Years ago, I was one of the people who was annoyed by those who declared New Year’s resolutions. And yes, the frustration was 100% because an unfamiliar slew of people would bombard the Wellness Center and, for about 11 days, securing a treadmill was uncertain.
“Resolutions are stupid!” said young Brooke. “No one sticks to them so why set them?”
Fast forward a decade or so, “Aren’t you the one who posts the really big list of resolutions each year?” The stranger said as we stood in line at the Tilt-O-Whirl with our 5-year-old boys, who had suddenly become fair BFFs.
Guilty.
She then proceeded to pull up the notes app on her phone and show me her list. It warmed my soul a bit, as did reading the lists from all of you who chimed in last year!
According to Dr. Andrew Huberman, “There are essentially two ways to modify the brain…one way is to engage in a high-attention, high-intensity event for which you’ll never forget the feelings and associations – your brain is forever changed.” (Think having a baby, running a marathon, etc.). “The second way to modify the brain is through small, consistent behavioral changes. That process isn’t associated with any kind of roaring-crowd, finish line feeling. But there are a series of steps – processes involving attention, reward, and reinforcement – which can lead to a big shift, to true neuroplasticity.”
So whether the focus is to go out and attain something grandiose or to consistently pay attention and be intentional, I’m always excited for and by movement.
Here’s the 2026 List:
- Read the Madefor book set again.
- Document the Madefor journey.
- Practice yoga and pilates.
- Sit at the table for supper.
- Only binge Netflix while editing.
- Return to my quarterly purging ways. In January, April, July, October, get rid of things.
- As always, don’t get pregnant.
- Move my body at least 150 minutes each week.
- Brush my teeth right after supper as a way to prevent myself from snacking all night.
- Turn off lights and use lamps after the sun sets each day.
- Journal daily.
- Refrain from booking more than 2 weddings a month, excluding mid-May through mid-August when I will take 4 tops.
- Take Haddi to a pottery class.
- Buy another non-kinking water hose that has the built-in mister to replace the one that broke…and broke my heart while at it.
- Practice the 10-10 toss at least 20 times this year. (Find 10 items within 10 minutes to donate or toss.)
- Grab one of the TJ Maxx bags from Mimi and coin it The Exit Bag. After 30 days, donate it.
- Print photos from 2024 through the end of 2025.
- Either purchase a battery powered lamp OR call an electrician to finish installing plugins/lights in our new garage conversion bedroom so I can read in the cutesy pink chairs when it’s dark.
- Eat strawberries from the plants we started growing last year.
- Attempt to revive the two plants I left out in the freezing weather.
- Set myself up to go to bed by 11:00 each night (phone at my desk, journaling done, computer put away, lamp light only, and read).
- Ten-minute cleaning spree each night after supper.
- Sabbatize one day a week! This was carried over from 2025. It was accomplished twice last year; that’s far from 52.
- Have moments each day when I don’t work! (Ahem…remember that guiltless sitting point from last year?)
- Keep a running gratitude list.
- Sand the painted 2x4s stacked up in the shop.
- Return dad’s amp.
- Refrain from spending money in the early spring when all of a sudden I want to grow my own food. Grow your strawberries and bell peppers and recognize you have wasted money on a garden for the past 6 years and rarely do you keep it up once it gets stupid hot.
- Go on a date with Kyle once a month. (I learned last year not to set goals for other people, but I think he’ll be on board with this one since it doesn’t involve running.)
- Meal prep food that hits my macros! (I did a trial run yesterday that was a success!)
- Be more thoughtful in writing. Do your whole initial barf on a page thing, but then slow down, return to it, and be intentional with each word.
- Wear real clothes, instead of yoga pants, more often.
- Take a walk everyday.
- Reupholster my dining table chairs.
- Stop propagating plants that are viney or need to hang and give away a few that are outgrowing my life.
- Drink 80 ounces of water each day. Heck! 40 would be a step in the right direction!
- Do a family paint along with Bob Ross.
- Be okay with leaving the house for a few days so we can take the kids on a trip.
(As always, the number of items on my list is how old I’ll be this year.)
Years ago, I came across Genesis 48:11 around list time. It’s a verse that sticks with me each time I sit down to create a new one. Jacob (Israel) is talking to Joseph after reuniting with him despite thinking he was dead for years. It says, “I never expected to see your face again; and now God has let me see your children as well.”
It’s another beautiful example of God surpassing expectations time and time again.
As I write this silly list of things I may or may not do each year, I remember sitting in a rocking chair writing years ago trying to recap the most difficult year of my life and somehow attempting to put a silver lining on it. Wondering how in the world peace and strength and joy and love would ever make their way back into my life. Wondering how in the world God could take the remnants of a broken me and restore them fully.
He did so much more than I ever expected.
The start of a new year can be exciting, or maybe un-noteworthy, or sadly filled with heartache and simply hoping the next one is not so rough. Regardless of where you are, remember He is able.