New Year Musings

A wonderful, wondrous year is nearly behind me.  2025 turned into such a journey of discovery and loveliness that I get teary eyed just thinking about it.  Now we are just days from the start of a whole brand-new year in which possibilities are like a thousand little seeds scattering into the wind, nestling into crevices and cracks of earth where they will be watered and pushed to grow into somethings in the perfect seasons ahead.

I had no idea last year at this time what 2025 would bring, not that I've had insights into other years either.   I can say without a doubt this year has been the most joyful year I've ever had.  It was a bit of a struggle just at first as I began to shed off the out of focus, out of balance methods I'd used to cope in the struggle years behind me.  I'd buried myself under the necessary and unnecessary tasks alike in an attempt to hide from it all.  But I broke free and I've come to a lot of understandings, realizations and such that I hadn't sorted out in past years.  Somehow, there came an opening, light poured in and I felt myself come alive once again.

I took time in St. Augustine to reflect on this year and it's likely the shortest summary I've ever written.  In years past it's been pages, examining several facets of my life, triumphs and failures alike, and then I'd begin to formulate my resolutions for the year coming.  This year, my summary was just over a page.  Such a momentous year for me in so many ways and all I could manage was just a page!  It might have had something to do with how wonderfully relaxed I felt, but I think it had far more to do with the fact that I kept writing, "I am happy," every few sentences along the way.  I was happy, too.  I feel more confident, surer of who I am, and of my worth.  

Not that everything is perfect because it's not.  There are situations I have no control over that are no nearer being resolved than they were January 1, 2025.  But something within me has shifted, I've been altered in some major sort of way, and I've found the oh so necessary balance my life was missing and that allows me to breathe in and out and leave worries to handle themselves.  I've awakened, come alive as it were...  I am comfortable with myself, I am at peace, I am content.  

2025 was a gift that kept on giving.   I can only believe in good things for 2026 as well...

I didn't write any resolutions in November.  I wasn't ready then to write them...November was just a very lovely month in which I rested more than anything else, and I very much wanted to just enjoy it.  I did.  And then I started into December, and I've enjoyed that as well.   But I did take time to write resolutions.  

This year I've not set myself tasks in household or garden, but I am keeping my resolutions focused on me, my spiritual and mental health, my physical health, my emotional well-being, and my writing.  Period.  The house and yard, family and such will all sort themselves out.  I've found since June of this year that the house will let me know what area needs attention.  Nothing was neglected.  As for the yard, it was a disheartening year where gardening and landscaping and such was concerned.  Jobs tend to show themselves there, too, and they were attended to for the most part.  And those that weren't...well no one but me knows the difference!  And my family time has settled into something routine that we all seem to enjoy at this time in life and we'll keep it going as it is.

So yes, for 2026, I am focused on my personal needs and my hopes and dreams but I'm not resolving myself to care for the world at large nor every big task that I see needs to be done.  

But I want to make one last solid resolution for the time ahead:  to focus on the moment I'm in, share with the ones I'm with my love and respect for them, to admire the beauty before me and thank God for every minute! 

Happy New Year!