novelistic nomad

It is now 01/01/2026, which means that it’s that time of year again – the annual tradition where everyone suddenly becomes reflective at the exact same time. Social media is full of “lessons learned,” “chapters closed,” and promises made to themselves for the next 365 days that may or may not be kept. Who am I to not jump on the bandwagon?

2025 was, for lack of better words, a lot. I will do my very best to keep it somewhat condensed:

• Boo, our elderly shih-tzu, passed away. It was sudden and quick, and I miss her dearly to this day. I would give anything to have her sit in my lap during movie nights again.
• My grandmother had multiple surgeries, including an emergency surgery to scrape her vocal cords just before the end of the year. Given her medical history, our family was nervous about potential complications; however, she is recovering and doing well.
• I graduated from community college and earned not only my Associate’s degree, but two diplomas as well. For those who don’t know, this was a long time coming after I had previously taken a break for over a decade from academics. I know it isn’t a more established degree, but I am still very proud of myself for finally completing it.
• Vacation One: Lindsey Stirling’s Master of Tides Cruise AND Welcome to Rockville – This was one of my favorite trips in 2025. I learned that I am not a fan of Miami, FL. I got to meet and take a photo with Lindsey Stirling. I got to see performances by Lindsey Stirling, David Archuletta, and Black Gryph0n. I took an excursion in Nassau, Bahamas, which allowed me to learn about the history of the islands. After the cruise, we had tickets to the Welcome to Rockville music festival in Daytona Beach, FL. It was interesting to actually walk around the Daytona International Speedway, where the festival was taking place. Due to the heat, we only watched two performances: Incubus and Linkin Park – both were incredible and unforgettable.
• My mother had a thyroidectomy, which was also one of the surgeries my grandmother had earlier in the year. As this was her first procedure in many, many years, we were all very nervous about it. Thankfully, she had no complications and has recovered well.
• Vacation Two: Royal Caribbean’s Utopia of the Seas Cruise: Family Edition – Picture 14 people from the mountains ranging in ages 3 to 70 on one of the largest cruise ships in the world for three days. Now picture that but with National Lampoon-styled obstacles leading up to the cruise: a bat in the house, vehicle window breaking in the rain twice, and a tropical storm. Yeah, that happened. Regardless of how stressful the journey was, the vacation itself went (mostly) well. A big thank you to my aunt and her husband for planning and funding this adventure that brought me back to Nassau, Bahamas, for the second time in 2025.
• Vacation Three: Pigeon Forge, TN – My friends and I had been planning a trip to Las Vegas, NV, since September 2024. Unfortunately, due to financial and health constraints, we were unable to take a journey that far away. Instead, we opted to hit up the Rocky Mountains for a week as it was closer and more affordable. While we didn’t go to Dollywood, we still had a great time eating delicious food, chilling in the hot tub, and enjoying the sights.
• My six year old cousin had a craniotomy due to a cyst that had grown near his frontal lobe. The cyst was found when he was just a few months old and was around a nerve, making its growth serious. Fortunately, most of the cyst was retrieved during the procedure and he is still recovering.

2025 was not short of adventures, joy, fear, and loss. We managed to pave our way through the chaos and survive all that was thrown at us.

Here are my plans and goals for 2026:

Goal: Be Healthier – I am not going to commit to just one aspect to being healthier. I want to make better decisions for my overall health. That means actually going to the doctor when I am sick, eating healthier alternatives that may help me lose weight, and taking my emotional and mental health more seriously. If I am going to be a rounded person, I may as well be a well-rounded person. From skin care routines to giving myself a break from stressors, I want to focus on treating myself better this year.

Vacation: Key Largo, FL – My best friend and her family will be taking a long-awaited vacation and have invited me to tag along. As we no longer live close to one another, I am excited to have the opportunity to spend time with them. They are basically my bonus family, and I know it will be a lot of fun.

Vacation: Carnival Cruise – Yes, another cruise to Nassau, Bahamas. This cruise has been booked for several months now and we are excited to be back on the sea. This will be a first-time cruise for two of the people in our party, so I am most excited for them to experience it.

Mini Vacation: Salem, MA – It had been a dream of mine to visit Salem since I was a little girl. While I do worry that movies and television have romanticized this area (similar to what I experienced a few years ago in Paris, France and what my mom experience in 2025 when she went to New York City, NY), I will be happy to just be able to say that I went there, even if just for a day.

Goal: Write More – I want to write at least two blog posts per week. I also want to take my chances in some writing competitions. I know that I am not a professional writer, but I do want to hone in on and grow my skills.

Goal: Read More – I have millions of books. Well, not millions… But it feels like I do. My bookshelf and Kindle are full of books that I have not touched since the day I purchased them. I want to read at least two books a month.

Goal: Learn More – While I may not feel ready to commit to earning my Bachelor’s degree, I don’t want my educational journey to end in 2025. Whether I choose to take an online course or whip out my not-so-used Duo Lingo app, I want to dedicate some time this year to learn something – anything.

There’s more, too. Overall, I just want to stay busy and earn my vacations. I want to be a better person, even if that means being better to myself.

Cheers to the New Year, y’all!