January can be a slog.

Over here, it's been a month of false starts, painfully slow progress, and overthinking everything.

This week, Asad Chishti and I were scheming about 2026 and I was lamenting my sense of stuckness. Wallowing in it, perhaps. He offered this in response: “There is some sort of wisdom in the slog.” In showing up for the ordinary work that is ours to do, because it still matters.

I scribbled this down in my notebook and thanked him for the gentle rebuke. I needed it.

And then! We had a breakthrough. We landed on an idea that I'm excited to share very soon.

For a bit there, I thought the wheels came off. Or maybe they were just spinning in place. But I am happy to report that while we may believe we are stuck beyond all hope, it is not so.

The Sprawl is gearing up for a February edition. It is almost ready to roll.

There's a little sneak peek for you. Earlier this week Sam Hester sent me this animation, unprompted, after I made a (half-serious?) joke about us mounting The Sprawl's Pop-Up Press onto skis.

Sam's animation cracked me up and I immediately replied: That is gold! Olympics pun intended.

Sometimes you just need to laugh. Shake the dust. Anything to let life and light back in.

We've got some good stuff cooking. Stay tuned!

Jeremy Klaszus is founder and editor of The Sprawl.