2026 Resolutions

New Year. New Me! 

Or maybe just a tweaked me?

My vision board (created July 2025) has far more traveling on it than I feel will happen, but I do enjoy visiting new places. I really do like the sticker I found that says: Trust the Timing of Your Life. Times I am frustrated with myself for not doing "more." I need to stop doing that. 

I also like the picture of a wide variety of hands together forming a huddle. I picture the people cheering and supporting each other. I'd like to build a team like that in 2026. 

Renewing old goals:

1) Gaining comfort and style with roller skating.

2) More double dates. 

3) Take a trip by myself. I enjoyed Belgium last year, but want to explore someplace new.

4)  Start writing a book. I have an idea I am working on about a stay at home mom trying to write the next chapter in her life.

New for 2026:

5) Do something new with my hair. I can't decide if I want to color it again or continue to grow it out. Cut it to my shoulders or let it keep growing. I spoke with one hairdresser who said coloring it grey won't work, based on my hair it will just turn brassy within a week. I honestly hate spending money upkeeping it, yet don't know if I want to go full on grey. Ideas?

6) Work on building my arm muscles. I joined Planet Fitness. If I go 100 times in the year, I'll consider it a huge success. (As of 1/7/2026 I've been four times.)

7) Visit a different continent. (I've been to North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia.) 

8) Take a cruise to see more countries.

9) Increase my freelance income (I earned very little in 2025).

10) Dig on a new archaeological site. In 2025 I became a regular at Newlin Grist Mill and Fort Mifflin.

11) Start the great purge. Aim for a drawer every week. May that small start grow.

12) Keep protesting until the need ends. I'd like to go on a Visibility Brigade on an overpass.

13) Find new doctors. This is of necessity since my eye doctor and wonderful endocrinologist both announced their retirements. Thirteen is an unlucky number and I feel a bit unlucky that my favorite two doctors retired. I wish them both the best.

I wonder where 2026 will take all of us.

2025 Resolutions Recap

I know the phrase New Year's Resolutions is often met with derision. When I ask people if they have any for the upcoming year, the most common response is "I don't believe in that," or "why bother," or simply, "I haven't thought of it." When nudged, I do hear of unofficial goals: making better use of my time, not yelling at my children, traveling more, etc. I see these as I see a vision board, a guidepost for the new year and beyond.

Before listing my 2026 Resolutions, I want to pause and recap how well I did, and did not, achieve last year's goals.

Some carryovers because I liked them, and they still need improving:

1) Gaining comfort and style with roller skating.

Update: I took a tumble later that month and paused this goal. 

2) Going out with couples more often. I like the once a month goal for this one.

Update: We did some, but I'd like to do more.

3) Visit at least one country new to me.

Update: I had an overnight layover in Norway!

4) Take a trip by myself.

Update: I spent two weeks in Belgium alone.

New goals:

5) Become an NJACT reviewer. I attended the training program, so this is within reach.

Update: accomplished!

6) Take a class on how to take better iPhone pictures. Your best camera is the one with you. I signed up for a class.

Update: accomplished!

7) Start writing a book. I have an idea I am working on about a stay at home mom trying to write the next chapter in her life.

Update: did not happen, but I did write more blog posts than any other year, so I am writing. May that inspire me to write a book.

8) I'm looking at three international races: 7 km in Liege, 5 miles in Perth, Ontario, Canada, and 10 miles in Paris. I'd like to train and run each of these with confidence.

Update: I ran in Liege and Perth, but not in Paris.

9) Redo some albums so they are digital and take less space.

Update: I did not even start this goal.

Anti goals: Do not visit and spend money in red states. Exceptions for Pennsylvania (because it is so close), and Ohio (family and friends).

Update: mostly successful. We did buy lunch in Texas during a layover on our flight to Vancouver.

Onto my 2026 Resolutions.