January is nearly halfway done, yet 2026 still carries a different feeling—one I can’t fully explain, but deeply sense. It’s quieter than excitement, steadier than fear. It feels like a pause, a breath, a moment of becoming.
I'm entering this year with a calm yet courageous heart. Not very loud. Not flawless. Hopeful, but not pretending that everything has already been figured out. incredibly optimistic.
The kind of hope that lingers rather than rushes. the type that choose to believe even when the answers are still being worked out.
I was humbled last year. I made a lot of mistakes. There were moments when I didn't live up to my own expectations and felt I could have performed better but didn't.
On certain days, I felt lost and uncertain about what lay ahead, and dread spoke louder than faith. To tell the truth, I was afraid. afraid of failing once more. afraid about making poor decisions. I was afraid since I had no idea what would occur.
Perhaps the most difficult aspect is that you can't tell if you're going to be a mangyayari.
However, here I am. standing. Still breathing. I'm still hoping. And that is grace in and of itself.
I'm opting for change this year.
It's not the sort that forces me to change overnight; rather, it's the kind that starts subtly, deep in my heart. A shift in perspective. a shift in my self-talk. a shift in how I give up control over things I cannot control and trust the process.
Even if I only take baby steps, 2026 is the year I make progress. even if advancement is gradual. even though recovery isn't a straight line.
I want this year to be happy—not because everything will be ideal all of a sudden, but because I will choose to be thankful even on the bad days. Instead of worrying about perfection, I want to appreciate progress, laugh more, and sleep guilt-free. I want a life that is grounded, honest, and true to who I am.
Above all, this year is one of faith.
Putting my faith in the Lord despite unclear circumstances. believing that delays don't mean rejection. believing that what didn't work out in the past wasn't a waste but rather helped me become a better person. Even though I have no idea what the future holds, I am at rest knowing who comes before me.
I'm giving myself permission to develop this year.
Despite my disappointments, I'm letting myself dream once more. Despite my hands shaking with terror, I'm giving myself permission to try again. I'm giving myself permission to think that good things are still possible for me.
Because there is no need to prove anything to anyone this year.
It's about becoming. gaining patience. more devoted. more in the moment. More kind, both to myself and to others.
You're not alone if you're reading this with anxiety from the previous year. It's acceptable to feel fear. It's acceptable to make mistakes. It matters that we get up, have hope, and continue moving forward.
2026, you have my warmest welcome.
I choose to think that this year will be beautiful despite all of my flaws, prayers, and hopes.
It's my year. A year of transformation. A year to recover. A year of faith in the Lord.
And I'm prepared. 🤍