Following the Flow: When Joy Leads the Way

aka: how I accidentally found my next creative spark while not forcing the one I thought I should be focused on

Lately, I’ve been thinking about how good things tend to show up not when you’re chasing them, but when you’re off doing something that actually lights you up. Like joy leaves a trail, and the universe just follows it.

That's where I’ve found myself lately.

Still nurturing Wandering Collective, still creating for it—but if I’m being honest, it’s felt more like I’m tending to a garden that’s in a quiet season. The soil’s still fertile. The roots are still good. But nothing is in full bloom right now. And instead of panicking, I’ve shifted my focus to something that's been whispering in the background for a while.

A new project that’s silly and cosmic and sensory and absolutely bursting with joy:
Wine. Astrology. Tarot.
Because, wine not? 🍷😉

Creative Energy Likes to Play 🍷✨

This new thing—Vino Cosmo—feels like a playful lovechild between my lifelong love of storytelling and my current obsession with how we seek meaning in everyday rituals. Pouring a glass of wine. Pulling a card. Reading your birth chart like it’s a menu. It’s fun, but also kind of profound?

That’s the word I keep coming back to.
Fun.

Not "fun" as a reward for working hard, but "fun" as the fuel itself.
And when I follow that energy, I find myself actually excited to show up. Excited to write. Excited to build.

Every summer, for the past 3 years, I’ve prioritized having a “Summer of FUN.” I mean full-on, main character energy—picnics, spontaneous travel, creative tangents, meeting new people, saying yes to the moment. And every time, I end up making the most beautiful memories. I feel alive. Like I’m actually living my life, not just managing it.

But I’ve realized lately: that feeling doesn’t have to be reserved for summer.
Why do we save our joy for one season?
What if I let "Summer of Fun" energy lead me all year round?

Because when I do, when I let playfulness and curiosity guide my choices, I create from a deeper, more magnetic place. And somehow, everything else starts to click into place too.

Side note: I once heard that when a certain zodiac sign walks into your life, it’s because you’re meant to learn something about that sign. I’m now understanding the assignment: more fun, more laughter. Lightness. Wit. The art of not taking everything so seriously.

Letting Joy Lead Isn’t Irresponsible—It’s Strategic

There’s this narrative, especially when you’re running a business or trying to build something meaningful, that you have to push through the slog. That consistency matters more than inspiration. That structure > spontaneity.

And sometimes, sure. But I’m learning that being in flow doesn’t mean you’re flaky.
It means you’re paying attention.

Because I wasn’t "supposed" to start a new thing. Not right now. Not when Wandering still feels tender and undefined in places. But I also wasn’t supposed to be this energized by something new—wasn’t supposed to feel this sense of clarity and forward movement just from leaning into joy.

Yet here we are.

The Doors That Open When You're Not Looking for Them 🚪

Since giving myself permission to follow the fun, unexpected things have started to shift. Conversations, connections, even offers I didn’t see coming. Not because I chased them but because I was in a different energy. One that wasn’t pushing. One that wasn’t clinging. Just… open.

So if you’ve been feeling stuck or uninspired, maybe the answer isn’t to try harder. Maybe it’s to loosen your grip. To find something that makes you laugh or sparks your curiosity or just feels good—even if it has nothing to do with your current goals.

Let Yourself Wander 🗺️

This season is reminding me that momentum doesn’t always look like grinding.
That creativity thrives when you’re lit up, not burnt out.
That "progress" can mean trusting the pull of something unexpected.

So here's to following the spark.
To nourishing the ideas that make you smile.
To trusting that joy is the strategy.

With wine-stained lips and a starry-eyed heart,
Melissa ✨