Welcome.
I'm Vari. This is The Sum of Small Things.
Breaking up (for good this time).
I left Instagram in early 2024 after a few attempts at breaking up the previous year. I loved the privacy and freedom it gave me.
I didn’t feel compelled to write or share anything. The spaciousness was what I needed, both personally and creatively. I felt protective of this space. I didn’t want to frantically fill the beautiful, peaceful void with meaningless ‘stuff’.
During this time I launched my new business, Friday Morning. It felt great to be doing something new and exciting again.
However, I started to crave a more intimate outlet, a creative campfire of sorts.
Somewhere I could be all the different versions of me.
Somewhere that didn’t require strategic thinking or planning.
Somewhere to be unrestricted, raw and natural.
The Sum of Small Things is my creative campfire.
For the longest time, I struggled to explain what I did for work.
I’d feel slightly offended and a little immature when folks would say, “So… what exactly is it that you do?”
I tried to niche down. To go ‘all in’. To be known for that one Very Special Thing. To become the go-to expert in X, Y or Z (just pick one, you can’t have them all).
The snappy elevator pitch of “I help _____ to do ______ so they can_____.” was a forever work in progress, and always felt awkward.
Then I had a realisation.
People were asking me what I do, not for my job title.
Pressure = released.
What I do is help folks cultivate more courage.
As a brand and graphic designer: I help business owners shine more courageously through their branding and websites. I do this with my business partner Tom in our company, Friday Morning.
As a coach and mentor: I help folks make small edits and hone their vision to live a life that feels more like who they really are.
As a writer: I tell stories from my own life about the ways in which I live with gentle courage. I did this through my podcast, The Vari McKechnie Podcast. I also published a book called Seeds of Courage: Stories, ideas and snippets of wisdom on how to live a big life through small and gentle acts of courage
I’ll be sharing stories from my own life about divorce, co-parenting and being a mother to two teenage sons, living alcohol-free (I’ve been sober since July 2018), family of origin dynamics, creative work, writing, slow productivity, being purposefully ambitionless, living more intentionally, journaling, meditation, travel, design and really whatever has piqued my interest that week.
I’m influenced by many writers and teachers including Abraham-Hicks, Dorothea Brande, Dr Joe Dispenza, Bob Proctor, Clarissa Pinkola Estés, Wayne Dyer, Sarah Blondin and John O’Donohue.
I’ll be sharing my illustrations. I’ve dipped in and out of illustration in my creative work. I’ve never been sure if I want it to be work or play. (I have a habit of wanting to make everything a business. It's great for my clients but exhausting for me personally.) Right now I’m excited to share these here and to let this aspect of my creativity do whatever it wants in the world.
What to expect
I’ll be publishing an article every Sunday at 9am. All articles will be free to all subscribers. There will be no paywalls.
If you would like to support my work and choose to become a Paid Subscriber (either monthly or annually) you’ll also get:
exclusive access to book a 1:1 coaching session with me
an invitation to my monthly journaling and intention setting workshop on the last Thursday of each month
There’s also an option to become a Founding Subscriber. These subscriptions are limited to the first 50 people and includes:
One year access as a Paid Subscriber
a copy of my book, Seeds of Courage sent to you in the mail with a personal handwritten note from me
a free 45 min 1:1 coaching session with me
early access to any workshops, events or retreats
Thank you for being here.
I’m excited for us to get to know each other.
Love,
Vari x
PS Say hi. It would be lovely to get to know you. V xx
PPS This is the soundtrack to today’s writing. It’s perfect for this solo, sunny, at-home spring day. It reminds me to slow down and feels delightfully and optimistically romantic…