Dear reader,
I’m riding the high of the new year energy and providing you yet another rambling letter tied to a real life metaphorical example.
This past year I moved into a house that feels like a cozy cottage. I absolutely adore it along with my private backyard where I like to casually frolic on my lunch breaks.
I’ve been trying to intentionally decorate and acquire home things that I actually want to hold onto so I’ve been going room by room, bartering on facebook marketplace making new friends (& enemies), making Pinterest boards galore, defining my style (cottage core / whimsical / dash of hippie), and I can confidently say I am happy with the progress so far.
However, my bedroom has been far down on the list and I thought it was about time for some change. It’s not like it’s a sad bedroom, it just wasn’t giving cottage core / whimsical / dash of hippie.
So I put it on my list of things to do on my 2 week break off from my 9-5 because I deserve to have a cottage core / whimsical / dash of hippie bedroom.
I was out and about thrifting—throwing elbows in the thick of grannies and hipsters alike—when I stumbled upon a very cute bedside table that fit the exact dimensions I was going for, a boho fringe pillow for the bed, and 2 wooden frames that matched my 2 other frames in the living room.
I also decided to stop by a local plant shop in Nashville, Lawrence & Clarke Cacti Co. A very kind woman led me in the direction of a perky little fern. She said they were hard to kill—what was she implying? I named it Fernita to go along with my other very resilient fern, Fernando.
I rushed home with my new findings and as soon as I placed the table next to the window, the room was giving cottage core / whimsical / dash of hippie.
I actually thought this whole process was going to be a lot harder and expensive than it was. I didn’t need to get a whole bedspread, a new desk, or extra decor (maybe later). The bedside table was really all I needed.
That got me to thinking about new year resolutions/goals (stay with me here), and how we (I) tend to make an exhaustive list in an attempt to completely overhaul our (my) life. We (I) then put off the resolutions thinking they are going to be too time consuming, expensive, unrealistic, or just too much at once, so by mid-year we (I) tuck the list away, saying next year will be the year everything changes.
Well I am making a challenge for myself to choose just one big thing to focus on that will act as domino effect for other areas of my life.
My big goal is booking a show in Tennessee, North Carolina, Kentucky, Alabama, Ohio, and Georgia this year to create a consistent cyclical touring schedule of the east region. By focusing on this as my big goal, it will cause a trickle effect of me writing/practicing news songs, networking/collaborating, getting better as a performer, working on my marketing skills, and connecting with my community.
By deciding on the one thing I want to change (or achieve) it has helped me break it down into micro actions. It feels specific, tangible, somewhat in my control, and aligned with my authenticity (sharing my voice and stories) and what I want to achieve (growing a community that connects with my music).
This goal feels a lot better than: book 200 shows, write 50+ songs, gain 5000+ fans, become a master at my craft, completely overhaul all areas of my life, hustle-no sugar-no joy-no fun-cry myself to sleep because I have goals and I mean business.
As we dive into the new year, I want you to ponder on what your “bedside table” goal is, the one goal that can bring your theoretically sad bedroom life into a cottage core / whimsical / dash of hippie bedroom life—I fear I have gone too far with this metaphor by calling it your bedroom life and now it’s getting weird but you get the point.
What is your one word/goal/resolution you are going for in 2025? If you share in the comments it will seriously make my day.
P.s. I started substack in 2024 and I think it has been one of my favorite “achievements” of this past year. It has given me a space to share my voice outside of writing music. Thank you for taking time out of your day to read even one of these letters. Cheers to more future rambles and pondering in 2025, I hope to see you there.
All the love,
Rosemary
P.s.s If you are local to Nashville, I am dusting off my workshop hat to support my lovely friend, Alyssa Joseph! Kick off the new year with aligned intentions, taking place in the beautiful Teakwood Garden.
Reflect & Rejuvenate Teakwood Garden Workshop / Saturday, January 11th 11am-1pm
Join us for an afternoon in the Greenhouse reflecting on the past year. We'll start with a guided meditation led by Rosemary Schultz and move into reflective journaling and group discussion led by Life Coach, Alyssa Joseph. We'll end planting seeds and intentions for the year ahead. You'll leave feeling rejuvenated and aligned. Click here for more details and of course, tickets!
Ok Fernando and Fernita? I’m here for it!
I was already here for it upon reading “Rosemary and Rhyme” and having a Simon & Garfunkel appreciation moment in my brain :D
Also regarding breaking big goals into smaller chunks - that’s just integrally important. Instead of looking at the mountain that can’t be conquered just place your foot somewhere and then place the other foot a bit higher!
I’ve decided two things,
1. To fix my finances . The ripple effect? Picking a skill that I’m pretty good at and becoming exceptional at it. It’s looked like going back to school (debatable decision but let’s leave that be) , deciding on a certification to improve my chances of getting a job and building a portfolio to get freelance clients . At the end of the year I just might have a small and sustainable project management agency.
2. Honor my sound. This has looked like playing shows , doing course work with DYL2M, asking for help (Big thanks Rosemary you’ve been so kind in the community) and now deciding to try producing one more time.
It really is powerful to decide on one simple thing, because it gives a clear map from where you are now to where you want to be.
Ps. I Love the metaphor!