Resolutions aside, January can be a perfect opportunity to reflect and look back.
When you think about the year that just ended, what truly stands out? Did 2025 bring its share of surprises?
Maybe it was the unexpected conversation that triggered a new pursuit or a quiet decision that didn’t seem like much at the time but ended up changing everything.
Perhaps it was the people who showed up when it mattered most – proof that timing really is everything.
What made you laugh the hardest when no one was watching? What random day felt unexpectedly perfect? What song stopped you in your tracks? What stranger’s kindness still lingers in your memory? What got easier this year without you even noticing? What was challenging but you kept doing anyway?
These aren’t questions seeking answers, just an invitation to pause and contemplate those special moments. They’re more like gentle nudges, reminders that reflection isn’t about tallying wins and losses; it’s about noticing the small, human details that make up a life.
Years ago, when I decided to move my own New Year’s Eve to Jan. 31, it turns out that giving myself those extra four weeks makes reflection feel less rushed and more real.
In addition to my year-end questions, I choose three words that capture the spirit of the past year. My 2025 trio? Workaround, habituation and celebration – words I’ll also carry forward in the new year.
Workarounds began out of necessity to quickly problem-solve: those imperfect, creative fixes that get the job done, whether it’s to untangle a necklace or fix a computer techno glitch.
But over time, workarounds also became a mindset: an acceptance that flexibility is the key rather than striving for perfection.
And what if something can’t be solved with a workaround? Habituation comes in handy to tune out disturbances such as a clock ticking or traffic noise. The onset of tinnitus is how I became familiar with habituation – pushing annoyances to the rear of the brain. Some days it feels like there’s a traffic jam back there.
Celebration is a daily event for me. Not the big fancy parties, but the small, private recognitions – the smile when something finally works, the quiet satisfaction of trying something new, the joy of making another lap around the sun.
And as we step into this fresh new year together, my wish is for a year that brings us all the grace to adapt, the strength to persevere and a thousand little moments worth celebrating.
Here’s to possibility, success and all the beautiful stories waiting to unfold.
Writer, editor and speaker Cheryl Russell is a Laguna Woods Village resident. Contact her at Cheryl@starheart.com.