A New Year: Self-Reflection, Gratitude, and Hope

As we close the chapter on 2025, and ring in 2026, I reflect and look forward with gratitude and hope. With a cup of morning coffee, I sit and handwrite three pages in a journal, the Morning Pages, part of a ritual learned by Julia Cameron from her book The Artist’s Way. According to Cameron, “Put simply, the Morning Pages are three pages of longhand writing, strictly stream-of-consciousness. Morning Pages get us to the other side: the other side of fear, of our negativity, of our moods.” The practice has allowed me deep self-reflection, a microscope into myself, my life, one filled with gratitude and hope. A model I want to pass down to my children and grandchildren. I am no Pollyanna, but strive to grow, and be challenged.

Family comes first. The gift of precious grandchildren who light up my life, watching them grow, their sweet faces, smiles and laughter, each one unique. Often, I sit and soak in, observe my daughters as mothers in awe and pinch myself at how lucky I am for my beautiful family.

I am my worst critic. Gina Moffa wisely stated in our webinar sponsored by Elevia/For Grief Speakers Bureau on Navigating Grief and the Holidays, “We need to lower our expectations.” The phrase resonated not only in grief, but in other areas of our lives. In December, I skated in the Bog Skating’s club Christmas show. Nerves overcame me. I felt my entire body shake during the performance, and knew the spiral, a signature move, would not glide to the blue line. As my leg lowered, I jerked my arm, and forced to pivot in the performance, and the lunge ended further down the ice. Did the audience know? No. What they saw was the grace and guts of a sixty-nine-year-old woman skating with joy and for her beloved sisters. I needed to embrace that and not worry about the silliness of a few minor blips. The day proved to be magical. 

I am grateful for the opportunities afforded to me at this stage of my life. A new writing career, invitations to speak on webinars and podcasts, and continued philanthropy work. Through all my endeavors, I’ve been fortunate to meet wonderful and interesting new people. Now that I am more open to sharing and letting the walls down, I can allow individuals in.

A piece I seem to struggle with is a routine to an unstructured life. I need to let go. The journey to write my second book, not the road I expected, and very different from memoir. I have developed a new respect and a broader understanding of the writing process and writers. Over the past year, I took several writing courses, attended a writers’ conference, conferred with many colleagues, and through patience and hard work, many drafts, have a draft I am pleased to work from. The process is challenging, wonderful, requiring time and thoughtfulness. I love writing, second to skating. Putting pressure on myself will eliminate the joy. Step by step.  

2026 will bring the return of Celebration of Sisters, the annual ice-skating fundraiser to honor the lives and memories of my beloved sisters Margie and Jane. The year marks forty-five years since Jane’s death. I will turn seventy. November 2025 proved challenging, the month of my sister’s birthday, and the anniversary of Jane’s death. I hope to celebrate my sisters, the focus I needed when I started Celebration of Sisters in 2011 to channel my grief into hope and forever keep Margie and Jane beside me and in my heart.
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Wishing you all a 2026 filled with gratitude and hope.