The week between Christmas and New Year’s tends to be chaotic, not cozy, in our family. Suddenly the house is overrun with new gifts (as my son’s birthday also falls this week). My husband’s and my meals consist of leftover appetizers, cereal and Christmas cookies. Meanwhile all of JB’s routines – tube feeds, therapies, sleep schedules – fly out the window. The last week of 2025 involved all three of us family members coming down with bad cases of the flu. (Yes, we were all fully vaccinated, thank goodness.) Suffice to say no one here was working on New Year’s resolutions and introspection during that time.
This is why I love the idea author and podcaster Emily P. Freeman says: “January is the new week between Christmas and New Year.”
As Freeman said in Episode 309 of her podcast The Next Right Thing: “Reflection is a gift that doesn’t respond kindly to rushing. There’s no wrong. We’ll enter gently and with care, remembering all along the way, we are not behind. In other words, we’ve got time. Reflection is a lifestyle, not an event. So to enter January like a soul minimalist is to believe that’s true, and then to act accordingly.”
This year, this concept seems especially fitting, as at the end of January I’ll be turning 40. There are many things I want to reflect on during this month, not just for 2026, but for my next decade.
My word for 2026: Connect
Like many people, I try to select a word or short phrase to guide my decisions in the new year. Previous years’ words have included HERE and REFRESH. For 2026, my word is “CONNECT”.
I chose connect, rather than connection, because it is a verb. It requires action and intention. Chatting with people or scrolling through social media is one thing, but actually connecting means stepping outside my comfort zone, ignoring my imposter syndrome, and saying “Hi, this is what I am about and I think it aligns with what you are about.”
In the coming months, I will be announcing several new partnerships with people and programs that are truly making a difference in helping families affected by disability. Some of these will be local to Massachusetts, while others will be virtual.
What’s next for Joyful, Brave & Awesome?
Upcoming articles in January will include “Favorite Caregiving-Related Books of 2025” and “Three of the Best Decisions I Made in 2025”. In the meantime, if you have ideas for what you want to read or see this year, reach out via email, Instagram or Facebook!
Image credit: Filter added to photograph by may1985 from Getty Images on Canva.
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My best decisions from 2025
January reflections and resolutions