Resolve
A few words on what I hope to cultivate in 2026
Happy New Year. On January 1, the word resolve came to my mind when I began to think about what I would like to bring forth this year. As in, “I resolve to.” I’m not sure what led me to play with the word, but I went with it.
R E S O L V E
R is for resilience: “The capacity to withstand or to recover quickly from difficulties. Toughness.”
My awareness that good health makes a good life increases with each passing day. What I once took for granted feels fragile. Whether mental or physical, to be able to keep up with the pace of life is no small feat. I think most of us could put our own well-being nearer the top of the to-do list. Sleep is a big one for me—it’s amazing how much better I feel in general when I’m early to bed and early to rise. Diet, too. When I don’t have someone to cook for I can live on cheese & crackers for a week.
E is for edit: “Remove unnecessary or inappropriate material.
I spend my life editing, now more than ever as it is how I make my living. What’s new these days is I’m aware that I should never apply my critical eye to people. It feels much better to allow softness and a more gauzy outlook.
S is for strength: “the quality or state of being physically strong; the potency, intensity, or speed of a force or natural agency; the capacity of an object or substance to withstand great force or pressure; the emotional or mental qualities necessary in dealing with difficult or distressing situations.”
Yes, to all, please and thank you.
O is for own: “have (something) as one’s own, possess. Admit or acknowledge that something is the case or that one feels a certain way; take or acknowledge responsibility.
I pray: Please let me be myself everyday. And give me the wherewithal to make sure that self is worth being.
L is for love: an intense feeling of deep affection.
However we define it, I hope to let it lead me in all things this year.
V is for vitality: “the state of being strong and active; the power giving continuance of life, present in all living things.
This goes back to the health thing—what a blessing it is to be robust. When I think of vitality the color green comes to my mind—the color of growth. I think of an ageless, vivacious spirit dancing and smiling.
E is for energy: a person’s physical and mental powers
I see what’s on my mind now, or even what was hanging around in my subconscious—taking care of myself needs to be a priority this year. I want to have the energy to do all the things! To travel, to spend time with my family and friends, to write. It takes discipline; it takes strong personal boundaries to not accept every invitation so I can go to bed on time.
Side note: I dearly wish live shows could start earlier. I miss so many shows because I know I won’t get home until 1 a.m. My friend Kathleen Edwards has begun playing at 7pm and not having an opening act specifically so people can get home at a decent hour. What a concept!
The tone is set: self-care, self-regard, self-respect. Keep things simple, don’t acquire, don’t look outside for what can only be found inside.
Sounds good to me.
Happy 2026!
Peace. Love.
Allison
I'm totally with you on the lateness of live shows. I pretty much avoid one local venue, The Black Cat, because the start times are so late. (I am going to go to the Magnolia & Johnson Electric Company show in a few months, but that's a special case, as I'll only have the one chance to catch that.) I can't go out on a Tuesday night with a main act that's not on until 9:30 or later. I have to be in the office at 8am, and I have an hour commute. Plus, at 45 years old, with plenty of miles on this chassis, I can't be on my feet for hours that late, not after a full day of work. I'm tired, and by nighttime, the aches and pains catch up to me.
The other piece of this I don't understand is why the artists want to do this. They often have to drive to the next town after the show. Hitting the road at 1am, as opposed to a few hours earlier, seems like it asking for trouble -- not just messing with their rhythms and sleep schedule, but the likelihood of having an accident.
Another piece on my end is that, with age, my own circadian rhythms have hardened. I don't need an alarm, and I'm unlikely to sleep in much, if it all, on the weekends. Even if I'm out later, my body has its wake-up time.
Don’t forget to “record stunning albums” with your sister…can never get enough of y’all!