What Remains at Midnight.

Readers know that I decided to try a “princess of the month” theme in my Gilded Scriptoria planner for this year. On paper, it made sense. I love the royal, elevated feel of this planner, and I’ve done character based themes before (Pride and Prejudice, Lord of the Rings) and absolutely loved them. So I assumed this would be the same.

But it hasn’t been.

Last month I spent time with Cinderella. I watched the Disney version, read the retelling Cinder, and tried to settle into the theme. It was fine, but not a story I naturally connect with. And now April is dedicated to Jasmine from Aladdin, but I didn’t enjoy Arabian Nights and I’m not in the mood for the movie either. I keep bumping into the same feeling: I’m trying to pull inspiration from characters, but they aren’t inspiring me right now.

And that’s okay. This is the part I’m paying attention to.

I don’t want to change the theme mid‑year because I like to finish what I start. And I still love my Gilded Scriptoria itself and the activities that lean into feeling royal and intentional. It’s the princess layer that isn’t landing for me.

What I did take from Cinderella, though, was one small detail: the glass slippers stayed when everything else fell away. The dress vanished, the carriage crumbled, the magic dissolved but the slippers remained as a reminder of who she already was.

That’s the part that feels true for me right now. Not the princess. Not the story line. Just the realization of what remained at midnight.

And as I sit with that image, I’m realizing that my planner is the glass slipper. The princess theme may not be working, but the essence of the planner is fantastic. It is what makes me slow down, try new activities, and record memories.

So I’m letting this season unfold as it is. I’ll finish the year with the theme I chose, but I’m releasing my expectation that it has to inspire me every month. I'll let the important things stay while the non-essential can fall away at midnight. Being honest about all this feels important to share because I want to honor what is true...not every month is magical.