The road behind us is full of stories, and the road ahead is wide open. As we stand at the edge of a new year, I find myself looking both ways — back at what shaped me and forward at what’s quietly calling me next.
This year didn’t ask me to sprint.
It asked me to rebuild instead of rush.
And that changed everything.
Looking Back
This year stretched me in ways I didn’t expect. It asked more of my body, my heart, and my patience than I would’ve chosen — and yet, here I am.
Motherhood deepened. Life shifted. My health demanded attention in ways I could no longer ignore. Being older, giving birth again, walking through surgery, and facing the reality that caring for myself is no longer optional — it’s necessary. Not just for me, but for my kids and the future I want to be present for.
Creatively, I learned to let go of perfection and choose consistency instead. Showing up imperfectly. Writing when I could. Creating space where it fit instead of forcing it to fit. That alone changed my relationship with creativity.
If there’s one thing this year taught me, it’s this:
I am stronger than I ever thought I was.
Not loud strength.
Quiet, keep-going strength.
Looking Forward
As I look ahead, I don’t feel rushed — I feel hopeful. Quietly determined.
2026 doesn’t feel like a blank slate or a pressure-filled reset. It feels like a continuation of the journey, just with clearer footing. A new stretch of road shaped by everything I’ve already lived through.
I’m not chasing a perfect version of myself or an overstuffed list of goals. I’m choosing progress that’s rooted in care. Creativity that’s sustainable. Growth that honors real life.
Setting the Tone for 2026
This year, I’m carrying the same word forward: courage.
Courage to care for my health fully and honestly.
Courage to keep creating without waiting for ideal conditions.
Courage to trust that steady steps matter more than fast ones.
Courage, for me, isn’t about pushing harder — it’s about staying present, even when things feel uncertain or uncomfortable.
If you’re choosing a word for the year, let it be something that supports you, not pressures you. Something that feels like an anchor, not a demand.
A Gentle Send-Off
Wherever the road takes us in 2026, I hope we meet it with courage, creativity, and a heart wide open. Like a warm hug before stepping forward — steady, reassuring, and full of quiet strength.
You don’t have to have it all figured out.
You just have to keep going.
What’s one word you want to carry into the New Year?
From my road to yours, happy wandering.
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