2025 opened with a good deal of hope, some grateful reflection, and a gentle slowness. At the end of each year, I take time to remind myself of everything I accomplished and all the good that came my way. 2024 was a year more full of good than bad, for the first time in a long while. I can only hope that this year is as kind as the last.

At the very beginning of the year I take some time to create a vision board, a visual representation of all I hope for and wish to focus on in the year ahead. You can see it above. I hope this year can be one of studying, travel, self-love, and better health. I want little joys, like visits to art museums, live jazz, and afternoons spent in bookstores and cafes. I want to see the ocean and read poetry and breathe deep. But I also want larger, more elusive things. I want to be able to come to a place with myself in which this deep hatred of self isn’t with me every single day. I want my physical body to reflect who I am instead of always being at violent odds with it. I also want to reach particular learning goals, such as becoming more fluent in German and possibly (finally?) learning an instrument.

I have had to come to terms with the fact over the years that some goals are ongoing, possibly never reaching a “conclusion”, but meant to be an evolving goal that shifts as I do. Accepting this has allowed me to get so much more joy and motivation out of my resolution and long term goal planning. Here are my resolutions for the year: Let’s see how I do!

Here are some little bits I wrote over this month:

The cider had long since lost its fizz, and the horizon seemed to droop like tired eyes as the new day began.

Chains of stars bound her to the midnight sky.

Sorrow eats its own tail.

I hope that 2025 is kind to us all.

Love, Ariel