Month: December 2025

Writer’s Prompt: A Mother, a Secret Account, and the Line She Was Willing to Cross

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Some secrets don’t surface until it’s too late—and when they do, they don’t ask permission before changing who we become.

Writing Prompt

Mika Aronsin took the call every parent dreads. Her fourteen-year-old daughter, Kim, was dead from an overdose.

Mika had no clue Kim was using drugs. Kim’s room was spotless—cleaner than dishes fresh from the dishwasher. No pills. No powders. No paraphernalia. Kim’s friends told the same story: She was clean.

Then Mika unlocked Kim’s phone.

Hidden behind a secret social media account was a world Mika never imagined—young girls connected to “sophisticated men,” private messages disguised as mentorship, affection coded as opportunity. Mika’s heart pounded like a jackhammer.

She told her husband, Mark. He was already deep in depression. He dismissed her fears, insisting she stop chasing ghosts and go to counseling—like him.

Mika agreed.

What she didn’t tell Mark was this: her counselor also happened to be a handgun instructor at a local firearms store.

Write the story from here.

Writer’s Question

When grief turns into resolve, where does justice end—and obsession begin?

December 31, 2025.

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Before the year slips quietly into memory, I pause—coffee in hand—to remember what went right.

2025 says adios. 2026 waits patiently at the door.

Every year on December 31, I go to my favorite coffee shop with a notebook and a pen—no technology allowed for this project. I order my coffee, find a quiet table, and begin remembering all the good things that happened during the year. One by one, I write them down in cursive, numbering each entry.

It was easier when my wife was alive. We would brainstorm together, and there was a beautiful synergy between us—one memory sparking another, light calling forth more light. I still remember the good moments easily, but now the process is a bit slower. And that’s okay.

Here’s the surprising part: as I write, a huge smile spreads across my face and stays there the entire time. I imagine other coffee shop patrons wondering if they can get whatever the barista put in my drink. (LOL.)

This little ritual serves another purpose. During the coming year, when things don’t go the way I hoped, I return to that gratitude list. It reminds me—again and again—that things have worked out before, and they will work out again.

Happy New Year to you—and to all those you love.

Something to Think About

What might change in your life if you ended the year by writing down everything that went right?

Happy New Year to You and All those You Love.

A New Year’s Song ~ A Poem by Edgar Albert Guest

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Welcoming the New Year with Gratitude, Generosity, and Joy

What if the secret to a fulfilling year isn’t ambition or hustle—but kindness, gratitude, and the courage to let go?

A New’s Year’s Song

Edgar Albert Guest

Love and laughter lead you 
Down the pathways of the year, 
And may each morning feed you 
From the golden spoon of cheer; 
May every eye be shining,
And every cheek aglow, 
And may the silver lining
Of the clouds forever show.

May peace and plenty find you,
May pain and grief depart ;
And may you leave behind you
The little cares that smart; 
May no day be distressful,
No night be filled with woe, 
And may you be successful
Wherever you may go.

May June bring you her roses,
May summer poppies bloom, 
And may each day that closes
Be fragrant with perfume. 
May you have no regretting
When evening is begun, 
No vain and idle fretting
O’er what you might have done.

May envy quit your dwelling
And hatred leave your heart ; 
May you rejoice in telling
Your brother’s better part. 
May you be glad you’re living
However dark your way, 
And find your joy in giving
Your service to the day.

Source

Reflection

Edgar Guest’s A New Year’s Song reminds us that a good life is not built from grand gestures, but from daily choices—choosing cheer over complaint, generosity over envy, and gratitude over regret. The poem gently invites us to travel the year lightly, unburdened by needless worries and heavy resentments. It encourages us to notice beauty as it arrives, to celebrate the success of others, and to find purpose in service rather than self-absorption. This is a vision of renewal rooted in kindness and attention. Read slowly, and you may realize the poem is less a wish—and more a quiet roadmap.

As you read this poem, ask yourself:

Which “little cares” or hidden resentments might I leave behind this year to make room for peace, joy, and generosity?

Podcast: Reinventing Joy: How to Create New Holiday Traditions That Actually Fit

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This episode invites listeners to rethink the holidays — not as obligations tied to the past, but as opportunities to design new traditions that honor who they are today. If the season feels heavy, lonely, or different this year, this episode offers permission, examples, and mindset shifts to help transform blues into possibility.

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Light for the Journey: Letting Go and Beginning Again: A New Year Reflection Inspired by Tennyson

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The New Year doesn’t demand perfection—it invites honesty. What will you release, and what will you welcome?

“Ring out the old, ring in the new,
Ring, happy bells, across the snow:
The year is going, let him go;
Ring out the false, ring in the true.” ~ Alfred Lord Tennyson

Reflection

Alfred Lord Tennyson’s words remind us that renewal is not passive—it is a conscious act. To “ring out the old” is to release habits, beliefs, and stories that no longer serve who we are becoming. To “ring in the true” is to choose honesty over illusion, courage over comfort, and growth over fear. Every new year offers this sacred threshold: a moment to let go without bitterness and to welcome the future with integrity. The bells do not erase the past; they bless it, then invite us forward—lighter, wiser, and more aligned with our truest selves.

Something to Think About:

What truth are you ready to welcome into your life this year—and what falsehood is it time to let go?

A Gentle Reset After the Holidays: Moving Forward Without Punishment

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What if the healthiest way to begin the new year isn’t by fixing what went wrong—but by honoring what carried you through?

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When the holidays end, many people feel an unspoken pressure to “make up” for December. Diets tighten. Exercise ramps up. Resolutions arrive with urgency and judgment. The message is subtle but clear: something went wrong, and now it must be corrected.

But health doesn’t respond well to punishment.

A gentle reset is not about erasing the holidays. It’s about re-establishing rhythm—physically, emotionally, and mentally—without shame. The body does not need to be scolded into balance; it needs to be supported back into it.

Research in behavioral health consistently shows that self-compassion leads to greater motivation, resilience, and long-term behavior change than self-criticism (Neff & Germer, 2013). When people approach health with kindness rather than control, they are more likely to sustain healthy habits over time.

A reset, then, begins with acknowledgment.

You lived through a demanding season. You adapted. You showed up. Perhaps imperfectly—but imperfectly is human. Before changing anything, it helps to recognize what worked. Did you keep walking? Drink water regularly? Maintain some form of routine? Those are not small wins; they are foundations.

The next step is simplification.

Rather than overhauling everything at once, research suggests that focusing on a small number of behaviors leads to better adherence and less overwhelm (Gardner et al., 2012). The nervous system responds best to clarity, not complexity. A gentle reset asks: What is the next right step—not the entire staircase?

This might mean:

• Returning to regular meal times

• Re-establishing sleep consistency

• Adding vegetables back into daily meals

• Resuming light, enjoyable movement

Notice what’s absent from this list: urgency.

Physiologically, the body recalibrates naturally when stress decreases, sleep improves, and regular nourishment resumes. Cortisol levels normalize. Digestion steadies. Energy returns. Studies show that metabolic markers can improve within days to weeks when consistent routines are restored—without extreme measures (Wing & Phelan, 2005).

Emotionally, a gentle reset also involves releasing comparison. January is often filled with performative change—who’s dieting harder, exercising more, optimizing faster. But health is personal. Your pace is not behind; it is appropriate.

Another key element of a compassionate reset is reflection without judgment. Instead of asking, “What did I do wrong?” ask:

• What drained me?

• What sustained me?

• What am I ready to bring forward?

This reframing transforms reflection into learning rather than self-critique.

Finally, it helps to remember that health is seasonal. Just as winter invites rest and inwardness, the post-holiday period invites renewal—not forceful reinvention. Nature does not rush growth. It prepares the ground quietly.

The most sustainable resets feel almost anticlimactic. They are steady. Repeatable. Gentle enough to continue.

If there is one message to carry forward, let it be this: you do not need to undo the holidays to move forward well.

Health is not a reset button. It’s a return—to rhythm, to care, to yourself.

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Gentle Action Step

Choose one routine—sleep, meals, movement, or hydration—and recommit to it for the next seven days without adding anything else.

Stability comes before progress.

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Research Citations

Neff, K. D., & Germer, C. K. (2013). A pilot study of a mindful self-compassion program. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 69(1), 28–44.

https://doi.org/10.1002/jclp.21923

Gardner, B., et al. (2012). Making health habitual: The psychology of “habit-formation.” British Journal of Health Psychology, 17(4), 863–876.

https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2044-8287.2012.02089.x

Wing, R. R., & Phelan, S. (2005). Long-term weight loss maintenance. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 82(1), 222S–225S.

https://doi.org/10.1093/ajcn/82.1.222S

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Reader Question

As you look ahead, which gentle habit feels most important to re-establish—and how can you approach it with kindness rather than pressure?

Writer’s Prompt: The Text That Reopened Everything She Buried

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One text. One name she never expected to see again. And a past that refuses to stay buried.

Prompt

Ann Bronsan stared at the message on her phone as if it were ticking.

Lunch? Would love to catch up.

Matt Jenkins.

Three years of shared mornings, shared dreams, shared assumptions—all of it collapsed over breakfast the day he announced he was leaving for the coast. No discussion. No warning. Just coffee, toast, and goodbye.

“Good luck. Hope things work out for you. Adios.”

That was it.

Now Ann was married. Stable. Settled. Or so she told herself.

She wondered how Matt looked now. Older? Softer? Regretful?

She hated him. And still—damn it—felt that pull.

Her thumb hovered over the screen.

Some doors don’t knock before reopening.

Some just wait for you to answer.

Writer’s Question

If you were Ann, would you reply—and if so, what would you say first?

Hope Is Already Knocking at Your Door

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Hope doesn’t shout. It whispers—quietly, persistently—waiting for you to notice it standing at the threshold of your life.

“Hope smiles from the threshold of the year to come, Whispering ‘it will be happier.’” — Alfred Lord Tennyson

Hope isn’t something you can buy in a store or order online. It doesn’t arrive in a box with instructions or come wrapped in a polished speech from a smooth-talking charlatan. Real hope doesn’t come from outside you at all.

Authentic hope rises from deep within—sometimes from your gut, sometimes from your bruised heart. It’s the kind of hope that refuses to be quiet when everything feels heavy. It leans in close and whispers, “Don’t quit.”

Real hope doesn’t make guarantees. It doesn’t promise an easy road or a flawless outcome. What it does offer are fleeting but powerful glimpses—visions of what you might become if you keep going. And often, that’s more than enough.

Hope is already alive inside you. It’s been there longer than your doubts and stronger than your fears. All it asks is that you fan its small flame. Tend it. Trust it. When you do, that quiet glow can become a steady blaze—and once it does, very little can stand in your way.

Something to Think About:

What small action could you take today that would fan the flame of hope already burning within you?

Sonnet X: Yet Love, More Love ~ A Poem by Elizabeth Barrett Browning

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The Fire of Love That Elevates All Things

What if love doesn’t change who we are—but reveals who we’ve always been meant to become?

Sonnet X: Yet Love, More Love

Elizabeth Barrett Browning

Yet, love, mere love, is beautiful indeed
And worthy of acceptation. Fire is bright,
Let temple burn, or flax; an equal light
Leaps in the flame from cedar-plank or weed:
And love is fire. And when I say at need
I love thee…mark!…I love thee—in thy sight
I stand transfigured, glorified aright,
With conscience of the new rays that proceed
Out of my face toward thine. There’s nothing low
In love, when love the lowest: meanest creatures
Who love God, God accepts while loving so.
And what I feel, across the inferior features
Of what I am, doth flash itself, and show
How that great work of Love enhances Nature’s.

Source

 Reflection

In Sonnet X, Elizabeth Barrett Browning reminds us that love is never diminished by its source. Like fire, it burns with equal brilliance whether fueled by cedar or flax. Love, she tells us, transfigures—lifting the ordinary into something radiant and holy. Even what feels low, flawed, or unfinished within us is not rejected by love but illuminated through it. True love does not deny our imperfections; it redeems them. When love is present, it reveals our highest nature, quietly shaping us into something more truthful, more alive, and more whole than we believed possible.

As you read this poem, ask yourself:

Where in your life has love transformed something ordinary—or even imperfect—into something meaningful and beautiful?

Digestion, Immunity, and Energy: Supporting the Body from the Inside Out

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What if the key to steady energy and fewer winter sniffles during the holidays starts not with supplements—but with digestion?

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During the holidays, digestion often bears the quiet burden of celebration. Meals are richer. Timing is irregular. Stress levels rise. Travel disrupts routines. And when digestion struggles, energy and immunity usually follow.

This is not coincidence.

The digestive system is deeply connected to immune function, inflammation, and mood. In fact, roughly 70 percent of the immune system resides in the gut, where beneficial bacteria interact constantly with immune cells (Belkaid & Hand, 2014). When digestion is supported, the entire system benefits.

Holiday health, then, becomes less about restriction and more about supporting internal balance.

One of the simplest—and most overlooked—strategies is regularity. Eating at relatively consistent times helps regulate digestive enzymes and gut motility. Skipping meals or eating very late can lead to bloating, reflux, and fatigue. Research shows that irregular meal patterns are associated with poorer metabolic and digestive outcomes (Farshchi et al., 2004).

Hydration plays a similarly foundational role. Mild dehydration slows digestion, increases constipation risk, and contributes to fatigue—often mistaken for “holiday burnout.” Alcohol, travel, and heated indoor air all increase fluid needs. Water doesn’t need to be complicated; it just needs to be present.

Fiber is another quiet hero. Fruits, vegetables, legumes, and whole grains feed beneficial gut bacteria, which in turn produce short-chain fatty acids that support immune regulation and gut integrity. Diets higher in fiber are associated with lower inflammation and improved metabolic health (Makki et al., 2018). During the holidays, fiber doesn’t require perfection—just inclusion. Adding a salad, fruit, or vegetable side can make a meaningful difference.

Stress, however, may be the biggest disruptor of all.

The gut and brain communicate constantly through the gut-brain axis. When stress is high, digestion slows. Blood flow is redirected. Sensitivity increases. This is why stress often shows up as digestive discomfort. Studies show that psychological stress alters gut motility and microbiota composition, impacting both digestion and immunity (Mayer et al., 2015).

This means that supporting digestion is not only about what you eat—it’s about how you live.

Slowing down during meals helps. Eating without distraction supports proper digestion by activating the parasympathetic nervous system—the “rest and digest” state. Even a few deep breaths before eating can signal safety to the body and improve digestive efficiency.

Another helpful strategy is respecting your personal limits. Holiday foods are abundant, but variety doesn’t require volume. Sampling thoughtfully rather than piling on everything at once reduces digestive strain and preserves energy afterward.

It’s also worth addressing supplements realistically. Probiotics, digestive enzymes, and herbal teas may offer support for some people, but they work best as adjuncts, not replacements for foundational habits. No supplement can compensate for chronic stress, dehydration, or poor sleep.

Immune health during the holidays benefits from the same principles: nourishment, rest, hydration, and moderation. Overloading the system—through overeating, alcohol, or constant stress—creates vulnerability. Supporting the system creates resilience.

A helpful reframe is this: digestion is not something to overpower. It’s something to cooperate with.

When you listen to your body’s signals—fullness, hunger, fatigue—you begin to trust its intelligence. And when you trust it, regulation becomes easier.

The holidays don’t need to leave you feeling heavy, depleted, or run down. With small, consistent choices, you can support digestion and immunity in ways that sustain your energy and enjoyment.

Health, after all, is not about perfection—it’s about partnership with your body.

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Gentle Action Step

Choose one digestive support habit this week—such as eating at regular times, adding one fiber-rich food daily, or slowing down during meals—and practice it with consistency, not intensity.

Small supports add up.

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Research Citations

Belkaid, Y., & Hand, T. W. (2014). Role of the microbiota in immunity and inflammation. Cell, 157(1), 121–141.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2014.03.011

Farshchi, H. R., et al. (2004). Regular meal frequency creates more appropriate insulin sensitivity. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 58(7), 1071–1077.

https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1601935

Makki, K., et al. (2018). The impact of dietary fiber on gut microbiota in host health and disease. Cell Host & Microbe, 23(6), 705–715.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chom.2018.05.012

Mayer, E. A., et al. (2015). Gut/brain axis and the microbiota. The Journal of Clinical Investigation, 125(3), 926–938.

https://doi.org/10.1172/JCI76304

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Reader Reflection Question

Which small change could most improve your digestion or energy this week—and what might help you remember to practice it?

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