind and more like a game. Keep reading with me— I’m here to be your business best friend. Let's go!