A new type of energy for 2026
I was once a real sucker for the New Year’s Eve hoopla — toasting with champagne and making grandiose resolutions, but the past couple of December 31sts, I’ve felt a little lackluster in terms of the anticipatory energy that typically surrounds the beginning of another year.
Today, however, the old me is back. While 2025 was certainly a bizarre and divisive year in regard to our nation’s political landscape, it was a great year for me, personally. I found a balance with my health and wellness that feels good for my age and fitness level. My spirituality, which is a blend of principles and practices from a number of religions, feels good to my soul. It is rooted in compassion, trust, kindness and giving back. I’m working to stay off technology unless it’s being used for essential tasks or a creative outlet. Most importantly, I’m beyond grateful for the people and relationships in my life.
This year I married my best friend and partner of many years. I’ve written about Matthew before — my guy, my person. We blended families in 2020 but waited to get married because those of you who’ve been divorced likely know it’s not something you rush into a second time. Last New Year’s Eve, he asked me to marry him and I happily said yes. Then a little over 10 months later, on October 19, 2025, we got married in a beautiful, small, historic chapel with a handful of family members as witnesses. It was special. It was intimate. It was perfect for us.
The older I get and the longer social media is around, the more I dislike it and the more I crave the old ways of life where a phone call, card in the mail or face-to-face interaction were the ways of communicating big news. For this reason and others, Matthew and I never truly announced our engagement online and we haven’t posted wedding photos. We’re obviously proud to be married, hence me writing about it in this column, but for some reason, I’ve felt compelled to keep the details and photos private.
Needless to say, that was one of the highlights of the year. Additionally, our five kids have also had exciting years in terms of graduating, starting college, academic accomplishments, excelling in their athletics and so on. We couldn’t be prouder of them. They are truly the joy of my life and Matthew’s life.
For 2026, I’m feeling a different type of New Year’s adrenaline. On Christmas evening, we were at Matthew’s grandfather’s house. He may be the most salt-of-the-earth man I’ve ever met — and at one point during the night, he said something like, “I love having everyone here. I love all of the smiling faces and happy words.”
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That’s what I want, too — for me, for you, for everyone. I know life presents stressors, but if at all possible, let’s have our goals be smiling faces and happy words. It goes back to the old adage, “If you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all.” One judgmental, cruel or unkind statement can circulate in a person’s mind for the rest of their lives, so it’s best to keep those thoughts to ourselves. In the coming year, let’s work to build others up — to help them see their light, if they can’t find it on their own.
We’re big “Stranger Things” fans in our house and in the latest episode, one of the characters says, “Fortune favors the bold.” I love that mentality. With work, with relationships, with adventures and with life — let’s be bold. Let’s take steps toward our craziest dreams and see if fortune follows suit.
I’ve been a cerebral, serious person my entire life. This benefits me when I’ve got my writer’s cap on, but a heavy emotional lens is vexing during the day-to-day. I often feel a need to make every situation or circumstance a very deep and complicated thing. With this in mind, I’m trying to be more playful and lighthearted. And to be honest, I’m loving it so far and plan to continue in this vein, if at all possible.
For me, 2026 feels exhilarating. My goals are clear. I want to help other people feel good about themselves. I want to take bold leaps in all areas of my life and I want to have a little more fun. What are your plans, thoughts, goals? Whatever they are, take them on with gusto. We’re alive on this beautiful earth with all these incredible human beings. That alone is magical. We really don’t need much else. It’s our own thoughts and self-limiting beliefs that hold us back. Let’s choose 2026 to bust those down — to be the person we know we can be because as they say, time waits for no one.
(Susanna Shetley lives in Haywood County. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..)
