It’s never easy going through a career transition. I’ve written through it all with the hope I could provide some kind of answer that neatly ties up what the midlife crisis arch should look like. 

Nope.

This experience has been like shaking a tree until nothing else falls out. First came self-loathing and pity, then an inflated sense of self and entitlement, and finally, insecurity and hopelessness. I kept waiting for some kind of ah-ha moment to knock me on the head and show me a new way forward. It didn’t. 

A Shift in Perspective

Looking at the aftermath of all the changes I’ve made these past few months, it’s evident work was not the problem. The problem was what my work meant to me. I hadn’t loved what I’d been doing in the way I’d been doing it for a very long time. Taking away some of the expectations and pressure that came with the nonstop content model I’d built gave me a renewed perspective on the power of publishing. Recently, it became clear I have one thing left to do: let go of the way things used to be and move on to what’s next. 

I love what I have built with the Wit & Delight brand and my newsletter, House Call. I love the truth of my intentions and the people who get what I am about. Ironically, it has been easy to share what is wrong with me, and more scary to tell people what I care about. The latter is where I had become lost—and ultimately, found again. 

Taking away some of the expectations and pressure that came with the nonstop content model I’d built gave me a renewed perspective on the power of publishing.

Sharing content with this realization in mind has not been what I expected. It’s felt like standing naked on stage in front of an audience full of people who may want to hurt me. At times I’ve felt ready to walk away and not look back. And yet, I cannot deny I have something valuable to contribute. The career I’ve built is based online, a place where people often feel worst about themselves, and my only reason to leave was because I feared my reason to stay. 

Technically, I’m now back in my role of publishing full-time and am continuing to share content on both Wit & Delight and House Call, but things are different than they once were. It’s thrilling to have a renewed sense of clarity, and I’m willing to pay the price of feeling afraid along the way. 

What I’ve Been Working On

Behind the scenes, I’ve been working on making a few thoughtful updates to my newsletter through the lens of all that I’ve learned these past few months. In this fresh iteration of House Call, my goal is to connect the dots between inspiration and action.

Below I’m sharing a few updates I’m making to House Call and how you can subscribe to my newsletter if you haven’t already. I really hope you will.

A Fresh Take on House Call

I originally launched House Call as a space to delve deeper into the motivations behind why we work tirelessly on our homes and ultimately, why it matters.

In the eight months since then, I’ve re-evaluated what my contribution to this online space means. I’ve wrestled with my own convictions about the home decor influencer space and the role I play in it. I’ve committed to showing up more authentically—to talk about the aspects of home design that simmer beneath the pretty photos and provide accessible resources for design lovers like me. House Call is about getting off social media and bringing more of what we want into our own lives. 

In this fresh iteration of House Call, my goal is to connect the dots between inspiration and action.

The first few months of House Call felt like I was dipping my toe in. Now that I’ve had time to get a feel for this space and test the waters, I’m ready to give House Call a refresh. I’m making a few updates to the schedule and format of the newsletters. I’m also bringing more clarity to the purpose of House Call and what each subscription tier offers. 

I am eager to keep showing up in this space that’s grown to mean so much to me this year. To all who have subscribed, thank you!

The Perks of Subscribing to House Call

You won’t see an ad or sponsor on House Call, so if you’d like to support my newsletter financially, here are three options:

1. Monthly: $5/month
2. Annual: $52/year ($4.33/month)
3. Founding: $75/year 

Paid subscribers get…

• A newsletter every single week! This includes:
  • An essay every other Thursday about home life and issues beyond the pretty pictures we see on Instagram, including dealing with home envy, battling decision fatigue, working within budget limitations, and facing impostor syndrome. 
  • A newsletter every other Thursday which includes a snippet from the previous week’s paid newsletter topic, a peek into my life lately, articles and product recommendations, plus design projects that get your creative juices flowing. 
• Access to the full House Call archive.
• Bonus content, including updates on my design project, Nine Pines, and occasional video extras from me.
• Access to exclusive chat threads.

Free subscribers get…

• A newsletter every other Thursday which includes a snippet from the previous week’s paid newsletter topic, a peek into my life lately, articles and product recommendations, plus design projects that get your creative juices flowing.

House Call is a reader-supported newsletter. The best way to support my work is by clicking the button below and becoming a paid subscriber. Thank you always! – Kate

Kate Arends

Kate is the founder of Wit & Delight. She is currently learning how to play tennis and is forever testing the boundaries of her creative muscle. Follow her on Instagram at @witanddelight_.