Happy New Year!

 It's January 2nd, but it's still early enough to say Happy New Year, so here we are. I just returned back from the medical place with one bandage from a B12 jab in my left arm and a blue bandage where the kindly phlebotomist took blood from the right arm. (We're checking levels on my slow, sluggish thyroid.) This afternoon I will be back at PT to keep the aching knees going. Use it or lose it. I'm determined to stay strong for the duration. 

Steve and I have been on break, so he drove me on the icy roads, so my blood pressure won't spike. (Although I have come a long way overcoming the fear of winter travel, the body never forgets trauma, I suppose.) I'm so grateful to him. He just brewed a fresh cup of tea for us, and I'm taking sips while writing and decompressing from this morning. 

I hope you enjoyed a good New Year's! Steve and I spent the first day of 2026 with extended family, and when we returned home later in the afternoon, with cats nestled in our laps, we watched the Stranger Things finale. (That show warrants its own blog post.) Steve and I enjoyed it. We also caught up on the current season of Abbott Elementary. Both shows have great writing, and we'll definitely spend the winter finding new fun shows to watch. (What shows are you viewing? I'd love to hear from you.)

Being mindful and slowing down is a good way to move forward this year. There are some unknowns about my current health. Reflecting on the past year, I'm spending 2026 carefully guarding and protecting my peace and energy, because I don't have a lot of energy on tap to spare. 

A way to preserve this energy is by letting go. I'm reading a fantastic book that I may or may not have mentioned before. It's called The Let Them Theory by Mel Robbins. I've been saying the mantra in my head (Let Them, Let Them, Let Them) and that is already giving me peace. Unfortunately, I can't control hurtful words and actions (or inactions) of others, but I can certainly control my reaction and responses. 

My response is the following: if you are unkind to me, or if you continue to take without some sort of effort or reciprocation, you will lose access to my time, my love, and my energy. It's really that simple. I'm frustrated having to write about it, but it's happened more frequently in 2025, so it doesn't take up space in my head in 2026. 

I wish you a happy and peaceful weekend.