“The new year stands before us, like a chapter in a book, waiting to be written.”

2024 is a leap year. Why not make it a Heart Leap Year?

“The new year stands before us, like a chapter in a book waiting to be written.”Melody Beattie

The holidays are nearly over.

A new year begins.

Let’s start again.

Hello 2024.

It’s a leap year.

Why not make it your Heart-Leap year?

What’s a Heart-Leap year?

It’s a year when you choose to build a life that makes your heart leap.

A year when you choose the path that excites you.

A year that invites you to grow.

A year that feels fun, that’s full of adventure, that makes you feel alive.

A year that makes you feel you’re back on track.

A year where you choose to be brave.

We can all get lost sometimes (surely not just me?) and end up going in the wrong direction.

Or just parked on the side of the road, not having the energy to continue.

How do you get back on track?

I want to share a really simple technique with you on the first day of the year.

It’s simple but not always easy.

Here it is:

When faced with a decision or a crossroads, you choose the option that makes your heart leap, not sink.

I can be a people-pleaser so I can say yes when I really want to say no.

I can work too hard and push through even when my energy has left the building.

I can choose to devour foods that make me fall asleep versus walk Bertie, my mad cockerpoo.

So my first invitation to you is to not change anything at first, but simply start noticing.

Every choice you make—does it make your heart leap or sink?

On the first day of the year, you don’t have to do anything other than take notice.

Notice and start to be aware of the choices you make and how they make you feel—really.

This newsletter is about building a simple, creative, and happy life from the ground up.

It’s about starting again.

The first day of the year is a great time to start again.

This Heart-Leap exercise is simple and will start to focus you on your direction of travel and ask you to consider why you might be travelling in a direction you don’t want to go?

Today, on the first day of your Heart Leap Year, stop for a moment and read the signs before starting your engine.

Are you going in the right direction?

Are you building a life that makes your heart leap?

Join us for the Writing Hour

For anyone interested in building a creative life this year, I run the Heart Leap Writing Hour twice a week for those who want to commit to a writing practice, start or finish a book, start a substack, or simply set aside some time to journal. It's Tuesday and Thursday at 9 a.m. We are a friendly, kind group of writers who want a bit of company and accountability on our writing journey.

Come and join us if that makes your heart leap.

Zoom link below. We start on Tuesday at 9am.

I also have some amazing speakers coming in to lead some masterclasses with us, from agents to best-selling authors, on the last Wednesday of the month at 1 p.m.

Happy Heart-Leaping Year!

Suzy x

Zoom link below. Happy Writing Hour starts at 9am on Tuesday.