Author: Maia Cassidy

From this moment on, I will only be accepting electronic gift cards sent to my email. If you want your deposit to be anonymous, buy a prepaid credit card, create a bogus account, and buy an email gift card. I do not have the bandwidth to deal with potential scammers.

After much reflection, I’ve made the decision to return home to Canada. While I’ve cherished my time in the United States and am deeply grateful for the friendships, opportunities, and experiences I’ve gained here, the current political climate has left me feeling increasingly uneasy.

As someone who believes strongly in justice, equity, and human dignity, I can no longer reconcile staying in an environment where those values feel increasingly threatened.

This is not a decision made lightly. I carry immense respect for the many incredible people I’ve met here and the beauty and innovation that the U.S. still holds. But these qualities are being steadily overshadowed—if not altogether eroded—by the direction of its leadership.

I want to stand on the side of history that aligns with my conscience, my safety, and my sense of hope for the future.

To everyone who has been part of my journey here: thank you. I will miss you dearly. But it’s time for me to go home.

I disappeared for a while. Not out of neglect, but out of necessity. The weight of constant noise—the ever-churning news cycle, the endless demands of modern life—became too much. So, I chose to step back, to silence the outside world and slip into something softer: solitude, slowness, and self-restoration.

I traded notifications for novels, doomscrolling for daydreaming, and urgency for indulgence. I let my mind wander without deadlines, let my body rest without guilt, and let my soul breathe without interruption. It was a time of quiet rebellion—choosing peace over pressure, presence over performance.

Now, I return, not just recharged but renewed. A reminder that stepping away isn’t disappearing—it’s returning to yourself. And in a world that constantly demands more, choosing yourself is the most radical luxury of all.

Over the next few weeks I’ll be making several changes to my website. I’ll be sharing more of myself, updating my portfolio, and making some structural changes to my pricing, etc. I’m looking forward to 2025 and Maia 2.0. 😘