The Messy Middle: On Identity Anchors & Building Brick-By-Brick
March '26 Letter from the Editor
Dear creative friends,
I’m writing to you on the night of March 3rd (which is the last evening of the 15-day Lunar New Year celebration). And, it finally feels as though I’ve emerged into 2026 (I feel like I’ve been faking “2026 vibes” since January).
So, to those of you who celebrate the lunisolar calendar or just feel more energetically aligned to the cycles of the moon, I wish you a belated happy new year. Everyone else, happy March!
As I sit down to write today’s “Letter from the Editor”, I realize I haven’t written one of these in quite some time. And, it is because I’ve been existing in “work-in-progress” mode for the past few months, which has made sharing my creative journey (openly and honestly) quite difficult. I’m sure many of you can relate.
By “work-in-progress", this is what I mean:
Back when I worked a 9-5 job and published Tomatokind as a passion project, my corporate title gave me a sense of safety. Even though it was trying at times (when the job no longer felt aligned), having it in my back-pocket as I freely explored my creative desires was liberating in a way. Whenever a stranger would ask me “what do you do?”, I would lead with Tomatokind because it felt like the part of me that was most “me”. But, I knew I always had my credentials and public service career to fall back on if there were any follow-up questions (“Oh, so you do this full-time?”).
Then, when I got laid-off and jet-set around the world, Tomatokind became my full-time gig, inadvertently becoming the anchor that my 9-5 job once was. It allowed me to relish new adventures and opportunities in the world with direction and purpose (albeit amorphous at best), and was the permission slip I needed to experiment with a new way of living. In a way, deciding I didn’t want to look for another 9-5 job was an anchor in itself: the gift of clarity.
This winter, though, I’ve been wrestling with Tomatokind’s next evolution (and all the life variables that this evolution impacts). It’s amounted to weeks upon weeks of checking out the foundation, the roof, the pipes, the furnace in the attic…and, honestly, the bank! And, this level of inspection has at times felt destabilizing (even when I know they are stepping stones to future clarity). There are days I wish the new version of my creative vision would just materialize with the wave of a magic wand, and I wouldn’t need to actually put in the work, brick-by-brick. But, I know that’s not authentic, nor possible, nor worth it. Because, the journey is the whole friggin point.
In the midst of evolving Tomatokind, I’ve also let myself re-open the door to my career as a civic- and healthcare-focused service designer, which has brought both feelings of excitement and nervousness. This is all to say: if you are also in the in-betweens of multiple jobs, careers, or life paths, let this be a reminder that you are not alone. You won’t believe how many people share with me (every single day) their messy reality of being a multi-passionate human, or “indecisive”, or otherwise “searching” in a world with so many possibilities.
Uncertainty, questioning, confidence (then the shattering of it), clarity, overwhelm, epiphany, joy, disappointment, relief, pride…
This is all part of the journey. And, this community is here for it all.
So, before I leave you today, I want to share with you a peak into these “works-in-progress” and invite you to be a part of what’s next:
First up: Tomatokind is launching a podcast! This has been a dream project for many months. And, throughout March, we will be scoping out producers to co-create this vision, and also bring you along our podcast-making journey. Know a talented producer friend we should chat with? Reply and let us know! We’ll also gladly take your top podcast rec. 😊
Next, we’re adding monthly workshops & live events to our paid subscription, starting with Possibilities Club (our signature workshop series guiding anyone with a dream to step into their most limitless selves). Help us choose a recurring (virtual) meeting time below!
We’re also celebrating that Tomatokind’s Community Chat has officially been live for 2 months! 🎉 Have you stopped by yet? Every Wednesday, I post creative prompts for the community to connect on. We’ve explored everything from personal storytelling, to daily rituals, beginning new projects, and things that bring us creative joy. It’s a place to be inspired, seek advice, & share wins. Come say hi! Our next thread drops within the hour →
Tomorrow, we will be publishing our first co-authored article (with guest contributor Keriann Bellamy). That’s Thursday 3/6 at 2pm PST. The piece is an invitation to journal with us on the significance of place in shaping sense of self (and it’s going to be so good)! And, speaking of collaboration, if you or someone you know has a story or perspective that aligns with the values of this community, please reach out. Co-creation is such a beautiful thing, and I’m excited to pursue and share more collaborative works this year.
Last but not least, Tomatokind is developing a consulting arm that will expand its reach through working with mid-size companies, co-working spaces, and other community-based organizations. The mission is the same: to help stable-career professionals ignite their creative spark without the pressure of starting over. But, through partnering with employee wellbeing initiatives and organizational change teams, we hope to deliver impact by stepping outside of the Tomatokind universe. We are in the early stages of figuring out what this looks like, so we welcome your input! How do you see Tomatokind partnering with organizations to provide transformative experiences? Let us know!
And, now that I’ve bared my creative soul and “work-in-progress” projects with you, I’m curious:
What are you working on these days? What is inspiring you?
With zeal and gratitude for this creative life,
Vanessa
P.S. I’m heading to Chicago tomorrow, so send us your favorite pie spot🍕, under-rated bar or restaurant, museum, and any other rec I won’t find on a “Top 10” list. Not my first time visiting the Windy City, but there’s so much to see and do (and I’m most certainly not ready for the frosty temps & wind chill 🥶). Will write you from there! 💌
Such a beautiful piece, thank you for sharing what the messy middle looks like for you and I am so excited for the podcast launch, can't wait to tune in!