A 2025 Recap & 2026 Plea: (minus the ick)

It’s that time again… time to welcome a new year after all the hoopla of champagne toasts, a sloshed Andy Cohen, and the always hilariously bad Chicago NYE TV.

Pretty please be all shiny and new, filled with high hopes and optimism, possibility, and potential.

HELLLOOOOOO 2026 – I am talking to YOU!

Fingers crossed.

Knock on wood.

“Poo poo poo” (if you know, you know)

C’mon, you are full of promise. REALLY. Believe it. Meditate on it. Affirmations 2026! I am hanging onto the bright side with every ounce of my being. So, YOU need to get YOUR ACT TOGETHER.

Pay attention 2026 … we really need some high-powered reassurance that love, kindness, and thoughtful care of those who need it most will eventually win out, right? RIGHT?

The universe is listening.

My deepest apologies to our glorious universe for all the malicious, derogatory, evil attacks on display. Disturbing beyond belief. And a huge test of our collective humanity.

It’s a lot.

I for one, am inclined to look through rose-colored glasses. With that being said – I am no Pollyanna. That would give anyone ” the ick”. But leaning into hopefulness? Now that sounds pretty darn good to me.

To be clear, not foolish optimism, not uninformed acceptance (although sticking my head in the sand occasionally seems to be great for my mental health), just some banking on healthy enthusiasm.

I’m currently doing a bit of, “fake it till you make it“ … it’s a whole lot of weathering the storms by dancing between the raindrops. (How’s that for some metaphoric avoidance?)

Deep breath.

LOOKING BACK at 2025:

Read ‘em and weep. Laugh and commiserate.

Just give a little click on each title!

BRAIN DUMP: writer’s block and fartleks – I can ruminate with the best of ’em, question beliefs, rant vigorously, and meticulously indulge in reminiscence…

THE WEIGHT OF ONE MEASLY FOUR-LETTER WORD – the other day I got to thinking about words consisting of just four little letters…

HAPPY HERMIT-ING – once upon a time I was a social butterfly…

DECLUTTERING? NEVER HEARD OF HER – I once flirted with the idea of minimalism…

FEELING THE BURN – BAM!… without warning…

FOOD LABELS ARE MY ARCH-NEMESIS – have you ever felt personally betrayed by the nutrition label printed on food packaging?

UNSUNG HEROES OF A FEMINIST AWAKENING – when Helen Reddy sang, “I Am Woman Hear Me Roar” back in 1972, I’m a little embarrassed to admit that it registered more like a catchy tune than the powerful anthem it was…

WHEN ‘LET THEM’ MEETS MY KITCHEN COUNTER – LET THEM. If this phrase does not ring a bell, then you have clearly been avoiding social media…

SPOTTED, DOTTED, POLKA-DOTTED – I like to think of our bodies as blank canvases...

I SAY CHAROSES, YOU SAY CHAROSET – Here is my annual repost and update for Passover…

LAST WORD(S) (FOR NOW…)

I began writing (as my self-prescribed therapy) in what I referred to as my fake blog. It was a wonderfully fulfilling creative outlet for my eyes only. Eventually, and hesitantly, I hit the “publish” button – wondering who would actually see it and what might they say????

Please know how much it means to me that you have taken the time to read and even comment. It really makes my day (and year!)

Here’s to healthy, loving determination and hope. May peace and understanding prevail in the world.

As for my “reluctant ager” status that I so vehemently wave? I’ll have you know I greeted 71 with the calm, cool, confidence it deserves. Who am I f-ing kidding? That is hilarious… hahahahahahahhaha. I am so funny.

xoxo, Karen

Bring it on…