We are one week into the New Year. I hope my readers have had a good start to 2026.
Through the years I have always started my year off with a blog post of aspirations for the New Year. Those who know me know that I don't make resolutions. This way when things don't work out I don't have to be hard on myself.
But this year I'm going to try something a bit different. I am going to aspire to only one thing - to be "present". That's it. I have found myself rushing around, getting interrupted by a text or a call ( which usually isn't urgent) or letting myself be sucked down the rabbit hole of social media - be it on Facebook or X or Pinterest or Instagram. Then I wonder why I feel stressed about having so much to do.
When I am playing pickleball, I will focus on my play not what I will be doing later that day.
When I am walking Amber I will concentrate on my time with her. Checking on nature and listening to the sounds around me. Not checking my phone.
When I am reading I will try not to be distracted. Not always easy when Nick is watching TV in the same room.
When I am speaking to friends and family, I will keep my phone in my pocket on silence.
When I set aside time to do my art, I will turn on some music and try to place all the other things I have to do out of my mind. And if I mess up a painting ( those watercolors mix so easily if I am not patient) so be it. No harm in trying again.
When I am focusing on growing in my faith - I will find a quiet spot and work on the bible study that I am doing or pray.
When I am working on my advocacy work I will concentrate on the task at hand - reviewing grants or sharing new research results on X or Instagram. ( This one will be difficult. I start reading posts from the the organizations or people I follow on X and find myself to scrolling. Bam ... 20 minutes go by and I've shared one post about ovarian cancer.
When I am doing volunteer work with my local historical society, I will try to focus on my roles.
So you might wonder how those aspirations for 2025 work out. I was pretty successful at most of them although in my cancer advocacy work I did accept a position on the State's Survivorship Workgroup and no surprise, I still have not visited Maine. But there is always this year.
Wishing everyone a Happy and Healthy 2026! May your presence light up the world.
