Musings

December 29, 2025

New Year Resolutions…

Every year around October, I start thinking about what I want to accomplish for next year and how to tie up the loose ends (or totally blow off) what I wanted to accomplish for the current year.

My daily resolution is to be a better person than I was the day before. Sometimes that requires tequila…sometimes is requires being sober. Mostly it requires patience.

Which brings me to “New Year Resolutions” and the bombardment of fitness and health advertisements and the myriad of other promises we make to our future selves. I’m going to suggest that this year, try to focus on one thing you know you can do (but really don’t want to) like decluttering. Last year I did this for my office and craft room and my clothes. I’m going to continue the trend this year because after I’ve done it–and believe me I put it off for years and years–I love it. I love the room again. I’m proud of myself for finally finishing it. Ask yourself, what thing could I do that makes me want to pull my hair out but will make my life so much easier afterwards? Also, notice I gave myself a year to tackle three areas in my entire house, because life happens and giving myself time to go through everything in those spaces required scheduling. It’s interesting to note that the actual time spent was probably less than forty hours, but hundreds were spent in the pre-gaming procrastination.

Knowing when to blow things off comes with wisdom, age, and a lack of fucks. I REALLY wanted to learn Dutch because my daughter and son-in-law live there. I did Duolingo for a while, visited, realized EVERYONE speaks English there, and that I’d never learn Dutch without being able to immerse myself in the language.

You may realize that your goal isn’t what you want anymore. That’s not a failure. Consider it growth. Very few of us still want a pony, even though there’s clearly room in the back yard. It’s okay. You’ve learned a new skill. It might come in handy in another decade.

Some folks focus on a word. Last year mine was “AUDACITY” and I had fun with it. I was brave and did things that made me feel more centered in myself. It pissed off a few people, and I’m okay with that. I have a fabulous group of friends and family who love me as I am. I’m going to continue to be authentic and understand that my opinions and actions don’t always align with other people’s political or spiritual beliefs. It’s okay. They can be wrong 😉 but I’m done giving time to complacent people.

I believe my word for 2026 will be SCIENCE. In this age of AI where the Health Secretary quotes articles erroneously–or ones imagined by AI, I’m going to stand with facts and the scientific method. The scientific method, research and experimentation is NOT subjective. The results are reproducible. They consider errors and suggest further study. There’s exciting stuff happening in the world of science, and it doesn’t involve cider vinegar or pomegranates.

If you’d like to join me, I can suggest two great books to start! The first one is an easy read, and it really shows you how we, as human creatures, are easily manipulated.  It’s Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion by Robert B. Cialdini. It’ll also help you sell stuff and not fall for marketing ploys. It ABSOLUTELY explains phenomenon where people look directly at the facts, agreeing things need to change, but don’t change.

The second book is a longer read. (I suggest you skip the chapter on the brain’s filing system is like a computer.) It’s Stephen Pinker’s How the Mind Works

Let me know if you find any cool science books.

Finally, 2026 is the year Rowan Prose Press is publishing my three book cozy mystery series, Pour Decisions. They are fun with great characters from a small fishing town (made up) in South Carolina. The main character, Wanda Atkins, works at the family pub, Pour Decisions, and is accused of murder. But, what the real murderer doesn’t know is that Wanda can talk to ghosts, including the victim. Unfortunately, she still needs physical evidence to prove her innocence before she gets arrested!