Stepping Into the Year (So Far)

Jan 21

The year is still fresh, and it’s already shaping up to be a meaningful one for Planet Acorn.

It began with a plot twist I didn’t see coming: being crowned Rotary Club Prom King on New Year’s. Proof that whimsy does not have an expiration date — and that sometimes joy shows up wearing a sash. A pretty perfect tone-setter, honestly.

Since then, I’ve been busy following curiosity wherever it leads (which is rarely in a straight line). I’ve released several new videos, including two episodes of “Hi & by,” an interview with Apple, and my very first filmed demonstration of a Star NUT Reading — a playful, intuitive storytelling ritual that invites meaning to emerge through symbol, chance, and conversation. If you’ve ever wondered what happens when a cosmic squirrel, a handful of nuts, and the universe all start talking at once… now you know.

Dahlonega Sunrise Rotary Club Prom King 2025

Creatively, I’ve been leaning into performance opportunities on both stage and screen. I auditioned for another Holly Theater production (waiting to hear back on that one) and was cast in an independent filmmaker’s project that will begin shooting next month. I love spaces that let me explore character, presence, and story — whether on stage or on screen.

Alongside that, an older story of mine decided it wasn’t finished. It quietly revised itself into my first song, and I’m now shaping it into a song-story movie. Apparently, some stories just need time — and a melody — before they reveal what they’re really about.

Bobby interviews Apple about making his movie.

Community has been the clearest throughline so far this year. I’ve joined the Dahlonega Arts Alliance board as well as the Downtown Dahlonega Business Association, both of which feel like meaningful ways to support and collaborate with the creative and small-business ecosystems I care deeply about.

That same spirit is what led to a big yes on a project I’ve been developing for a while: Creative Blend. I recently landed the pitch for this curated event series and will be debuting it next month at Dahlonega’s Bear Necessities. The intention is simple — to create warm, welcoming spaces where local artists, performers, and neighbors can gather and experience creativity together, without pressure or pretense.

I’ve also been encouraged by the early growth of my YouTube channel. It’s still the beginning, but it feels like a solid foundation — especially with several short films currently in the works and slowly finding their way toward completion.

As the year unfolds, my focus remains steady: centering community, nurturing collaboration, and finding new ways to share my creativity with families and neighborhoods who can truly benefit from it. The stories are moving, the relationships are deepening, and the year feels wide open in the best way.

Grateful. Curious. And very much enjoying the path so far.

Hi & by!!!

Bobby Youngblood