The end of the year is a natural time for introspection, and the beginning of a new year is a natural time to set goals. (Notice I didn’t use the word “resolution.”)
Hopefully, 2025 was a good year for you. I’m giving it mixed reviews.
I had some wonderful experiences this year. I traveled some, made a few new friends, mentored a couple of newbie mediators, and most importantly for me, helped a lot of people to end their relationships with respect and dignity.
I also had some not-so-good experiences this year. I lost a nephew and a couple of dear friends (F*%#k cancer), ended a relationship that wasn’t working for me, and dealt with dental issues including two oral surgeries.
I intend to leave behind the angst I experienced in 2025 because it’s over. Both the year and the angst.
I plan on taking something important into 2026, and that is patience. I’ve always thought of myself as a patient person but in 2025 I seemed to have lost some of it, to my own detriment. I intend to get it back. In fact, I’ve already made some progress.
Another thing I’m taking with me is how I’ve learned to redefine the concept of worry. While not typically a worrier by nature, as I was driving to the dentist’s office for the umpteenth time and worrying about what was in store for me, I had an epiphany. Life-changing, actually. I figured out that I was wasting time (and disc space) by worrying about things that I could not change, and more particularly, about things that would not change by the mere fact that I was worrying about them. I felt like a huge weight had been lifted off my back, and that gave me hope to move forward in a better direction.
I’ve also been trying not to worry about the economy, the cost of living, the Epstein files, and the state of our democracy. Obviously, easier said than done. But I am watching less news and reading less articles on current events.
Coinciding with my newly implemented worrying strategy, I’m minimizing my screen time. Endless scrolling has proven to be detrimental to me for many reasons, not the least of which is the negativity I’m encountering. No, thank you.
What am I doing with those hours that I’m no longer wasting? I’m watching a lot of television, including documentaries on Netflix, and football on Thursday nights, Sundays, and Monday nights. And in order to still feel productive while watching all this television, guess what else I’m doing? Knitting.
Yes, I’m knitting like a frantic grandmother, although I’m neither a grandma nor frantic. It’s peaceful, semi-mindless, and gives me something to focus on that makes me happily think about my mom, my sister, and my aunt Sylvia.
What are you leaving behind at the end of 2025 and taking into 2026?
I wish you a happy, healthy, and peaceful 2026. And also, please let me know if you need a scarf or a hat.
