It’s not just the new year; I feel like I’m crawling out of a hibernation and stagnation hole I’ve been in for the past 3 years. The feeling of gloom and wondering what it’s all about is starting to lift from my shoulders. It really has felt that heavy, and it’s only now, with the contrast of feeling something lighter, that I can see how dark the gloom had been.
I’m usually one who loves Christmas, but this year I just wasn’t feeling it. A sentiment that seems to be common this festive season.
My taking stock at the start of Jan 2026.
Words that inspire me: The steps are small, but the differences are vast leaps. Change your thoughts, change your life.
In my space: (physical surroundings, environment) Red light at night to fix my circadian rhythm. I’ve been writing at night, both journaling and creative, with my laptop screen light down so low I can barely see it. The reconnection to finding my thoughts using words is helping me crawl out of the muck I’ve been lying in. There are books, so many books in my space at the moment. Both physical and digital. I have so many things I want to read. Reading has been such a big part of my time this year. It’s been a shit year, so I’ve hidden in the stories of fictional lives for a while.
I’ve been listening to a lot of Kaleo, Hozier, and playlists of similar stuff. Here’s a couple of playlists on spotify if you’re interested. Kaleo playlist and Dirty Roads and Dark Omens.
Drinking the usual, apple cider vinegar and honey, sage tea, a lovely sticky decaf chai with almond milk (I need dairy free), chocolate mint/anise hyssop and lemon verbena from my garden.
I’ve cut down the baked sweet treats, I have no self control so they’re out.
I’ve been making gluten-free pitta breads in bulk. Pittas are life right now.
Creating: (art, food, writing, projects) Since Christmas, I’ve started painting again. Abstracts. I like the play of colour on the canvas; it’s not about creating something amazing. It’s about creating something. Anything. With no judgement. It’s not about creating something good, it’s just about the act of creating. The feeling of creation has gone for a long time, and with it all motivation for … anything.
I’ve been journaling a lot. I prefer to type; it’s easier to keep up with my thoughts. There are some things that I do by hand for the tactile experience, but for the morning pages style brain dump it’s typing for me. it reduces the friction in getting it out. Any friction at the moment causes me to stop.
I’ve been creative writing—discovery style. I’ve tried to plot stories, but friction causes it to stop and stall. I’ve always written to discover how I think and feel about things, and I’m enjoying getting back to that.
Yesterday the wee one decided to do a full face of stage makeup, so I took her outside and did some photos when she finished. They came out pretty cool. I love a good black and white, and makeup was especially suited to it.
Learning: (new skills, lessons, insights). I’ve been big on listening to Abraham Hicks this past week. I found some contrast and realised that I needed to change how I was thinking, ok, it was the journaling that showed me where I was at. And I’d listened to a few Abraham Hicks videos on YouTube, and decided to try the Audiobooks. I’ve heard a couple, and I’m feeling much more relief than I was before.
I’ve got a course in black-and-white photography that I’d like to take over the next week.
There are things that I’d love to be doing, but obviously, they’re not a priority for me right now, or I’d be doing them.
Reading: (books, articles, thoughts) Esther Hicks books, I’ve read two so far: Ask and it is given (both parts), and The Astonishing Power of Emotions. Both offer a delightful perspective that seemed so far from where I’d been over the past few years.
I’ve read plenty this past year, 180 books and novellas in total, and most were fiction, of a particular variety that ladies like. Audiobooks were the big hit this year. I can listen while doing mundane, otherwise boring and repetitive tasks. If you’re in Vic, and you love books and audiobooks – get on Libby using an online membership at Frankston Library, and one of the Boobook Libby libraries (like Your Library, Whitehorse Manning Library or Yarra Plenty). So many books to choose from – one of the biggest free collections I’ve seen in Aus.
Moving: (exercise, dance, walking) Unless unwell, I’ve been out walking each day. I do 2.75 km with pupper. Other than this, it’s been a bit slow. I want to do some strength work this year. I want to build my shoulders and legs up.
Nurturing: (relationships, plants, self-care) I’ve been out in the garden planting once, maybe this season. D keeps the garden going. Most of what’s in there is self-seeded – tomatoes. He’s put in some pumpkins and cucumbers. I put in some zucchinis the other day, and basil. The snow peas are going pretty crazy.
Nurturing myself has been a big focus lately. I mentioned before that my year has been a bit shit, so it was just getting through that, and then trying to improve my health a bit. Energy has been so low, but I’m reducing the amount; my attention and focus have been split. That’s a big problem for me, trying to do everything all at once.
Exploring: (places, ideas, possibilities) Exploring my creative side, writing fiction, no pressure, whatever comes out.
I want to do some black and white photography. I want to visit the beach over the summer. Maybe once school goes back.
Celebrating: (achievements, moments, gratitude) I appreciate so many of the small things right now. The moments in between where I can go from a conditioned feeling of distress, irritibility or rage to a thought that feels a little lighter than the initial one. The walk that is making me stronger each day. The love and attention of my family. Making good food. Writing my thoughts for clarity. Seeing my family at Christmas. Meeting new and delightful people. Eating homegrown food.
Releasing: (habits, thoughts, possessions) Ha! I should be releasing things. But I’m terrible at it, and it’s just not a priority for me. I’m tidying bits and pieces up. But I’m more drawn to making things rather than tidying things right now.
The thoughts that need to go: powerlessness, hopelessness, anger. To be replaced with joy, appreciation and excitement.
Growing: (personal development, gardens, skills) The tomatoes are taking over! I’ve got a few pumpkins, snow peas, zucchinis, which we haven’t had much luck with here, and a lot of flowers in my herb garden.
I’m growing a new business in ghostwriting. Emails primarily, but writing for others is a new direction I’m taking for my mental health. I need a change, you know? I’m good at the work I do, but feel like I just need a break to try something that’s not so intense.
Connecting: (people, nature, community) It’s been a time of reconnection to myself, not so much others lately. Reconnecting the disconnected parts that have felt so lost. It’s been nice to go there after a long time in the dark.
Discovering: (insights, places, interests) Me. It’s nice to meet this version of me.
Planning: (future projects, dreams, goals) I’m doing a 365 day 1 second video project. Where I take a 1 second video each day and then put them together at the end of the year.
I want to paint more. I want to write a book. I want to keep walking each day, though this time of year it’s getting earlier and earlier for my poor little pupper before it gets too hot.
I’m hoping to order a new computer this week. My current work machine is 9 years old. She’s getting a bit slow and doesn’t have the capacity to keep up with new tools that I’d love to use (like the new dictation tools you can get and photo tools). The laptop isn’t big enough to do web work on.
Collecting: (memories, objects, inspiration) Daily videos and photos. Writing skills.
Books, I love second hand book stores, and op-shops. You find some interesting things in them. Yesterday I manifsted a book I was after, the book’s called ‘Ask and it is given’, which I find hilarious. I asked, and it was given.
Email addresses! Ha! I have so many. I start them for different purposes and then just keep collecting more.
Simplifying: (space, schedule, commitments) My working life. I’ve been trying to homeschool and work all at once. I’ve been trying to manage too many things, all at once. It’s time to work when I work, and do things with a singular focus.
I love social media, but it’s had control of me. I’ve got an app that blocks it out when I’m doing other things (like work), or when I’m better off it (first thing in the morning).
Embracing: (changes, challenges, opportunities) The challenge of starting a new business in a slightly different field. I like most of what I do now, but I feel like many of the clients are expecting more and more for less and less money. And I’m tired. I need a new challenge, some novelty to make work exciting again.
Savouring: (food, moments, experiences) Others cooking for me! I’ve always been the cook, but being so tired and needing to focus elsewhere I’ve had D taking care of me.
I’ve been making Pitta breads on this break, gluten-free ones. They’re so good, and pretty simple to make, just a little time consuming to roll them out.
Practicing: (skills, habits, mindfulness) Daily meditation, writing, journalling.
Using red light at night. I’m seeing the value of resetting circadian rhythm to feel better.
I picked up the guitar again today, for the first time in over a month.
I’ve started painting again.
Dreaming: (aspirations, wishes, possibilities) More travel, less body pain, more enjoyment & excitement, more creating.
Challenging: (assumptions, comfort zones, limits) Challenging that life has to be hard and painful. It’s felt that way for a while, and I’m tired of it.
Originally inspired by Pip at Meet me at mikes.