Welcome 2026

There are many ways to view the end of a year and the beginning of a  new one. In Numerology we went from the number 9, which is the end of a  cycle, to the number 1, which is all about a clean slate, a fresh start.  In the Chinese Zodiac we are finishing up the Year of the Snake,  represented by transformation, the shedding of layers, and heading into  the Year of the Horse, with attributes of strength, courage, and action.

For  some, New Years are auspicious new beginnings. Others look to the new  year with dread, focusing on how their life has been and how they view  it will continue to be. Some view the changing of the year as a starting  point for changes they want to make in themselves. To release that and  those which are no longer serving them. Others are happy to stay exactly  as they are.

However you view the new year, one thing is  for sure. It’s all about perspective. Take resolutions versus  intentions. Resolutions focus on the end goal. “I’m cutting out sugar from my diet.” “I’m going to go to the gym four times a week.”, “I’m going to read 20 books this year.” And the age old “I’m going to lose _____ pounds”. Resolutions give you a goal to attain, but as most of us have  experienced, attaining these goals isn’t always sustainable, or  reasonable.

Intentions focus on the journey. You can read  20 books, but what books did you choose, and why? Therein lies an  intention. Pick books for a reason, not for a number. Someone  recommended a book to you a while ago- start there. Tell that person  you’re reading that book, or when you’re done, let them know what you  think of the book. Whether you liked the book or not (or maybe couldn’t  finish it), the focus becomes about the process of reading the book, not  the number. From there pick another recommendation or spend some time  with an author or a specific genre of book. Let the reading itself be  the goal.

Instead  of focusing on completely cutting something from your diet, perhaps  you’ll increase your awareness of what and why you are eating that  specific thing. Sometimes the awareness itself is enough to begin a  change of habit. For instance, I know that when I am feeling listless, I  tend to snack for lack of something else to do. Knowing my habit,  instead of grabbing for a cookie, I’ll focus on making a cup of tea. By  the time that’s done, I’ve been able to shake the sense of listlessness  and bring my attention back to whatever I was doing before I got  mentally derailed. That being said, there are still plenty of instances  where I wander out of the kitchen with a bowl of popcorn, a handful of  cookies, or any other sweet or salty treat I come across in the  cupboard. But each time I find myself realizing what I am doing and why,  and successfully replacing one habit with another, I’m practicing  present moment awareness.

So perhaps you’ll switch how you view  what you want this coming year and make it look not so future focused.  Perhaps you’ll connect in a bit more with where you are here and now,  greet that person with a bit more grace and compassion, and open  yourself up to the journey ahead.  I’ll be in the kitchen with a cup of  tea and the last of the Christmas cookies!