The origin story of Love Monday, and why I stopped waiting for a new me.

I've loved Mondays for most of my adult life. Even through small-child motherhood, marriage struggles, a complicated relationship with alcohol, and more than a few questionable decisions.

But for someone who loved Mondays so much, I spent an awful lot of time saying, "I'll start Monday."

In this week's Love Monday, I'm going back to where it all began. From my very first newsletter in June 2024 to the 655 people who now show up in my inbox every week, I'm reflecting on why I started writing these letters, what midlife has taught me about fresh starts, and why I no longer believe I need to become a better version of myself every seven days.

Because maybe the goal isn't to spend five days waiting for two. Or to constantly reinvent ourselves.

Maybe it's to build a life we actually enjoy living.

New Monday. Same me. And I kind of like her. ❤️

Love Monday is a weekly letter (and now a podcast!) about midlife, entrepreneurship, starting over, alcohol-free living, and occasionally losing your shit.

Read or subscribe at katyripp.com.

The clocks have changed, the sun is disappearing, and the Seasonal Affective Disorder Survival Club is officially in session.

This week on Love Monday, we're talking about the difference between disliking winter and actually living with SAD, why Winter Katy doesn't need to be Summer Katy, and how I'm preparing for the darker months with happy lights, cozy blankets, fireplace remotes, crockpots, and an unreasonable number of Libby holds.

Because we don't have to love every season to take good care of ourselves through it.

Seven weeks until the winter solstice. We've got this.

Read the full survival guide: https://katyripp.com/seasonal-affective-disorder-survival-guide/

Last week, I put on a leather dress, a pair of fabulous boots, and stood in front of a room full of women to talk about spending our time, energy, money, and attention more intentionally.

I felt confident. I was nervous. I loved it. And then I proceeded to question practically everything I'd said.

This week, we're talking about building confidence by doing scary things, the inevitable self-doubt that sometimes follows, and why confidence and capacity aren't the same thing.

Plus, a little midlife hormone talk, cycle syncing, and the realization that just like Summer Katy and Winter Katy are two very different women, maybe we can learn to work with our energy instead of constantly fighting it.

Because sometimes confidence looks like taking the microphone. And sometimes it looks like taking off your fabulous boots and deciding you've done quite enough peopling for one week.