At the start of 2025, as I do for each new year, I come up with a word or words that are my North Star for the year ahead. In January, I declared it my year of “fun and freedom” — freedom from body image baggage, job stress, and anything that dimmed my creativity. I wrapped up a book, tackled my bucket list, and leaned hard into joy.

Then life delivered its plot twist: an unpaid furlough, courtesy of an unelected bonehead and the felon who gutted USAID. The irony isn’t lost on me — now “fun and freedom” includes job boards and writing cover letters. But in a strange way, the theme still fits. This year has been about saying yes to what fills me up and getting clearer on what comes next.

Lyssa White 5/20/25 Lyssa White 5/20/25

Living on Purpose (When Nothing Goes as Planned)

In the quiet of uncertainty, I found clarity in the pages of past ambitions. My old bucket lists became my guide, reminding me who I’ve always been.

Lyssa White 5/12/25 Lyssa White 5/12/25

My Superpower

What started as a yearly bucket list between my husband and me—The Great Goal Rush—became a decade-long practice in finding joy, purpose, and motion even when life feels off the rails. During my furlough in March 2025, I crossed off “write a book” from my 2024 list, capturing everything this ritual has meant to me: a compass, an anchor, and a reminder that we still get to choose how we respond to chaos. If you’re curious about what’s next, I’m building an email list to share stories, sneak peeks, and what this whole journey might become.

Lyssa White 5/1/25 Lyssa White 5/1/25

It’s Not You, It’s Them: Unemployment in 2025

Job hunting today isn’t a market—it’s the Job Olympics. In a sea of 900 applicants, even landing an interview feels like winning bronze. I’m sharing the heartbreak behind my recent near-miss (and the haircut I booked for a job I didn’t get) to remind us all: if you’re still searching, it’s not because you’re not good enough—it’s because the system is broken.

Lyssa White 3/6/25 Lyssa White 3/6/25

Guest Speaking at a High School

I showed up to speak about my career journey—but after fielding questions like “Have you ever had to sacrifice what you believe in to get something accomplished?” from a room of fearless high school girls, I left more inspired than when I arrived.

Lyssa White 2/14/25 Lyssa White 2/14/25

A Love Letter To My Career

This Valentine’s Day, I’m professing my love—not for a person, but for my weird, unpredictable, deeply meaningful career in storytelling and mission-driven work, even as I face the uncertainty of an unpaid furlough.

Lyssa White 2/12/25 Lyssa White 2/12/25

Word of the Year: Fun & Freedom?

At the start of 2025, I declared it my year of “fun and freedom” — freedom from burnout, body image baggage, and anything that dimmed my creativity. Then life handed me a plot twist: an unpaid furlough.