Wow- – -I can’t believe it’s already 2026.

Sometimes I still see myself as a young girl, eyes full of wonder, imagining what life would be like in the year 2000.

And now here we are. It’s 2026, and I’m no longer that young girl.

The first half of 2025 was particularly difficult for me.

In many ways, it was a continuation of unresolved challenges from 2023 and 2024.

I’ve come to realize that being overly optimistic can sometimes do more harm than good. Hope needs boundaries; there must be a point when we stop waiting and begin building new strategies.

Still, there was an unexpected gift in being down during the first semester of 2025. I found myself writing novelettes- – -stories that may not mirror my own life exactly, but speak to shared human experiences. Writing became a way to process, observe, and connect.

As I step into 2026, I want to do more so that I can gain more, and ultimately give more. I want to wake up each day not just to follow routines, but with the energy and intention to contribute to something greater, even in small ways.

When a person goes through trauma, the natural response is often to rest, retreat, and shut down for a while.

I’ve done that. But I also know that resting too long can quietly turn into stagnation. This 2026, I choose to reboot—not in haste, but with purpose.

So here’s to surviving 2025, with all its lessons and scars. And here’s to welcoming 2026- – -with courage, clarity, and renewed intention.