This is the new year...

2026.01.01

This is the new year…

This video debuted in 2013, but the song is older than that. The original song was recorded by Ian Axel, the lead singer of A Great Big World, back in 2011 before the band was fully formed. That’s when I first heard it. Then the full band recorded it, and now it’s been covered by all sorts of people, including the Glee TV show. It’s such a good tune, and I think it’s a great way to get the new year going.

So here we are…the new year…are we ready to start again?

The Cambridge Dictionary states that “start again” means “to begin to do something again, sometimes in a different way.” I like that. Yes, we will start again, but maybe we’ll do some things differently. Maybe we’ll focus on others more than ourselves, maybe we’ll make our health a bigger priority, maybe we’ll set more boundaries to keep ourselves safe…there are so many possibilities of what we can do, and each of our choices and steps into this year will be unique. But we must take those steps, even if they’re small, and keep moving forward. We also must remember that we will fail at times and will have to step backward. And we need to remember that it’s perfectly okay when that happens. It just means we have to try a little harder, try something else, try, try again. Keep moving forward.

The clip above is from one of my favorite Disney movies, Meet the Robinsons. If you haven’t seen it, I highly encourage you to do so.

I’ve never been a person who makes New Year’s resolutions. Sure, I may have done it for fun here and there, but I’ve never been serious about it. But the act of making them has been around for about 4,000 years. According to History.com, it was the ancient Babylonians who started the practice, though I’m guessing it looked a lot different than it does today. Their practice was to make promises to the gods and repay debts they’d incurred. You can read more about their practice as well as others throughout the years here. And if you’re looking for a fun take on resolutions, watch this Josh Johnson clip on Instagram. He’s one of my favorites.

So what about you? Are you a resolution maker? Let me know in the poll below!

Even though today is the first day of the year, there are already a few facts and figures to note:

• 2026 is the year of the horse according to the Chinese zodiac calendar

• 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence

• 150th anniversary of Colorado becoming a state

• 150th anniversary of the first telephone call

• 50th anniversary of Apple Computer

• 40th reunion of the Class of 1986 from Laramie Senior High - WHAT?!

• 25th anniversary of 9/11

This year is a winter Olympic year and a mid-term election year (VOTE VOTE VOTE!!!). There will be movies and TV and books and sports and concerts and musicals and LEGO and travel and food. There will be visits with family and friends, adventures on your own, and oh so much more. Whatever this year brings you, and I hope it brings you many wonderful things, I hope it brings you joy, even in the smallest of things.

Until next time…Happy New Year!a