08/01/2026
LONG POST ALERT
On this 8th day of January 2026 (8 being a Biblical reference to new beginnings), I continue to pause .... not to just focus on recovering from the flu like so many others who were hit with this awful bug, but to reflect, evaluate, critique, celebrate and yes resolve. I'm not one to usually make New Year Resolutions; however ...
I REFLECT on the challenges as well as achievements of 2025. It was a hard year in many ways but also a very blessed year. I'm reminded of the oxymoronic quote by Charles Dickens, "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of light, it was the season of darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair..." The past year offered my family many opportunities to celebrate, but tested us with several personal and collective hurdles.
I EVALUATE my responses to both the joys and sorrows, the highs and lows, the mountains and valleys that elicited every emotion that I could possibly conceive. I confess to both not always responding well, and positively surprising myself in some instances. Strength and weakness wrapped in one "flawsome" (flawed but awesome) package.
I CRITIQUE things that could have been done better, and how the key to overcoming some mistakes could have been learnt from others' experiences instead of trodding those roads myself. Among other things, I could have avoided procrastinating more, and worked harder to exercise more patience with others and myself.
I CELEBRATE the wins! The moments when I got it exactly right, or impacted a life, influenced change, completed an important task, met a specific goal or was just simply the best.
The sum of my musings and discussions with the Chairman of this board called my life (God) is to cement a few resolutions. BE IT RESOLVED THAT:
1. It is a continued effort to not just do better, but be better; who I become at the end of the journey is equally important as the journey itself.
2. It is more than ok to give myself grace to grow, and equally ok to call myself out when growth becomes stunted.
3. I don't need to fear or seek permission from others to walk through doors that God opened, or to walk away from the ones He shut. His will ... not mine.
4. I will approach every assignment from God with diligence and tenacity, no matter how small or large, including those assignments that call for rest.
5. I will be undaunted in my convictions, while leaving space for fresh revelations. I will also not be limited to goals the size of what my mind can conceive, but leave room for God to blow my mind with the incredible.
6. I will continue to fight for what is right, while using wisdom to preserve the peace.
7. I will always walk in confidence knowing that my actions make an impact in this earth, but humbly point others to my source, the Lord Jesus Christ.
8. I will never be intimidated by or take for granted a new day, but welcome and approach it as an opportunity to introduce someone else to the God of both the day and the night, the sun and the rain ... the first and the last day of 2026 and beyond.
Happy Not So New Year Everyone! 💜💜💜💜💜
