This post came at a moment that is…something. I’m not sure what, but it’s really amazing. I don’t do New Year’s resolutions as a rule, but I made a private one this morning just barely whispered to myself. I marvel at strange moments of intense beauty. Natural and not. Sometimes both in an overwhelming rush. My wisp of resolution is to take pictures more. So interesting to see the opposite (sort of) in this post. It’s the same goal coming from two different directions. Everyone is so different in their habits and nature and I’m in awe of the intersection of thought and fulfillment and… it’s beautifully immense and so truly amazing. So so interesting!! Thanks for this. I’ll meet you at the marvelous and I’ll have a picture.
My deep dive into nature didn't go as planned. But, I did get certified as a Nature Journaling Teacher, and I did go down nature rabbit holes quite often. As the weather was changing, we had a bunch of wooly bears caterpillars wander into the place I play pickleball. I did a little research and discovered they were migrating and finding a place to hibernate for the winter. I ended up bringing 6 home and I put them in a little terriaum with dirt and leaves. They are sleeping happily. I can see 4 of them and have noticed that they do wake up with warmer weather and may move a little. One is asleep with it tiny pink feet in the air.
This year, my goal is to be present in the moment and enjoy/savor all that I do. My big do, is finishing my kids graphic novel. 5.5 pages left to illustrate, then edits and figuring out the whole self-publishing thing.
Most definitely a larger goal and a realization that I don't need to commit to doing things like that daily, but follow my excitement and curiosity when it arises.
Love this!!! Reading it was the highlight of my day. The smartest thing I ever did was follow the precepts and beliefs of the seventh day Adventists. As many as I could. Albeit imperfectly. I didn’t join up, I just copied them. You may know that the only long lived blue zone in the United States is in Loma linda, California—a pocket of seventh day Adventists. They believe in exercise, community, vegetarianism and no alcohol. So, yes, go to an unfamiliar church but listen to what they’re preaching too. It could make your life better or different. You’d think I’d be better than most at New Year’s resolutions because today is my birthday. But I am not. Best wishes to everyone in the new year and infinite blessings!!!!!
Happy New Year! These are all really good. Along the lines of keeping doing what you're doing, a while back you mentioned the practice of Skies Before Screens—not looking at my phone or computer until I'd been outside and taken solid note of what was happening in the sky. I've done that every day since I read that—out in the actual outside, not just looking through a window—and it's a very good way to begin my day. So thanks for that!
Happy New Year, Rob and thank for all these wonderful suggestions—I’m honored to be included. I loved the Sam Harris audio piece and transcribed it to add to my Quotes note on my phone. I’m curious, did you ever try rereading a book from your childhood?
Thanks Liz! And the answer is not really. I had the idea of revisiting Frog & Toad but I didn't get past a Google rabbit hole :) BUT I did discover a new (to me) picture book creator whose work I now love, Tana Hoban https://robwalker.substack.com/p/down-for-a-count
Thanks for including my non-resolution resolution--it was fun to read to the bottom of this issue and see my name, while thinking "that name looks familiar... oh, that's me!" :) Hope all is well for you and in your corner of the world. Waving (not drowning) from France!
This is such a refreshing take on resolutions. I've always found the all-or-nothing approach to New Year goals pretty defeating. The idea of re-committing to good habits already working in your life feels so much more sustainable. I'm particularly drawn to the listening advice and the concept of working to make the familiar strange. Thanks for curating all these perspectives together.
I've been thinking a lot lately about how I want to move forward into this new year.
In the past, I've treated New Year's as a new beginning - in the sense that I have new goals and am striving for bigger and better things. It didn't matter if I reached my previous goals or not; I was done with them and on to the next thing.
2025 was a year of transformation for me and it's totally changed the way I view resolutions. Now I feel like it's a continuation of things I've been working on; a chance to reset and refocus. I don't know what will happen in 2026 but I'm hoping this is a healthier, more productive way to approach it.
Thank you it’s a pleasure to be here and all of these amazing suggestions of resolve remind me to focus more on the magic of wonder. Happy New Year everyone!
This post came at a moment that is…something. I’m not sure what, but it’s really amazing. I don’t do New Year’s resolutions as a rule, but I made a private one this morning just barely whispered to myself. I marvel at strange moments of intense beauty. Natural and not. Sometimes both in an overwhelming rush. My wisp of resolution is to take pictures more. So interesting to see the opposite (sort of) in this post. It’s the same goal coming from two different directions. Everyone is so different in their habits and nature and I’m in awe of the intersection of thought and fulfillment and… it’s beautifully immense and so truly amazing. So so interesting!! Thanks for this. I’ll meet you at the marvelous and I’ll have a picture.
Delightful, and very well said :)
Forgive my clumsy expression. I’m not a writer. Intense creative energy manifests in making for me. I appreciate writers.
Re
Solution
Solve Again
Begging the question- what is The Problem??
My deep dive into nature didn't go as planned. But, I did get certified as a Nature Journaling Teacher, and I did go down nature rabbit holes quite often. As the weather was changing, we had a bunch of wooly bears caterpillars wander into the place I play pickleball. I did a little research and discovered they were migrating and finding a place to hibernate for the winter. I ended up bringing 6 home and I put them in a little terriaum with dirt and leaves. They are sleeping happily. I can see 4 of them and have noticed that they do wake up with warmer weather and may move a little. One is asleep with it tiny pink feet in the air.
This year, my goal is to be present in the moment and enjoy/savor all that I do. My big do, is finishing my kids graphic novel. 5.5 pages left to illustrate, then edits and figuring out the whole self-publishing thing.
Well that resolution may not have gone "as planned" but I'd say the larger goal achieved! A lesson in that probably ;) Happy 2026!
Most definitely a larger goal and a realization that I don't need to commit to doing things like that daily, but follow my excitement and curiosity when it arises.
Happy New Year, Rob! Thanks for keeping us endlessly inspired. :)
Thanks so much Kris!
Love this!!! Reading it was the highlight of my day. The smartest thing I ever did was follow the precepts and beliefs of the seventh day Adventists. As many as I could. Albeit imperfectly. I didn’t join up, I just copied them. You may know that the only long lived blue zone in the United States is in Loma linda, California—a pocket of seventh day Adventists. They believe in exercise, community, vegetarianism and no alcohol. So, yes, go to an unfamiliar church but listen to what they’re preaching too. It could make your life better or different. You’d think I’d be better than most at New Year’s resolutions because today is my birthday. But I am not. Best wishes to everyone in the new year and infinite blessings!!!!!
Oh happy birthday!
Thank you so much!
Happy Birthday, Carol
Thank you kindly!
Happy New Year! These are all really good. Along the lines of keeping doing what you're doing, a while back you mentioned the practice of Skies Before Screens—not looking at my phone or computer until I'd been outside and taken solid note of what was happening in the sky. I've done that every day since I read that—out in the actual outside, not just looking through a window—and it's a very good way to begin my day. So thanks for that!
Oh that's awesome! And definitely a good Anytime Resolution ;)
Happy New Year, Rob and thank for all these wonderful suggestions—I’m honored to be included. I loved the Sam Harris audio piece and transcribed it to add to my Quotes note on my phone. I’m curious, did you ever try rereading a book from your childhood?
Thanks Liz! And the answer is not really. I had the idea of revisiting Frog & Toad but I didn't get past a Google rabbit hole :) BUT I did discover a new (to me) picture book creator whose work I now love, Tana Hoban https://robwalker.substack.com/p/down-for-a-count
My only resolution in 2026 is going to be not thinking about 2025 (failed) resolutions. Happy New Year!
Ha that's a great one!
What a beautiful gift, thank you so much for this bonus wisdom!
Hiya Rob.
Thanks for including my non-resolution resolution--it was fun to read to the bottom of this issue and see my name, while thinking "that name looks familiar... oh, that's me!" :) Hope all is well for you and in your corner of the world. Waving (not drowning) from France!
Thank *you* Shanna, and I continue to enjoy following your adventures : )
This is such a refreshing take on resolutions. I've always found the all-or-nothing approach to New Year goals pretty defeating. The idea of re-committing to good habits already working in your life feels so much more sustainable. I'm particularly drawn to the listening advice and the concept of working to make the familiar strange. Thanks for curating all these perspectives together.
I've been thinking a lot lately about how I want to move forward into this new year.
In the past, I've treated New Year's as a new beginning - in the sense that I have new goals and am striving for bigger and better things. It didn't matter if I reached my previous goals or not; I was done with them and on to the next thing.
2025 was a year of transformation for me and it's totally changed the way I view resolutions. Now I feel like it's a continuation of things I've been working on; a chance to reset and refocus. I don't know what will happen in 2026 but I'm hoping this is a healthier, more productive way to approach it.
Nicely said! Wishing you the best in the New Year (and beyond)
Children’s books, the good ones, are distilled life philosophy, highly recommend!
I no longer trust resolutions that require a personality transplant.
I like the ones that ask me to notice the sky, take a different route, and admit I don’t know.
Sustainable growth, but make it humane.
Agreed!
I like this post and also like the art-mail image at the end about sending you snail-mail. How different and intriguing! I noticed! ;)
LOL think of it as a secret message! Well noticed ;)
Thank you it’s a pleasure to be here and all of these amazing suggestions of resolve remind me to focus more on the magic of wonder. Happy New Year everyone!