The first Monday of the year feels more like the start of the new year to me. On my end it’s a snowy first day back to school for the children, and back to the familiarity of our weekday routines.

My children are excited to be back to school. For my son, who loves to read traffic signs, the bus ride to and from school is probably the highlight of the day. For my daughter, it’s joy of playing with Addie or whoever the new best friend is this week. There seems to be a revolving door of best friends at age two. Also, I’m guessing my neighbours are relieved because boy, have these children been noisy these past two weeks! 

For me it’s the little joys of weekday mornings; enjoying my cup of tea in the silence of the morning, exchanging pleasantries with our cheerful school bus driver Ms Z, braving the weather to go on my morning walk while watching the city come alive after a sleepy weekend. Shout out to the people who work tirelessly despite the weather to keep things going; my son’s school teachers who will be out in the snow waiting to welcome the kindergarteners back to school (teaching really is a thankless job!), the winter maintenance crews who keep our roads safe, the healthcare workers out there doing their thing, and everyone in between. 

I’m taking the day off work to enjoy some much-needed me-time, a luxury that is hard to come by during the holidays when the children are home. And by ‘me time’ I mean taking down the Christmas decorations and doing some general life admin. I might watch a movie or do some reading in between. I really need this day to reset before I’m back to work and corporate lingo again. All the ‘let’s circle back in the new year’ emails will have to wait till tomorrow. 

This year I have no New Year’s resolutions, and I haven’t really for some years now. I’ve found however that the time away from the business of work has allowed me the mental space to prioritize what really matters and slow down my ever-busy mind. 

I’m beginning the year with renewed faith in God and His ability to carry me and my family through the year. No high-sounding resolutions or targets, just faith that at the end of the year I’ll be able to say “I being in the way, the Lord led me.” Genesis 24:27.

Happy 2026 to you!