49 Comments
User's avatar
Lily's avatar

Please write an autobiography I could read every single story about your life 😩

Lily's avatar

Gonna BAYMTGO the hell out of this year

E H's avatar

Goddamn. I’ve never had my instinct and drive to have transformative/milestone moments explained to me so clearly. I’m a “storyteller” (in the new tech/business parlance) but I’ve never been able to explain why supposedly big moments leave me more empty than full. What a gift to take into 2026 to have permission to build 15-minutes at a time. Thank you.

Jayna's avatar

I too once had a memorable NYE in Paris in my 20s. Mine started out badly but ended wonderfully and at 80 I thank you for reminding me of this memory. My BAYMTGO for 2026 is to get back on my feet after breaking my hip so hopefully I’ll have another more fun one a few months down the road. As always, I’m looking forward to whatever you write next.

Leigh Bardugo's avatar

Take care and wishing you fast healing 🖤

emi's avatar

Read this after giving up on writing for the day, after a really frustrating year of working hard on my novel everyday… without making any meaningful progress. But working hard on my novel everyday is how I mean to go on, so this encouragement was perfect (: thank you as always 🤍

Sabrina's avatar

Needed this, thank you 💜

Madeline's avatar

This resonated deeply. Thank you.

Olivia/O. J. Barré🪄🌎's avatar

Thank you for this, Leigh. All "holidays" have lost their sparkle for me. But the 15 minutes? That I can do.

Ken Murayama's avatar

I loved this post. Both comforting and inspiring. Like many others, I had a horrid 2025. On the first and beyond, single, purposeful, small steps forward.

Ciaradh MacNucator's avatar

*eyes the pile of WIPs to finish*

I will finish them. Every. One.

Nicolette Cavallaro's avatar

Thank you 💛

Bobby's avatar

Yes, queen, change is rarely naturally good. Most good changes come from the yardwork we put in. Love this, this is amazing and inspiring. Keep up the good work, and I can't wait for Dead Beat!!!

Michelle Marshall's avatar

This is magic, I could not agree more. I love your writing, I revisit the stories often for inspiration or just the comfort of an old friend. As a neurospicy artist I am never in sync with the conventional "big moments". I have never given them much gravity, the only things that are sure in life is death and change. So I embrace the simple concept, in every ending is a new beginning. As Ayama would say "and can you not learn?". <3

MMD's avatar

BAYMTGO has been a family tradition for us the last few years, after I learned it from you. We do several different chunks of things we say we want to do that year: short hike, reading time, family board games, etc. It is such a wonderful frame for the day!

Karol Ruth Silverstein's avatar

This...post...was...AWESOME.

Aline S.'s avatar

What an entertaining read and what's not to love about a happy end too!