Hello Reader,

I'll spare you my usual new-year pep talk.

In past years, January often arrived with a surge of energy and ambition that led, predictably, to burnout six to eight weeks later. This year has begun differently. Slower. More measured. More intentional.

In her latest newsletter, Anne-Laure Le Cunff wrote about why discipline and self-control can only take us so far:

"Decades of research suggest that self-control does predict positive outcomes. But it also shows something more subtle: self-control works best when it’s used sparingly. When people rely on constant “effortful inhibition” (forcing themselves to act) their performance degrades over time.

That’s because this kind of effortful inhibition activates brain networks that are metabolically expensive and sensitive to stress and fatigue."

Instead, she argues for devotion over discipline:

"Devotion implies commitment rooted in meaning and identity rather than forceful compliance with a rule.

When you’re devoted to an action, you don’t force yourself to act; the action expresses something you value."

That framing resonated.

This year, I am focusing my energy on work that aligns with what I am genuinely devoted to. That includes advising on ecosystem building efforts, shaping stories that make invisible work visible, and curating meaningful events with care and intention.

You will see that theme woven throughout this issue.

Here's what I have for you this month:

• A look back on 2025 🔎
• Ecosystem Essential: Year-end reflection: A Practical Guide for Ecosystem Builders 📋
• My Indie bookshop crawl through Washington, D.C. (Bookish) 🎒
• What I'vee been reading (Bookish) 📚
• Three things I'm devoting myself to this year (Shen-Anika-ns) ✨

Ecosystem Essential: Year-end review for Ecosystem Builders

Before moving forward, I believe in taking stock.

If the end of 2025 slipped by in a blur of gatherings, gift-buying, and loose ends, this two-page reflection guide offers a chance to pause. It includes focused questions designed to help you look back with clarity and carry meaningful lessons into the year ahead.

This is a practical tool for ecosystem builders who want their next steps to be informed, not reactive.

Bookish: A final Indie Bookshop Crawl

As of December 9, 2025, #40BookshopsUnder40 is complete.

Over the course of this project, I visited, shopped at, and featured 54 independent bookshops across multiple countries and communities. I am excited to share some insights from those visits in a forthcoming series of blog posts.

For now, I have one final crawl for you. It unfolded over three visits to the capital across the year: Washington, D.C. Indie Bookshop Crawl.​

And yes, to mark the end of this chapter, I created a Hamilton-Indie-Bookshop mashup🤴 You're welcome.

Here's what I read over the holidays:

• ​Heart the Lover, Lily King. Y'all! I picked this up at Old Town Books in Alexandria, totally unaware of what was about to hit me: an unforeseen level of intense emotion and a life-spanning narrative. 5 stars.
• ​The Author's Guide to Murder, Beatriz Williams, Lauren Willig, Karen White. Beatriz Williams is one of my favorite historical fiction authors. That talent x 3? Count me in! The premise is hilarious and entertaining: 3 American authors at a Scottish castle to solve a mystery and write a book about it. The execution... did not quite live up to my expectations.
• ​The Song of Achilles, Madeline Miller. My friend Kristin (hi, Kristin✋) recommended this book when we were bookshopping in Augusta, GA, last November. I would never have picked this up on my own; I didn't think Greek history from way back when was my cup of tea, but this is Achilles' story told from the perspective of his boyfriend, and I loved it.
• ​The Full Moon Coffeeshop, Mai Mochizuki. Imagine a book that feels like a warm hug and a blanket - that's this book. At times, the love stories felt a little too on-the-nose, but overall, a thoughtful, feel-good piece of Japanese magical realism.
• ​Awake, Jen Hatmaker. This is the book I chose during my birthday book exchange (more to come in my next newsletter!). I picked it without knowing the author nor the title. It's a touching memoir if you can stomach betrayal and divorce in an evangelical context (turns out, I can.).

Looking for your next read?

🎁Shen-Anika-ns: My 3 devotions for 2026

This year, I am devoting myself to three things:

1. A long-form writing project 📝​
   For the past two years, I have been working quietly on a writing project that brings together ecosystem building, storytelling, and lived experience. In 2026, I will finally begin sharing it publicly.
2. Intentional parenting 🍀​
   I am carving out more dedicated time during the week to be fully present with my daughter. Wednesday afternoons are now reserved for hikes, bike rides, and swim lessons. I do not want her to grow up feeling like a side show in my life. Wish us luck
3. The return of Ecosystems for Change 🎙​
   I launched the podcast in 2022, and many of its most essential episodes are now buried deep in the archives. Over the coming months, I will be resurfacing select conversations that remain deeply relevant today, especially for newer listeners.

What's been your favorite episode? Simply hit reply to this email and share your favorite(s)!

I hope something in this issue gives you permission to slow down, take stock, and choose what truly deserves your energy this year.

I'll be back in your inbox in two weeks!

In camaraderie,

Anika

P.S. Missed my last newsletter? Check out the previous issues of Impact Curator.