Prelude to 2026
Having finished some committee work yesterday, I realized this morning that my calendar is blank until New Year's Eve. I don't celebrate the holidays with my family; my friends are busy this season; and I'm inclined to be a hermit this time of year anyways.
It's been a while since I've had no obligations (involving others). I want to take advantage of this stretch of time, so that I end 2025 on a good note and on my terms: namely, to set up 2026 to be a good year.
This means some degree of decluttering and tidying, some (re)organization of ongoing and anticipated projects, and some formation of resolutions.
I know, I know: New Year's Resolutions have a high failure rate. But 2025 was crappy, so if a mental trick helps to boost motivation and to uplift the spirit, I'll take it.
2026 is when I expect to be done school, and therefore when I should have clarity about the next phase in my career. But there's another reason why 2026 is of consequence for me. It's the year I turn the same age as my father was when I was born. A month ago I had an epiphany that a lot of my difficulties and woes stem from having a neglectful father figure. I've been processing that revelation ever since, and I recognize that while it's not my fault, it is my responsibility to endure and to work through. In other words, I have to do some self-fathering (in Jungian terms) to (re)claim aspects of my development that were suspended or overlooked.
This is my firmest resolution for 2026: to become the man I needed as a role model growing up.