Standing at the Edge of a New Year

Uncertainty, Intentions, and Letting Them Be Small

I don’t make rigid resolutions anymore.

Life with illness, grief, and surprise losses has taught me that certainty is a luxury. Planning too far ahead can feel like tempting fate. And yet, I still need something to hold onto.

So I set intentions, lightly.

This year ahead feels unknown. My body may change. My energy may fluctuate. My heart is still learning how to carry what it’s lost. Instead of asking what will I achieve, I’m asking different questions:

• How do I want my days to feel?

• What deserves protection?

• Where can I soften instead of push?

My intentions are simple:

• To rest without guilt

• To build slowly and sustainably

• To choose beauty where I can

• To honor my body’s limits without resentment

Some days I’ll forget these. Some days I’ll contradict them entirely. That doesn’t mean they failed. It means I’m human.

If you’re standing at the edge of a year feeling unsure, you don’t need clarity. You need gentleness. Direction can come later.

For now, presence is enough.