My Birthday Gift to You: Permission Slips
I need to confess something embarrassing about my younger self.
When I was a kid, I was absolutely convinced that having a December 30th birthday was the universe's cruel joke. I was certain – CERTAIN – that relatives bought their Christmas presents, saved one, tossed it in a closet, and then pulled it out five days later with a cheerful "Happy Birthday, Anne!"
By the time I was twelve, I'd hatched a plan. I announced to my parents that I wanted to celebrate my birthday on my Saint's Day instead. Saint Anne's feast day is in July – perfect for pool parties and outdoor celebrations! My parents, bless them, actually went along with it. Which meant, of course, that I ended up with TWO celebrations because they still had to acknowledge my actual birthday.
Looking back at that demanding, dramatic little girl, I have to laugh. And cringe. And then laugh again.
The Weight We Carry
Here's the thing: I've been carrying a weird little shame about that birthday drama for decades. Every time December 30th rolls around, part of me remembers that selfish little girl who made such a fuss about when she was born, who wasn't grateful enough, who wanted MORE.
But you know what I realized this year? That little girl wasn't selfish. She just wanted to feel special. She wanted her own moment. As the third girl in quick succession, she wanted to be seen as Anne, not as "one of the LaFollette girls."
And honestly? That’s okay.
The Creative's Curse
This birthday shame story might seem silly, but I'm sharing it because I know you carry your own version of it. Maybe not about birthdays, but about something.
As creatives, we're brutal to ourselves about our past choices, our younger selves, our "wasted" time. We carry around a mental highlight reel of our most embarrassing moments, our failed attempts, our "selfish" desires to make art instead of being practical.
I see it in every email I get:
"I'm 45 and just starting to draw again – is it too late?"
"I wasted twenty years in corporate – why didn't I do this sooner?"
"I feel selfish taking time for my art when my family needs me"
"Everyone's already doing what I want to do, and they're doing it better"
"I should have figured this out by now"
We're still punishing ourselves for not starting soon or fearful that we’re not good enough.
My Birthday Gift to You
So here's what I want to give you for my birthday – because yes, I still like to do things backwards, making my birthday about giving rather than receiving.
I want to give you permission. A whole stack of permission slips for 2026.
Permission to forgive your younger self. She was doing her best with what she knew. Those "mistakes"? They were just someone figuring out life. Your corporate years weren't wasted – they were preparing you. Your late start isn't late – it's right on time.
Permission to want what you want. Even if it seems impractical. Even if others don't understand. Even if it means wanting to move your metaphorical birthday to July. Your desires matter. Your dreams are valid. Your creative longings are not selfish – they're essential.
Permission to take up space. As the third girl, I learned to squeeze myself into whatever space was left. Maybe you did too. But your voice deserves its own moment. Your art deserves its own wall. Your business deserves its own spotlight. Stop apologizing for existing.
Permission to start now. At 68, I'm still starting new things. Still learning. Still growing. There's no expiration date on dreams. There's no age limit on creativity.
Permission to be imperfect. That pattern with the wonky repeat? Ship it. That blog post you're not sure about? Publish it. That product idea that might fail? Try it. Perfect is boring. Your imperfect action beats someone else's perfect paralysis every time.
Permission to believe you belong. Yes, "it's all been done before." But it hasn't been done by YOU. Your perspective, your experience, your voice – that combination has never existed before and will never exist again. We need what you're creating.
The Birthday Paradox
You know what's funny? That December 30th birthday I complained about so bitterly? It's actually perfect.
It sits in the space between ending and beginning. It's a pause moment when the world is quiet, reflective, ready for something new. It's not competing with Christmas or New Year's – it has its own special spot in the in-between.
Just like creativity lives in the in-between. Between planning and doing. Between dreaming and creating. Between who we were and who we're becoming.
My Wish for You
As I blow out my 68 candles (probably spread across several desserts because, hey, I learned early that more is sometimes more), here's my birthday wish for you:
May you enter 2026 with the same grace you'd give a little girl who just wanted her birthday in July.
May you forgive yourself for everything you think you did wrong, did late, or didn't do at all.
May you stop saving your dreams in the closet like a repurposed Christmas gift, and instead unwrap them fresh and new, exactly when you're ready.
And may you finally, finally give yourself permission to want what you want, create what you're called to create, and take up all the space you need to become who you're meant to be.
That's my gift to you on my birthday. No returns necessary.
With love and all the permission slips you need,
Anne
P.S. – And if you're reading this on YOUR birthday (December babies unite!), know that you're not alone in the "dead zone." We're actually in the magic zone – the space where endings become beginnings. Happy Birthday to us.
Three Ways to Work with Me
If you're ready to take your creative confidence to the next level, there are three ways I can support your journey:
To get started in surface pattern design: Grab a copy of my From Doodles to Dollars® workbook. This is a downloadable PDF with the step by step instructions for how to turn a doodle or sketch into a repeating pattern. You’ll create your very first repeating pattern and gain the foundation skills to begin expressing your artistic voice in a new, exciting way.
If you've already made repeating patterns in Adobe Illustrator and you want to up-level your skills: Join the self-study version of my Pattern Design Academy® program. You get the complete program, with lifetime access and $500 off the regular price of $1,997. Click HERE for details.
If you're already running a successful creative business and you want guidance on how to expand online: Apply for my Creative Business Mastermind. This program is limited to 20 students and is designed to help you scale and achieve greater profitability using my proven 6-part framework.
It’s Never Too Late to Create®
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The Creative Business Spark Podcast.
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Create your very first repeating pattern by following my Three Golden Rules. Grab this downloadable PDF workbook and get started today.
Get started for just $10.00. Click HERE for details.
Up level your surface pattern design skills and learn at your own pace in The Pattern Design Academy® Self-Study Program!
Last chance for $500 off at checkout. Click HERE for details.
The Creative Business Mastermind is my highest level program. Learn how to implement the 6-part framework I used to build my creative business from scratch.
By application only. Click HERE for details.
MEET ANNE
Hi…I’m Anne!
My creative inspiration comes from a lifetime of observation. I grew up in Paris on the Place St. Sulpice and walked to school through the Luxembourg gardens. And that was only the beginning… Learn more by watching the video on my About page.
