Photo by Trent Erwin on Unsplash

During the last few months of 2024 and almost the whole of 2025, I spent all my time randomly ping ponging around, putting out metaphorical fire after fire. These included dealing with the aftermath of a major hurricane, moving, maintaining and selling our family home while not living in it, unpacking, renovations, and the death of my horse. I set no goals (is “surviving” a goal?) and made no real plans for myself, other than trying to get fully unpacked and settled in to our new and smaller home. The entire year of 2025 is basically a blur.

And while 2026 is shaping up to be a much calmer year overall (fingers crossed), I didn’t start it by setting a bunch of big goals for myself. I did fill out a “26 in 26” list, and set a word for the year, a phrase, actually, “mend and tend,” and that has been my focus during the first three months of 2026. 

It feels good to have the breathing room to putter around fixing and cleaning and rearranging. When I got tired, I retreated to the couch. 

And though we’re only into the second quarter of the year, I’m thinking about finishing. Finishing the renovations (kitchen and second bathroom are up next and they’re the last ones), finishing several courses I’ve signed up for but haven’t had the time or mental bandwidth to complete, finishing the unpacking (I only have a box or two left). Even finishing the sketchbook I took to France in 2018! 

It feels like closing tabs in my brain, and that feels good.

You are enough

I still feel the urge to Make Big Plans, but I know they have to be the right ones, ones that come from my heart. I read something in a newsletter from Jenna Kutcher last week that resonated with me:

“What if we just stopped? Like what if the most radical thing we did heading into Q2 wasn’t a new strategy or a rebrand or another launch plan, but a single, quiet decision to stop shrinking, to stop performing wellness and actually live it, to stop building something that looks right and start building something that feels true.

“You don't need a birthday or a milestone or a sign from the universe to give yourself permission to recalibrate. The end of a quarter is enough. This moment is enough. You are enough.”   

What has the first quarter of 2026 been like for you?

Photo by Jon Gibbins on Unsplash

What makes you happy?

Today’s a good day to ponder that, because it’s not only the first day of spring—generally a happy time for most—it’s also the International Day of Happiness. 

Everyone wants to be happy

Happiness is not a small or unimportant thing. Even the United Nations has recognized that happiness is a human right and worth celebrating, and they have proclaimed March 20 the annual International Day of Happiness. This proclamation was intended to remind and encourage governments to consider the value of citizens’ happiness and wellbeing as well as economic opportunity and growth when creating public policy. Sadly, I think we have a long way to go before this is the case, but I appreciate the gesture. 

Social media and happiness

This year’s focus is on happiness and social media. According to U.N. International Day of Happiness partner Action for Happiness, “There’s no one ‘right’ way to use social media, but small, thoughtful choices about how we use it and how we treat each other online can make a real difference.”

I’ve fought my own battles with allowing social media to take up too much time and attention. Too much Instagram (my social media of choice) can definitely affect my happiness, so I appreciated these three suggestions from Action for Happiness to help us build a happier relationship with social media: 

First, choose when and how much time you spend on social media. If you want to spend less time scrolling, create a list of alternate activities, set a timer to limit use, and/or try a “digital sabbath.”

Second, don’t let scrolling social media take the place of in-real-life connection. It’s great to connect with friends and meaningful communities online—just be sure you also make in-person plans, and pick up the phone to call friends and family members when you can.

Third, curate your social media experience to support your wellbeing. Follow positive accounts, share uplifting stories and ideas, and don’t spread misinformation. And always, always be kind and respectful when commenting on other people’s posts.

Stop to appreciate what makes you happy

While social media often doesn’t make us happy, what does? Why not stop today and appreciate what makes you happy? I’ll go first. Things making me happy today include:

• Open windows bringing in fresh air
• Vlad the Inhaler helping me clean the house 
• Meeting a teacher friend for brunch
• Petting my purring cat

It’s impossible to ignore the conflict and suffering taking place in the world—and we shouldn’t ignore it—but let’s not forget what does contribute to happiness and wellbeing, for ourselves and for others. Will my happiness, or yours, hurt anyone? Unlikely. My being a grouchy jerk might, though. If I’m lucky enough to have the choice, I choose happiness. I hope you do, too.  

What’s making you happy today?

My couch mate

Apologies for my absence here lately—after writing February’s newsletter, I crawled onto the couch and pulled a blanket over my head, figuratively speaking…mostly. I continued doing the necessary things to keep my home and our lives running, but any creative work, with words or art, has been largely absent. I’ve needed—and taken—some downtime with no expectations. There *may* have been napping involved.

Where is my Year of the Fire Horse energy, hmm? Up and galloped away without me, apparently.

Anyway, this post is to let you know that I am:

1. Alive.

2. Possibly coming out of my recent funk (?). Jury is still out, but there are some promising signs of life.

During the past couple of weeks, I took some time to mend and tend—the phrase I’m using in place of a word of the year in 2026. As I explained in January’s Happy Little Thoughts newsletter:

“I chose this combination because while I have come a long way in dealing with the losses and griefs of the past few years, I still feel tender and vulnerable, as if any setback could send me back to darkness. I’m not ready to make ambitious plans, but I am ready to take steps forward. I am on the mend, but could use some further tending. I’m not exactly broken, but I’m not exactly whole.” 

The last couple of weeks have felt like much-needed mending. Sometimes the best way for a wound to heal is to leave it alone and not mess with it. Getting extra sleep when you’re sick allows your body to do its healing work. Psychic wounds are no different.

In other news, we’re gearing up for another home renovation, this time in our kitchen and spare bathroom. It shouldn’t take as much time or be as all-consuming as the main bathroom reno, but I will have a bunch of decisions to make and contractors to coordinate in the next couple of months. Hoping for as good an outcome as the bathroom!

What have you been up to lately?

Erkut2 via Pixabay

Recently my social media has been filled with images of flaming steeds like the one above and posts about what what to expect in the Year of the Fire Horse.

The what, now?

On Feb. 17, the Lunar New Year ushered in the Year of the Fire Horse. According to the Chinese zodiac, each year is associated with one of 12 animals and five elements which cycle together. Each combination comes around every 60 years; the last Fire Horse year occurred in 1966. Horse years generally express energy, independence, ambition, and forward movement. The “fire” aspect intensifies those qualities. 

The name is thrilling—if a little scary. A Fire Horse year can be a time of “intensity, decisive action and excitement—or chaos.” As someone who’s spent time around horses, I can vouch for the fact that horses definitely call out those qualities! (It seems unfair that I’m entering the Year of the Horse without my own dear Tank. I miss his powerful-yet-peaceful presence.)

Harnessing Fire Horse energy

I love the idea of moving forward. I’m ready to leave behind the stress and loss of the past few years and embrace new adventures and experiences. I’m ready to feel energized rather than drained, excited about experiencing more freedom, and making progress on goals and projects both old and new. I would LOVE to spend the next 12 months full of bold confidence and inspiration. As one post I saw said, “Horse years pull life forward….They are known for clarity after long periods of confusion.” Bring it on!

At the same time, I know myself. Too rapid a pace or taking on too much at once will prove overwhelming. I’m not naturally a “fiery” personality, and there’s nothing wrong with that. I function best when I combine periods of rest and relaxation with more active times.  Still, I hope to harness Fire Horse energy (pun intended) to break free of what’s holding me back and stimulate forward motion. 

Even if you don’t celebrate the traditions of Lunar New Year, it’s still fun to reflect on how the energy and qualities of the Fire Horse might play out over the course of the coming year.

What do you hope the Year of the Fire Horse brings into your life?