March 8th marks International Women’s Day, a global moment to honor the cultural, political, and socioeconomic achievements of women, and to confront the inequities that still shape our lives. It’s a day of civil awareness, a call to action against sexism and discrimination, and a reminder of the ongoing fight for gender equality, reproductive rights, and safety from violence. As a survivor of sexual assault and domestic violence, and as someone who navigates anxiety and mental health challenges, this day holds deep personal meaning for me. No one should feel pressured to hide their mental illness or their survival story. And because March is also Women’s History Month, it feels especially important to acknowledge the women whose stories I’ve written about not just in March, but throughout the year.

There have been many women in my life whom I’ve looked up to, and over time, I’ve learned to fully embrace what it means to be a woman myself. I’ve always considered myself a feminist, someone who holds strong beliefs about equality and isn’t afraid to express them. If you’ve read my writing before, you know that the theme of women’s equality shows up often not as an abstract idea, but as something shaped by my own lived experiences. Over the past year, I’ve been intentionally examining the relationships and moments that have influenced me, trying to understand how they’ve shaped the person I am today. Part of that process was a commitment I made last year: to write every single day and choose a quote to accompany each entry. Not all of those quotes were uplifting, but each one reflected something real, something I was feeling, learning, or navigating at the time.

If you’re wondering what’s next for my writing, the truth is that I’m still figuring it out. I’ve taken some much‑needed downtime, giving myself space to rest and reset. During that break, I reread Kristin Hannah’s Firefly Lane and Fly Away after binge‑watching the first season on Netflix. I knew the show differed from the books, that’s what originally led me to Kristin’s writing, but revisiting the novels reminded me why I loved them in the first place. The books are, of course, far richer than the series, and there are many changes in the adaptation that I’m not a fan of, even if you only compare Firefly Lane on its own. I’m not sure what they have planned for the second season, but the differences have definitely got me thinking about storytelling, voice, and how our narratives evolve. Lately, I’ve been working with my therapist to process some of my past experiences and figure out the direction I want Dexter’s Daily to take. This may involve compiling the posts into a book (or several), revisiting the old entries, and revamping the website entirely. I know I’ll continue writing; I just haven’t decided yet how often or what shape it will take.

As I move forward, I’m permitting myself to grow at my own pace as a woman, as a survivor, and as a writer. International Women’s Day reminds me that our stories don’t have to be perfect or polished to matter; they just have to be ours. The past year of writing taught me that even the smallest reflections can hold meaning, and that healing isn’t linear, but it is possible. I don’t know exactly what shape Dexter’s Daily will take next, but I do know that I’ll keep showing up with honesty, curiosity, and the same commitment to amplifying women’s voices, including my own. And since I’m updating this today, I’ll share a small teaser: behind the scenes, I’ve been redesigning The Luna Projects website, refreshing both Dexter’s blog and the Luna Projects blog, shaping an ebook, and preparing to launch a podcast. It feels like the beginning of a new chapter, one rooted in growth, creativity, and the belief that our stories deserve to be told.