Day 1 of 365/ The 2026 Chapter

Proverbs 3:5–6  “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”

I don’t know how everyone else feels when thinking about today being the very first day of this entirely new year, but for me, I found myself sitting on our hammock swing, taking it all in. I watched my chickens scratch at the ground, hearing the crisp, fallen leaves shift beneath each determined peck as they searched for grubs.The wind was light and breezy as it brushed across my face, and I looked up at the beautiful blue sky peeking through the few remaining leaves on our trees. In that quiet moment, everything slowed. There was no rush, no noise, just stillness, breath, and gratitude.

In that moment, I knew this was the beginning of a year free of blemish. A year with a clean slate, no disappointment, no heartache, no regret. Just possibility, promise, and the quiet confidence that God is already ahead of me. Of course, like many others, I’ve tossed around the idea of what I want to do differently this year and what new hobbies I want to learn. Girl, let me tell you, I want to bake bread from scratch. Real bread. The kind that fills the house with warmth and patience. I want to start canning, and if you don’t know what that is, it’s the process of preserving foods, like fruits, vegetables, and jams, by sealing them in jars so they last longer. It’s slow, intentional, and honestly feels like a lost art. And something about that just feels right for this season of my life. I want to read more books, put together more puzzles. And just like that, I felt my heart begin to race a little. I realized how quickly I was starting to clutter this peaceful future with too much, too many plans, too many expectations, too many “shoulds.”

Even in the middle of dreaming, I could feel the stillness slipping away.

So, I stopped myself mid-breath and mid-sentence…in my mind, of course. I thought, Why am I doing this to myself? There’s nothing wrong with any of these ideas, reading more, baking more, learning more, but why pile it all on and slap a heavy title on it like “New Year’s Resolution”? Why pressure myself into thinking I have to conquer all the things at once, as if one slip means failure? And honestly, who decided that the first day of the year has to carry the weight of every expectation? Who decided that today is the day I have to "figure it all out"? I let out a mental sigh. Maybe it’s okay to start slow. Maybe it’s okay to dream without deadlines. Maybe peace matters more than productivity.

And that’s when it hit me: I don’t need a resolution. I just need intention. I need to move through this year with purpose, grace, and a little sass. To reflect when I need to, to reset when it’s necessary, and to renew every time I feel like I’m carrying too much.

Because this isn’t about doing it all. It’s about living it all, with faith, with joy, and with my sanity intact.

So here’s to 2026: a year of peace, purpose, and holy boldness. A year of living fully, laughing freely, and loving deeply. A year unapologetically mine

and blessed by Him.