My New Year’s resolution was to post a list of New Year’s resolutions. At first, I planned to sit down and do this on the morning of January 19th – my 26th birthday. New Year, new age, new resolutions. But of course, my birthday was filled with well-wishes and outings and lots of fun things, and I didn’t get a moment to even think about writing. My revised plan was to use the in-flight WiFi during my flight home from Sydney to write the list. But of course, the flight was shorter than expected, and I found a Miffy colouring book at the airport bookshop, and I didn’t even get my laptop out of my bag.
So here is the re-revised plan: in the spirit of my lifelong battle against procrastination and perfectionism, I am sitting down right now to write out the list and post it. No revising, no “save draft,” no overthinking – just typing everything directly into my website page and hitting “publish”. I’m doing this for me, so I can look back in a year and remember what my hopes and dreams were for 2026.
In all likelihood, I won’t achieve everything that’s on this list, which is why I don’t want to set specifically measurable goals. I saw a great post recently about how New Year’s resolutions don’t have to be boring, run-of-the-mill stuff that you actually don’t want to do. They can be silly or niche or literally anything! You can do whatever you want forever!!
I was listening to a new podcast by the We Love You guys, Andy Min and Thomas Sullivan (shout out, they are awesome). They were talking about the New Year, and how time is a construct, and how making resolutions in the dead of winter feels a bit defeatist. It got me thinking about what I like about the New Year, and why it feels right for me to make resolutions at this time. Living in New Zealand means the New Year is in summer, which I have always found deeply nostalgic – a time to look back as well as forwards. The New Year happens in the middle of the summer holidays, and since I work at a school now, I am lucky enough to keep those luxurious six weeks off. It’s also the lead up to my birthday, so January feels like a slow, gentle reset and the perfect time to reflect on myself and my future.
On their first podcast episode, Andy and Thomas did a cool mixture of reflection and resolution. They listed a bunch of moments from the previous year that were memorable for some reason or another; then they listed their hopes for the year ahead. So I’m going to take inspiration from them and do the same! Without further ado, here we go…
2025 Moments
- I graduated and officially became a Master of Writing
- I made some fun crochet toys for my friends, my cousins, and myself!
- I watched 66 movies and some of my favourite TV shows returned
- I co-wrote and performed in a play with two of my good friends
- I started walking and bussing more often
- I got to watch the sun reflect through water, shimmer across lace, set amidst the long white clouds
- I went to a bookbinding workshop with my friend
- I had two pieces of writing published in New Zealand journals
- I read 41 books and found some new favourites
- I made an effort to notice and enjoy the natural spaces all around me
2026 Hopes
- Start a junk journal that isn’t pretty but is fun ❤
- Do it scared – making posts, submitting writing, being cringe, all of it. Do it scared or it won’t get done!
- Embrace mood-reading. Reread childhood faves, find new authors, take risks, DNF books
- Pat as many dogs as possible
- Take walks if you’re able, and talk to friends about your problems (this is John Green’s advice)
- Visit every secondhand bookstore in Christchurch
- Doodle more, paint more, craft more. Try new things and embrace weird craft projects!
- Wear the damn outfit. Try as many of my clothes as possible (and clear out the rest)
- Read (and write) more poetry
- Jump in the sea
So there it is! After all that, it only took me and hour to write. How about that?
That’s all from me for now. I hope 2026 is kind to you all ❤
stella reads and writes 