Happy New Year
Dear friends --
2025 has been a notable year for many of us. Like most years, 2025 had its ups and downs. Too often as the year wraps up, we push through the hustle of the holidays and fail to reflect back over the year. As we close out 2025 and look toward 2026, I challenge us collectively to take time for some meaningful reflection. Consider this:
✔️ 𝗔𝗻 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗮𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗺𝗲 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴. Life is a valuable teacher. When you consider different experiences you had over the year, what have you learned? What do you know now that you didn't know or didn't know as fully a year ago?
✔️ 𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗼𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗜 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗻. Consider a unique opportunity that presented over the year. Did you pick up a new hobby or meet someone new? Did you try something you never tried before or have a novel experience? Look for opportunities that presented over the year that are worth noting for 2025.
✔️ 𝗔 𝗱𝗼-𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗜 𝘄𝗶𝘀𝗵 𝗜 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲. Some of the hardest remembrances or memory recalls are the missed opportunities or mistakes we made. Find one of those moments and reflect on what could have been differently. Grow from it. Learn from it. Make amends if necessary. Forgive yourself if necessary. Leave it in 2025.
✔️ 𝗦𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗺𝗮𝗱𝗲 𝗺𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗹𝗮𝘂𝗴𝗵. Laughter truly is the best medicine. Bring to mind those moments of sincere, authentic laughter. Consider who you were with and where you were. Relive the moment. Commit to having more of those moments in 2026.
✔️ 𝗥𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗱. All sorts of people make up the fabric of our lives -- from acquaintances to work friends to family to confidantes. Take time to reflect on the relationships that contributed to your 2025. Perhaps you need to mourn relationships that are lost or celebrate relationships that grew. Perhaps you feel gratitude for new beginnings or deeper connections. Forgive, give thanks and commit to strengthening connections in 2026
From my family to yours, Happy New Year. May 2026 provide you with health, contentment and another year to make an impact in your community.