2026

Ushering in January the only way I know how (aggressively optimistic!)

I have a distinct memory of eating tons of grapes on New Year’s Eve growing up. It was part of a Venezuelan family tradition. I remember thinking, Oh, fun! Grapes in fancy cups! And we’re all eating them!

“The tradition is called Las doce uvas de la suerte — the twelve grapes of luck. At midnight, you eat one grape for each of the twelve chimes, each grape holding a wish for the months ahead. It’s meant to invite good fortune, prosperity, and positive energy into the coming year.”

I remember my dad casually writing his resolutions on a loose piece of paper, sometimes a napkin. He’d fold up the tip of the paper to keep them secret. I was endlessly curious about what he wrote. What kind of things did adults wish for? What counted as a resolution? The point, he explained, was to acknowledge what you want… and then let it go.

Only now I realise that’s probably where I got my New Years woo-woo from.

I LOVE this time. The pausing. Reflecting. Realigning. Planning. All in the name of moving toward the present version of yourself.

We’re always changing — year on year, month on month — becoming different versions of ourselves whether we’re conscious of it or not. To me, New Year’s isn’t about reinvention. It’s a reminder to spend quality time with yourself and ask:

Hello, old friend. How are we, really?
Do we want anything different? Anything more? Anything less?
What do we need? Where are we headed?
Is there anything we want to celebrate?

What excites me most about 2026 is that I’ve somehow (therapy) finally let go of outcomes. I’m far more interested in the small wins, the day to day decisions that feel values aligned, than I am in the final product.

Okay, here’s how I checked in with myself this year.

1. I chose a word of the year

COURAGE.
(Subject to change as needed. Always.)

2. I chose a tagline

BE BOTHERED.
As in the opposite of “I can’t be bothered.”
(This, too, can evolve.)

3. I wrote a letter to myself

Dorky, I know, but so lovely. I was terrified to read my 2026 letter from last year. I’d had a good year — but not the year I planned — and I was sure I’d disappoint my overly optimistic New Year’s self of 2025.

I didn’t. The letter was kind, gentle and nurturing. Exactly what I needed to hear.

4. I chose four main intentions

- Follow through
- Self-expression
- Wants & desires
- Fun and art, just because

5. I wrote a 2026 bucket list

(No overthinking this one. Just a list that sparks joy and curiosity for me! Below are some of mine.)

- Plan 12 mini adventures
My son loves adventures. My husband too. We’re not stay-at-home people. It takes more logistics and planning, but it’s always worth it. I want to plan these proactively.

- Continue games nights & sauna days
Low-stakes hosting really changed everything from my husband and I. Our house isn’t renovated. It’s often messy. My son’s “art” is on every wall and my dog sheds uncontrollably. But we’ve been hosting monthly games nights anyway and it’s the best. Sure, maybe I wish I was more aesthetic but above that I want fun and memories with people I love.

- Make Summer Camp vol. 5 & 6 happen
Summer Camp is the most unexpected and joyful thing I’ve made — a women’s hiking club with two trips a year. I want to keep it going and keep growing this incredible community.

- Read 12 books I already own
I’ve chosen my 12. This is my only reading goal (outside of book club).

- Run a half marathon
This has lived on my goals list since I had my son almost four years ago. I’m embarrassed to admit how close I came to deleting it. I’m scared — of my body, of my pelvic floor, of not being able to do it anymore. But I want to try. So I will.

- Use Substack
I want this space to be about connection, self-expression, and experimentation. With those intentions, I think I’m really going to love it here.

- Learn to knit
My goal: a cherry red bonnet and three matching cardigans for my little family before winter.

- Plan a reading retreat
Reading, writing, delicious food, conversation, walks, debate, women together. My book club is interested, so the testing ground is here.

- Make a writing friend
Writing a novel is a challenging and lonely journey. I hope to meet someone to share this insane journey with!

- Finish Novel #1.
This! This is my misogi. I wrote, what I’m calling, Draft 0 of a novel which made me think I have no idea what I’m doing and I spent all that time writing words I simply cannot use and cannot show anyone. But I will keep going. I will persevere.

- Dance flamenco
I started flamenco in 2025 after six years of putting it off. SIX. This year, I want to keep dancing — and be brave enough to perform.

- Plan a birthday celebration
I’ll be in Melbourne for my birthday for the first time in years. I don’t know what it looks like yet, but I want to party.

6. Committed to resources that will help me make all of this possible

- A giant 2026 wall calendar
For big-picture planning, spotting hot spots when we might need more support and gaps that we can fill. I used one for the first time in 2025 and loved it.

- A curation journal
Inspired by my sister-in-law. The front sections on self-care, intentions, missions, and habits have been especially grounding.

- Morning pages
I got a new notebook (A Leuchtturm A5 with dotted lines) and a black Muji pen. Morning pages and I are rekindling our love affair.

- A 2026 Vision Board on Pinterest
This is was my first year making a vision board and now I’m obsessed.

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Okay. I could talk about this stuff forever, so tell me everything!!

How do you get ready for a New Year? Do you have a favourite notebook? Have you found your word of the year? Do you do morning pages?

Until next week,

B