A New Year, In Your Own Way

Affirmation:  Every new day is mine to shape with grace, presence, and self‑trust.

I came across a thought from Nedra Glover Tawwab that landed softly but firmly with me. She reminds us that while many people use the new year as a moment for self‑improvement, we don’t have to. We’re free to use this time however feels right. For some, January 1st is simply the next day on the calendar. For others, it’s a portal, a ceremony, a meaningful reset. And both are valid. Both are allowed.

This perspective feels important. We get to choose what the new year means to us. There is no right way or wrong way, no best or worst approach. Just your way.

For me, this time of year is a reset. A pause. A moment to look back at what I did and how I did it, to check in with where I am, and to gently imagine where I want to go. I ask myself how I want to feel moving forward. It’s a deeply spiritual and personal ritual—quiet, grounding, nourishing.

But this reminder nudges me: my way is not everyone’s way. It cannot be. People will do what they do, and the most important thing is to stay anchored in Self. To release judgment. To release comparison. To respect people’s choices, even when they don’t mirror my own.

As much as I want others to share in the joy I feel when I sit with my journal over a beautiful breakfast—reflecting, feeling, listening inward—that may not be what they desire. And that’s okay. My role is not to convince. My role is to be. To offer. To demonstrate what alignment looks like for me.

Because at the end of the day, the calendar simply shifts from December 31st to January 1st. What gives that shift meaning is entirely up to us. Every new day is an invitation. Every new day is a choice.

Peace and Blessings