But I Smile Anyway…

Another new year has arrived.

Hello, 2026.

And wishing you all a Happy New Year, too!

Welcome to 2026!

I feel like every year, recently, I step into the new tentatively, not fully convinced that what is going to be presented to me is going to be positive, and that is very unlike me.

There is still so much horribleness around the world, and though I try to raise awareness, I feel like I can’t do anything that really helps others.

We have suffered some real losses over this year, including precious people who left this mortal coil, some because of age, some through tragic circumstances, and the losses hit hard.

These losses culminated in my family being shook. Hard. Lil Princess really wobbled, but I am so proud of how she handled such a tough time.

The rest of us? Kinda works in progress, you know, but we’re getting there.

And how can I forget our elders are not getting any younger, and there is a constant worry about how they are faring? Pops has not been well, and that has been a real wake-up call for me. I’ve always appreciated my family, especially my parents, and knowing that immortality isn’t really a thing is hard to face.

Another loss for me was finding out that my publisher is closing. Though they have been brilliant to me, that means another big job: getting the books out there again myself and really focusing on writing more, which you all know is my passion.

I can’t forget that, though the downs have been deep, there have been ups too.

I attended a couple of lovely writerly events, and even spoke at the Meet Cute Festival in June, which was awesome, and got to catch up with some of my great writer friends, at the RNA Summer Fling in August.

Lil Man passed his apprenticeship and is now a company car-wielding Accounts Manager! Eek!

I embraced walking, and joined Slimpod, which really helped me lose the lbs initially! (Unfortunately, family events towards the end of the year overtook my good intentions, but I know I can get back on that horse when I feel emotionally able.)

Lil Princess and I had a gorgeous mother/daughter holiday in Tunisia, which was mind-blowing, and so relaxing!

And, the biggie – I turned 50! And, you know, it’s not a bad place to be, at all, even with all the hurdles we have faced this year.

Now, as you are aware, I have chosen a word to accompany that year over the last few years, as I haven’t set resolutions.

• 2019 – it was SELF. And I am happy to say I have been pretty good at keeping that self-care up since then, too!
• 2020 – BELIEVE. Well, let’s all agree that 2020 was a kinda unbelievable year, all in all, with the pandemic and BLM… However, I did believe. And my beliefs meant that 2020 was the year I finally became a published author!
• 2021 – I chose the word HOPE. I think we all needed hope to pull us through what I found to be a tougher year than 2020 in many ways. I travelled through it, exhausted and worried about everyone and everything around me. But I did keep that hope alive, within.
• 2022 – my choice was CREATE. I’d like to think that I managed a bit of all that I had hoped to achieve!
• 2023 – I chose the word STRENGTH. I started with a different thought in my mind, regarding the meaning of that word. Reaching the end of this year, I know I have gained strength, but in ways I never thought I would be tested.
• 2024 was BALANCE. I was determined to being more balance to my life in all aspects.
• 2025 was CHANGE. There were a few key things I wanted to change about how I lived, to help me.

So, last year I centred my Word Of The Year aspirations on these three things.

• Change my priorities to ensure I am near the top

I really did do this, even though it may not seem it to everyone, but I knew that this year, I didn’t have it in me to look after myself, and my family, and be the creative person I wanted to be. So, instead, I forgave myself for not being able to do absolutely everything, and I filled my creative well with reading, and listening to audiobooks, and acquainting myself with nature all around me.

• Change my lifestyle to suit the ever-changing needs of my health

The fibromyalgia (I like to call him Fibro Frank) kicks in more often. Perimenopause tries to kick my ass. But I have learned that what I put into my body, nutrition-wise, will affect how I feel, positively, as well as negatively. I am taking a few more supplements to help with age, pain and sleeplessness. When I can, I go for long walks to recharge my sometimes depleted body and mind, and equally, when I am done, I don’t force myself, and I’ve lost the guilt at not doing things if I can’t do them. Nothing is that urgent. And if it is, I know it will be done.

• Think about a big Change I hope to make with my work life in the next couple of years.

Still thinking about this one, but more practically. Maybe I will step back a bit. Maybe I won’t. But I have a daughter who is taking her A-Levels this year, and many of her decisions will impact mine, too, so I will be mindful about it all. The change I hope to make, will give me more time and headspace to write, too, fingers crossed!

So, which word do I add to my list for 2026?

Because 2025 gave me quite a battering, this word came quite easily.

Heal

• Heal my soul from all the upheaval of the last year, and prepare me for what is coming
• Heal my body, and make me feel fitter and healthier, ready for the future
• Heal my mojo, and get back out there in the writing world, renewed and refreshed, with both my old stories and hopefully the start of something new.

And with this post, off I go to start that new year, filled with Self, Belief, Hope, Creation, Strength, Balance, Change and HEALING!