New beginnings, without anything grand to announce, other than a commitment to continuing with a firmly held belief in the value of reflection, of writing for the sake of writing, of finding the meaning through the act of doing.

This week starts with a reference to the wonderful Arthur Russell, who's music is a constant in my life — echoing and mirroring the seasons and my emotions. For me, "first thought best thought" has come to form a mantra-of-sorts for my design ethos and outlook on life.

As a chronic over-thinker, there is beauty in the mantra of believing in your gut and acting on instinct. That while unclear in it's initial form, there is a deeper meaning to those held beliefs.

By documenting them — day by day, week on week — my thoughts start to form a picture that otherwise would've stayed as clouded thinking trapped in my head. The picture comes clearer through the act of doing; let's go with that.

It feels emotional and cathartic to mark a beginning point here, and so I'll sign off with an image of a cherished mug that had previously damaged — no doubt rushing to refill with coffee between meetings. I kept it, with the commitment that I would repair it, and it's been hugely restorative to finally do so. There's a metaphor in there, you don't have to look too hard for it.