It is a new year, a new opportunity to reset the clock. A possibility to start again. I’ve vowed to just be grateful that I am recognizing how fast time is passing and by making a better effort to appreciate what life has shown me so far. It is so easy to get caught up in lofty goals and new year aspirations and I do believe that everyone should have a dream to reach for but there is also satisfaction in the simple things of life.

Time moves so quickly but I’ve discovered that you don’t have to make grand plans every year to be some perfect version of yourself, you just have to make small strides of improvement (if that is what you want). The problem in today’s culture is that some of us don’t believe that who we are, is more than enough. It has become normalized to hustle yourself into oblivion in order to become “someone”. We believe that money is the ultimate goal but there really has to be more to life. If you decide to change nothing this year, that’s ok, life does not always require an attempt of greatness, some days it requires stillness. The ability to become aware of who you are and what it is that will actually make you whole and happy are equally important to a good life.

When was the last time you gave thought to your own likes and dislikes without input from the outside world? Do you know what it is like to be identified as just yourself, not someone’s partner, or parent, or employee or boss but simply you? Most people never take the time to truly know oneself before becoming a title, some by choice, others by circumstance. I think it is important to know your own mind. It’s so easy to fall for the outside influences, to hand critical thinking over to technology, it may even seem nice to not have to worry about making a decision for yourself, instead you do what someone else needs done. What happens when we spend time in just our own mind? Do we give ourselves the opportunity to truly appreciate the simplicities of being alive? Can you allow yourself to be present and appreciative of the small things that happen daily right in front of you?

One small but spectacular thing that I witness yesterday as I finished running some errands and walked out of a store. I look straight ahead into the deepest purple and vibrant orange that greeted me across the evening sky. I couldn’t help but be amazed at how stunning the sunset looked. I took a picture just to remind myself of how lucky I am to live in a place that have days like this, were nature just hits you in the face with all her beauty. I also couldn’t help but notice, as I drove out of the parking lot, other people walking out of the store on their phones not even looking up to notice the remarkable show happening right in front of them.

How have we as a society become so fixated on the little devices in our pockets that we don’t notice when something glorious is happening all around us. I want to always notice the beauty when it is in front of me, and I understand that requires being present in the moment. This year I will take time to learn my interest, always choosing gratitude for the small things in life and never missing the opportunity to stand in awe of a spectacular sunset.

As we head into 2026, I hope it is not just another year. I hope it is one of peace, accomplishment and great appreciation of the small wonders of life.