I'm Not Afraid to F*ck Up & Try Again.
...and that's what makes me so powerful.
Hi friends!
Welcome to the very first edition of The CRTLYN Edit, a monthly space where I document what it really looks like to rebuild your body, your brand, and your entire life from the inside out.
If we haven’t met yet, I’m Courtlyn.
I’m a designer, athlete, and creative founder living with a chronic illness. I’m also someone who’s learned—again and again—how to rise. I’ve worked in corporate, built a startup from scratch, ran a half-marathon with a torn hamstring, and lived through cancer and burnout. None of it broke me. It just brought me here.
This isn’t just a wellness journal or a highlight reel—it’s a behind-the-scenes look at how I’m aligning my creativity, career, and body with the life I actually want. I’ll be sharing the lessons, the breakdowns, the breakthroughs, and everything in between.
Lately, I’ve been feeling like I’m stepping into a new version of myself—one I’ve been circling for a while, but never fully claimed. Until now.
It’s not just a rebrand or a refreshed website (though, yep, those happened too—peep the new look and let me know what you think). This is deeper. A redefinition. A full-body, full-soul alignment that isn’t rooted in strategy, but in truth.
This newsletter is my way of documenting that process.
Not the glossy version—the real one.
If you’ve known me for a while, maybe you met me as a designer or founder. But I’m also an athlete. I live with rheumatoid arthritis, Hashimoto’s disease, and a thyroidectomy scar. I train differently. I listen to my body, sometimes more than I want to. I don’t always move the way that I’d like to, but I move with purpose.
Now, I’m merging all of it—design, discipline, movement, softness—into something that feels like me.
Some things I’ll share here:
What it really looks like to train as an athlete with chronic challenges
How I’m designing a life and career that feels soul-aligned
My ongoing relationship with healing, structure, and softness
Lessons from blending fitness, spirituality, and creativity
Honest reflections from the middle—not the mountaintop
There are some things I’m keeping sacred right now. Projects that are still rooting. Not hidden—just protected.
I’m calling this space The CRTLYN Edit because that’s what it is: a real-time edit of my life. No filters. Just refinement. Just return. Just realignment.
Because I don’t have it all figured out.
But I know this:
Alignment isn’t a destination.
It’s a devotion.
And if you’re building a life that asks more of you—more presence, more patience, more courage—I’m right here with you.
Until next time,
C
MONTHLY UPDATES TO SHARE
🎽 Currently Training For:
Nike After Dark Tour: Los Angeles Half Marathon
In case you haven’t heard, Nike is launching an epic global women’s race series called the After Dark Tour. The only U.S. stop? Los Angeles, on June 7th—and yes, I’m running it!
I’ll be racing alongside a crew of amazing women, and I couldn’t be more excited (…and okay, a little nervous). Let me know if you’re running it too—I’d love to connect!
💧 What’s Fueling Me:
Magna — Magnesium Electrolyte Drink
Fun update—I’m officially a Fitness Ambassador for Magna, my new favorite magnesium + electrolyte drink.
Two big reasons I’m obsessed:
I’m horrible at staying hydrated and replenishing electrolytes.
I’ve been severely low on magnesium (doctor’s orders to fix that ASAP).
This drink is a lifesaver—especially with everything I’m training for this year.
Use my code COURTLYN for 15% off at drinkmagna.com.
🧘♀️ Recovery Workouts I’m Loving:
Reformer Pilates + Mat Pilates + Barre/Sculpt
If you’re new here—last year I tore my hamstring training for the NYC Marathon. So recovery has been a huge part of my journey. Reformer Pilates became my go-to for healing and strength, and honestly? I’m in love. It’s humbling, empowering, and has been a game-changer for my lower back tension.
Reformer Classes I’ve Tried & Loved:
JetSet Pilates – My favorite so far
BodyROK – Nearly destroyed me (in a good way?)
Solidcore – Different vibe, but IYKYK.
Mat Workouts I’m Into:
FPMovement – Loved their pop-up at The Corner at Nordstrom, but I usually hit up the Soho location
KKSweat – Kara Liotta is a powerhouse and her energy is infectious (my abs have never recovered)
FuzeHouse – Haven’t tried it yet, but it’s at the top of my list!
If anyone in NYC is down to take a class with me, let me know!
“There is only one thing that makes a dream impossible to achieve: the fear of failure.”
- Paulo Coelho
ORIGIN STORY (aka the rewind)
In 2020, I had a partial thyroidectomy and was diagnosed with thyroid cancer. Days later, I was laid off from my design job. A few weeks after that, I landed what I thought was my dream role. I quit five months in—it was toxic.
That experience broke something open in me. I left corporate. I started over.
In 2021, I launched The Design Database—a job platform for female and non-binary creatives. It started scrappy. By 2023, I taught myself to code and rebuilt the whole thing from scratch. It was beautiful. It was successful. It was mine.
But I did it all alone. And it cost me.
I burned out—badly.
So I stepped back. I chose me. I chose softness. I chose slowness. I chose healing.
And maybe that’s what brought me here—to this newsletter, to training again, to rebuilding from a place of deep inner trust.
Because who I am now?
She’s not someone who failed and had to start over.
She’s someone who leapt, broke open, and still chose to rise.
…and on that note, I’ll wrap this up here!
Thank You, Magna 🧃✨
My new favorite magnesium + electrolyte drink —and now, one of my official partners!
Did you know over 75% of us are magnesium deficient?
Athletes and doctors swear by it for a reason—there are 15+ types of magnesium, each offering different benefits.
Magna features a powerhouse trio:
Magnesium L-Threonate
Magnesium Malate
Magnesium Glycinate
Together, they support muscle recovery, stress regulation, and cellular hydration. Most electrolyte drinks contain just 60mg of magnesium—Magna delivers 211mg. Huge difference.
🔬 What Makes Magna Different?
⚡️ Triple Magnesium Blend
Three science-backed forms of magnesium for better focus, recovery, and energy.
💧 Balanced Electrolytes
Just the right amounts of sodium and potassium—no salt bombs, no bloat. Plus Vitamin D, B6, and B12 for added performance.
🍭 Zero Sugar
Clean ingredients. No crash. No bloating.
🏅 Science + Athlete-Approved
Formulated with top doctors and pro-athletes. Third-party tested and NSF Certified for Sport.
Ready to Feel the Difference?
💻 Use my code COURTLYN for 15% off at DrinkMagna.com.
👯♀️ Or head to: Community.DrinkMagna.com/COURTLYN
Your hydration game = officially upgraded.
Until Next Time 💫
Thank you so much for reading. If this resonated with you, feel free to hit that subscribe button, tap the heart, or even share it with a friend who might need it. I’ll be back next month with more updates, insights, and all the behind-the-scenes as I continue this journey of becoming.
Let’s stay connected in the meantime:
🌐 Website — courtlynjones.com
📲 Instagram — @courtlynjones