New Possibilities!

I’ve been asking around, and it seems people are either all in on New Year’s Resolutions or firmly opposed to them. I understand the skepticism. I read one estimate that 80% of New Year’s Resolutions are abandoned by the end of February. So why set yourself up for failure when the odds are so stacked against you? Why risk the shame and disappointment of not following through on your goals to exercise daily, give up sugar, declutter your entire home, write a novel… or whatever they may be? Aren’t we already hard enough on ourselves without the added pressure of a total life makeover in 2026?

As an admitted goal-setter but not always finisher, I assure you I understand. I have a thousand such “failures” under my belt, and yet all this week I will feast on ideas for small new beginnings in the new year. I cannot help myself! Contemplating ways to infuse new energy, beauty, creativity, and connection into my days is deeply satisfying.

Perhaps I’ve aged out of my former perfectionism (thank goodness!), because I don’t really sweat the realities of my fragilities and life’s messiness like I used to. I know I’ll lose steam from time to time or have to pivot due to unforeseen circumstances, but training my mind to dwell on possibilities keeps me hopeful, flexible, and growth-oriented. Here are a few of the “resolutions” I brainstormed for 2026 that sparked joy in my heart! Whether they last a week or a lifetime, I will benefit from the positivity they bring. The more uplifting practices and perspectives in my intentional living toolbox, the better!

1.  Host a Knitting Circle

What’s not to love about friends sharing snacks, sipping hot tea, and working on our knitting and crochet projects together? What could be cozier? For too long, it’s been a “someday” idea, but TODAY I will pick a date in January and send out invites!

2.  Prep Freezer Meals with my Mom

A couple of years ago, my mom and I started setting aside one day a week to either go on an outing, work on a project, or just run errands together. Then new commitments began cropping up and crowding out our mother/daughter day, and once a week became once a month at best. This afternoon, we connected and recommitted to protecting our weekly bonding time in 2026. In January, we will be trying our hand at prepping some freezer meals! Something I’ve always been interested in but never got around to trying. I know I will be 100% more successful if we tackle this goal as a team!

3.  Speak Gently to Myself

Shame is such a lousy motivator. I have realized, with great relief, that self-directed harshness is, in fact, a form of pride (“I thought I was better than that!”) and neither helpful nor healthy. Humility, however, embraces a growth mindset that sees stumbles and mistakes as valuable information and opportunities to learn. I am much more resilient, calm, and compassionate when I speak gently to myself and accept that I am beloved by God “as is.”

4.  Memorize Psalm 139

This Psalm has comforted me since I was a child, and while I know some of its verses by heart, I’ve never learned it in its entirety. Nothing quiets anxious thoughts in the middle of the night like reciting scripture. I wish I had a head full of beautiful passages to draw from, but alas, I’ve never really dedicated much effort to memorizing scripture, so this year I’d like to remedy that. Of course, the internet has a million tips to aid me in this endeavor, so I will try to restrain myself from falling down a rabbit hole of too much information. I do love a helpful hack, though, so if you have any advice, please email me!  

5.  Take More Photographs

Once upon a time, I had my own small photography business. I was passionate about the art of crafting a beautiful image using light, creative composition, color, and emotion. I worked hard to figure out my DSLR camera and saved up for a portrait lens I still use to this day. It was a fruitful time for me creatively, and I have many, many treasured photographs of my family and friends from that era. But then iPhone cameras improved, portrait trends shifted, and my old photography skills began to feel obsolete. My “Big Camera” was put in a closet, and I caved to the convenience of snapping a ton of random pics on my phone that I rarely print out or put any thought into. In 2026, I would love to reignite that creative spark within me. I miss how photography kept my senses attuned to beauty in the ordinary, and it would be lovely to fill the frames in our home with some updated family memories!

Resolutions held lightly, evoking an inspiring sense of renewal, can be made not just yearly but daily! One of my favorite early morning reflection questions is, “How can I stuff more light into this day?”  Sometimes the smallest of tweaks make the most significant long-term impact.

Happy New Year, dear ones!! May it be blessed!