Love Letter to the New Year

It’s been a while since I last posted here, and now it’s a whole new year!

Every January, I like to start with a recollection of what the last 365 days have been—and what the feeling, or intention, is for the one ahead.

At the start of 2024, I wrote that I felt oddly at peace, with a quiet confidence (or desire?) that the things I had wanted so badly for were finally within reach. And I wasn’t wrong—that year came with many positive surprises that brought real joy. Still, I can say that it was toward 2025 that a real, calmer happiness settled in. That’s when my “fight or flight” mode finally turned off, allowing me to truly process, accept, and settle into the good times that were unfolding.

Why? I noticed recently that, for a long time, periods when everything felt right unsettled me. Probably, because I assumed something awful would inevitably follow. After the calm comes the storm seemed to be my mantra—backwards, in a way. This ingrained belief drove me to self-sabotage and endless anxious thoughts, anticipating the next tragedy instead of enjoying the positives.

2025 allowed me to exhale and realize the good is here to stay. After fishing in the proverbial turbulent river, I was finally able to catch what I’d been after: elusive stability, a wily peace of mind, and the big fish—love.

Not only that. For years, I felt purposeless. I’d wake up every day without a clear north, wanting one so badly. I became so obsessed with finding it that I started doubting my next steps, second-guessing every decision, resenting my own journey, and comparing myself to others. In doing so, I trapped myself in a vicious circle of self-pity and self-doubt.

Luckily, after years of thinking, 2025 also brought me a realization: That the answer (an answer) was always right there: When I had everything, when I had nothing, when I was 17 and now that I’m 32, this act—writing—has been the only constant, remaining steady and unwavering.

The only thing that kept me going when my world felt like it was crumbling was knowing I could turn my tangle of thoughts into a semblance of something beautiful—something that could find a home on this blog and maybe resonate with, or even help, others.

Realizing the impact of writing in my life has opened a new chapter—a new era. It’s unleashed something within me, lifted a weight, and reignited my desire to be disciplined in “saying things.” In turn, it has shifted my perspective and given me something to wake up excited about every day.

So, it is with this energy that I start the year: grateful for the epiphany, committed to honing this skill, and curious to see where it takes me.

In this moment, when everything feels so aligned, I dare to ask for just one thing out of 2026: to keep reminding me that everything is enough, and to let me sip the good times slowly.

If you’ve made it this far, my wish for you is that this new year brings moments when everything clicks. Burning dreams, and the courage to chase them. A year of passion, discoveries, love in all its forms—and the stillness and awareness to truly take it all in as it unfolds.

And if you’ve also made it to this point: thank you. For being here through hell, limbo, and what now feels like heaven.