It’s been a rough … two weeks now? For starters, my coop caught on fire two days before my 41st birthday, killing three of my guineas, and I’ve been nursing the surviving guinea – Rhaenyra, which is kind of ironic, considering what happens to the character in Fire & Blood – and her burns. Then my parents both caught the flu, then I caught the flu, and then my grandmother died yesterday morning. What a way to end the year, right?

But I’m actually headed into the new year with a little bit of hope. Not a lot, mind you, considering the current state of affairs pretty much everywhere, but there’s that little glimmer right in front of me. It may not be much, but it’s enough to keep me at least somewhat positive about the good trouble I can cause in 2025.

Last year was definitely a whirlwind, mostly of my own making, but I never really gave myself a chance to breathe, to enjoy the little world that I was creating. I was so focused on a new venture that I didn’t really look at the present, and that’s what I really want to do this coming year: do a reset, one that takes each minute as it comes and to appreciate what I have. In front of me right now are Zuzu, Nelson, and Letterkenny, cuddled together on my bed, while I hear Ramses and Mushroom playing in the living room and Rhaenyra rooting around in her box (still recovering). My bills are paid, my car works, I have a job I legitimately love, I’m able to tend to my hobbies, my body still functions (as well as a 41-year-old body does, I suppose), both of my parents will gladly drive 45 minutes to bring me sick day supplies … I literally want for nothing. So why not embrace that? Why not just … exist?

There’s nothing wrong with planning for the future, of course. I have a whole set of resolutions I’m hoping to follow over the next 365 days, and I am already talking to a few colleges about going back to school in 2026 (NP, here I come!). I even have plans for how I’m going to renovate my living room and kitchen. But living in the present and being aware of the future are not mutually exclusive. As a matter of fact, they harmonize pretty well.

So as the clock turned midnight again, I looked around me, at my two frightened dogs (fireworks people are terrible, there I said it) and three oblivious cats, at my house in all its flaws, drinking my flu tea and chicken broth … and I’m content. I’m happy with where I am and where I’m headed. I may be frightened in other areas of my life, but those? I can handle. I can fight and vote and spend or save or whatever steps I need to take, so long as I have that base to return to … and that’s what I’m going to really focus on this year: that base.

After all, I got through the last few weeks with only a few minor psychological scars. I think I can get through another year.

Welcome, 2025.