Between Besties: January Doesn’t Count, the Unexpected Road Trip, and an Orange Coat (Ep 203)

Between Besties is a monthly check-in where I share what’s really been shaping my life lately—the stories, realizations, and choices I’d talk through with a close friend.

In this episode, I’m sharing why I let January be my sluff card month, how an unexpected road trip with my dad shifted everything, and why a bright orange coat has me thinking differently about joy.

This conversation is part life update and part reflection—about slowing down on purpose, trusting your rhythm, and playing the long game.

I’m also sharing the books I read this month and one simple ritual that’s helping me start my days grounded instead of rushed.

If January hasn’t felt like a full-on fresh start for you, this episode might be exactly what you needed to hear.

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Transcript

Today I am sharing why January does not count for me, how a last-minute road trip shifted everything, and why I’m still deciding whether to keep this bright orange coat that makes me ridiculously happy.

Hey, it’s Leah.
Welcome back to Balancing Busy.

This one is going to be a little bit different, and honestly, I’m really excited about it.

As I’ve been thinking about the podcast moving forward and coming into this new year—and how I want it to feel—I came back to this idea of doing a monthly wrap-up.

I don’t want it to be a recap of everything, and it’s not a teaching episode.
It’s just a chance to share the things I’ve actually been thinking about, doing, reading, and noticing.

The kinds of things I would tell my closest friends.

This is honestly what I’m already putting into my Marco Polos with friends who live far from me.
And since you’re my bestie, I wanted to try it here.

January Is My Sluff Card

The first thing I want to talk about is January.

Because January is just a weird month for me.
And maybe it is for you too.

While everyone is crowding New Year’s resolutions and jumping in to change their life overnight, I look at January like a sluff card.

I was explaining this to my daughter and said,
“I don’t really know how else to describe it. January is just my sluff card.”

And the second I said it, I knew that was exactly it.

If you play card games—especially Skull King—you know what a sluff card is.
You don’t fight it. You don’t stress about it.

If you play it strategically, it actually helps you win the long game.

That’s January for me.

It’s not the month where I jump all-in on new ideas and plans.

My daughter was home until January seventh, and I loved that.
I wanted to soak in that time with her.

After she left, I took a couple of days to take down Christmas.

So now I’m about ten days into January, and I’m just starting to feel ready to plan and rev things up—without hitting the gas yet.

That’s why February is my real “go” month.
February is my January.

Letting January be a sluff card gives me permission to prepare, plan, and get excited—without pressure.

One really exciting thing that happened this month was getting to speak for American Family Insurance.

They have a division called DreamBank, a nonprofit focused on helping people with dreams and goals.
They reached out to me months ago—maybe nine months ago.

At first, I didn’t think anything would come of it.
Then they circled back, and it all happened this month.

The talk was called Made for More.
It was about being bolder, dreaming bigger, and living with intention.

It filled my soul.
That was the highlight of my business month.

And then that very same evening, I got a call from my dad.

My dad told me his brother—who he hadn’t spoken to in years—had reached out and was now in end-of-life care.

My dad immediately said,
“I’m going to go see him.”

He lives in Northern California.
We’re in Washington.

And I said,
“I’m coming with you. You’re not doing this alone.”

Two days later, we met at SeaTac and drove the whole way.

I don’t usually love road trips—but this one was different.

My dad turns eighty this year, and he’s one of my favorite humans on the planet.

Getting hours and hours together—talking, laughing, sharing stories—was incredibly special.

It was heavy, of course.
But it was also meaningful in a way I’ll be grateful for forever.

Sometimes just showing up matters more than knowing what to say.

Light After Heavy

I got home Tuesday night, had one day to reset, and then left for an overnight with my sisters.

We stayed in the city, got massages, went shopping, and celebrated my baby sister’s birthday.

It was light.
It was fun.

It reminded me that heavy and joyful can coexist—and both get to be part of our stories.

The Orange Coat

While we were shopping, we walked by Free People and went in.

At the back of the store, I saw this orange coat and beelined for it.

I love it—but I’m still deciding whether to keep it.

It’s oversized.
Casual.
Very orange.

I’ll try to put a picture in the show notes so you can weigh in.

When I was in junior high, I wore orange every single day.
Not almost every day. Every day.

And not soft orange—fiery orange.

I think even then I understood something about being known for something.

I also read a book this month called Joyful, about curating joy through small choices.

And I thought about that coat immediately.

So… maybe the orange coat stays.

Books I Read This Month

I read four books this month.

M.M. Lion, volume eight—diary-style, slow at first, then you’re hooked.

The No-Show by Beth O’Leary—a great Valentine’s read.

How to Start a Cult—a business book that made me think deeply about community.

The Almanack of Naval Ravikant—full of ideas that make you pause.

One quote really stopped me:

“Wisdom is knowing the long-term consequences of your actions.”

That’s stayed with me.

What I’m Loving Right Now

One thing I’ve been loving lately is ceremonial cacao.

It helps me start my day grounded instead of rushed.

I crave it because I love how I feel.

I’ll link it in the show notes if you’re curious.

So that’s January.
My sluff month.
A month that didn’t need to rush.

If you’re easing into the year in your own way, I hope this helps you trust your rhythm.

And tell me—should I keep the orange coat?

Thank you so much for being here.
I’m really grateful to have you as part of the Balancing Busy story.