We feel guilty for being tired in January. But for apple trees, squirrels, and bears doing nothing is the most productive thing they do all year.
I grew up on an apple farm in New York State’s Hudson Valley.
Because of that, my relationship with winter is a little different than most. To the casual observer, an apple orchard in January looks unproductive. The branches are bare, the ground is frozen, and it appears that nothing is happening.
But if you ask a farmer, they’ll tell you January is one of the most critical months of the year. It’s the month that decides the harvest.
We have a tendency in our culture to treat rest as a sign of weakness—or at best, a reward you get only after you’ve burned out. But nature has a different rulebook. She doesn’t ask herself to earn her rest. In the wild, winter isn’t a pause button; it’s an active biological process of repair.
If you’re feeling slow, foggy, or tired this week, I have good news: there’s nothing wrong with you. In fact, you’re doing everything right according to nature. You are just wintering.
Here are three examples of how nature uses the cold to build the future—and how we can adopt a few pages of her playbook.
1. The Apple Tree: Counting the Cold
On the farm, nature and farmers alike live by a concept called “Chill Hours.”
We tend to think trees just “shut off” when the temperature drops. In reality, they’re actively counting. Apple trees have a strict biological requirement to endure a specific number of hours (usually 800 to 1,000) between 32° and 45°F (0° and 7°C.)
If they don’t get those hours—if the winter is too warm or too short—the hormone that suppresses blooming won’t break down. They literally cannot produce fruit in the spring unless they have rested enough in the winter.
The lesson? The productivity of the harvest is biologically impossible without the stillness of the winter. You aren’t losing time by resting; you’re banking your Chill Hours for when the light and warmth of spring return.
2. The Arctic Ground Squirrel: Renovating the Brain
If you’ve felt a bit of “brain fog” lately, you’re in good company.
When the Arctic Ground Squirrel hibernates, their body temperature drops below freezing, and they essentially disconnects their neural pathways. Their brain synapses wither and retract—like pruning a tree—to save energy.
This sounds destructive, but it’s actually a renovation. Research shows that when they wake up, their brains undergo a massive “regrowth” phase. They regenerate those connections stronger and more efficient than before, similar to how muscle fibers when broken down by exercise knit themselves back together when we rest to become stronger.
The brain fog isn’t a failure; it’s a remodel. Sometimes the brain needs to disconnect to clear the clutter and build new pathways for the year ahead.
3. The Black Bear: The Miracle Healers
Finally, there’s the bear. We know they enter a deep sleep in the winter, but what happens while they sleep is the real miracle.
Research from the University of Minnesota found a stunning capability in hibernating black bears: they are super-healers. If a bear goes into hibernation with a wound, the bear will heal faster and with less scarring during their dormant state than they would during the active summer months.
Even with a metabolism running at a fraction of normal speed, their immune system shifts into a specialized repair mode.
It’s a powerful reminder: We heal best when we rest.
A Permission Slip for January
If nature—in all her wisdom and efficiency—requires a season of dormancy to prepare for fruit, rewire the brain, and heal wounds, why do we think we are exempt? Why do we insist on pushing through when what we really need is the sleep and rest that will help us be better versions of ourselves in the long-run? Sleep and rest are powerful tools. Use them. Appreciate them. Luxuriate in them. Your future self will thank you.
So, if you’re struggling to get into high gear this winter, stop. Take a nap. Read a book. Laugh with friends. Eat nourishing food. Breathe. Let the ground freeze knowing you’re giving yourself your necessary Chill Hours. Spring will be here soon enough. Don’t rush it. Rest.
The biggest conservation win of the year is happening this Saturday. 🌊
But the story I can’t stop thinking about this week comes from a farm in Northern Ireland.
Nature is already racking up big and small wins in January 2026:
The High Seas Treaty goes live this weekend (finally!).
A new rule in Northern Ireland stops punishing farmers for having “messy” land.
And 7,000 tiny snails pull off the greatest comeback in history.
Sometimes the best news is found in the weeds. 👇
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Last week, we looked at the major dates on the horizon for nature in 2026. This week, the first one is already knocking on the door.
This Saturday, January 17, the High Seas Treaty officially becomes international law. It is a massive moment for global conservation—perhaps the biggest of the decade. But while the world focuses on the giant blue expanse of the ocean, there was another win this week for the tiny, messy corners of the Earth that deserves just as much attention.
Here are the wins—big and small—that are making me smile this week.
1. The Global Win: The High Seas Treaty Goes Live
Mark your calendars for this Saturday, January 17.
That is the day the High Seas Treaty finally enters into force. It transforms the “Wild West” of the open ocean into a managed, protected space.
This treaty provides the legal power to create marine sanctuaries in international waters for the first time. It has been a decades-long fight involving complex negotiations and 60+ country ratifications, but this weekend, it finally crosses the finish line. As of Saturday, the legal mechanism to protect half the planet is officially “on.”
2. The “Messy” Win: Scrub is No Longer a Crime
We often think of conservation as planting trees or saving whales, but sometimes it is just about updating a spreadsheet.
This month, a quiet but revolutionary policy shift kicked in for farmers in Northern Ireland. For years, farmers there faced financial penalties if their land had too much “scrub”—things like bracken, bog, or wild corners that weren’t “productive” for crops. The old rules literally incentivized them to clear-cut nature just to keep their funding.
As of January 1, that rule is gone. Under the new Farm Sustainability Payment scheme, “soft features” like scrub and naturally regenerating land are no longer treated as a liability. They are now recognized for what they are: vital homes for biodiversity. It is a small policy tweak that sends a huge message: Nature doesn’t have to be neat to be valuable.
3. The Comeback Win: 7,000 Snails Go Home
Finally, a story about resilience that proves it is never too late to go home.
Now, after decades of careful breeding, they are back in the forests of Tahiti and Moorea. Why does this story about snails matter? It is the largest reintroduction of a species officially declared “extinct in the wild” in history. It’s a slow, steady victory brought about by a group of people passionate about saving wildlife—and a reminder for all of us that we can fix what we’ve broken.
A Thought for the Week
Whether it is a treaty covering half the planet or a patch of scrub on a farm in Ireland, the goal is the same: making space for life to thrive.
Last week, we closed out the year by looking at the victories nature secured in 2025 that didn’t get enough coverage. Today, let’s look forward.
It is easy to dread the headlines this coming year. We know the challenges we face—political headwinds, climate tipping points, and the sheer noise of it all. But if we only look for the fires, we miss the flowers.
2026 is shaping up to be a landmark year for the wild world. From the icy steppes of Kazakhstan to the open ocean (and even the sun itself), there are massive moments on the horizon worthy of celebration.
Here are three dates I’m circling in red on my calendar this year.
1. January 17: The Ocean Gets a Shield
We don’t have to wait long for the first massive win. On January 17, the High Seas Treaty officially enters into force.
You might remember we talked about this last year when it hit the ratification threshold, but next week it becomes international law. This is the legal “go” signal that finally allows the world to establish Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in international waters—the vast blue “wild west” that covers nearly two-thirds of our ocean. For the first time, we have a mechanism to protect life in the deep sea from unregulated exploitation.
This project has been years in the making. It involves not just moving cats, but restoring an entire ecosystem—bringing back the prey species (like Bukhara deer) and the riparian forests the tigers need to survive. It is a powerful reminder that we can do more than just protect what is left; we can rebuild what we’ve lost.
This will be the first total eclipse visible from mainland Europe since 1999. While it’s a celestial event, I always view eclipses as a profound “nature check.” They are one of the few things powerful enough to make millions of people stop, look up, and realize we are all connected and standing on the same spinning rock.
It doesn’t sound “sexy,” but rangelands cover nearly half of the Earth’s land surface. They are the carbon sinks, biodiversity hotspots, and cultural heartlands that sustain millions of people and animals (including our friend the Jaguar!). Expect to hear a lot more about the grasslands this year—they are finally getting their moment in the sun.
We have a lot of work to do this year, Togetherhood community. But we also have a lot to look forward to.
Yesterday, I volunteered at the Muddy Paws Rescue adoption event because they needed some last-minute help. Afterward, I was supposed to pick up two 4-pound puppies who needed a temporary foster overnight. I had my apartment all set up for them; I was so excited. I haven’t had puppies since Dorothy and Sophia, my bloodhound babies, and I’ve never had puppies quite that small. I even caught myself wondering if one of them might be “the one.”
But at the event, plans shifted. A foster arrived and explained they wouldn’t be able to pick up their foster dog if he didn’t get adopted. As excited as I was for those puppies, I knew it would be much harder to find an emergency placement for this 50-pound adult dog who suddenly had nowhere to go.
So, meet Tony: my first foster of 2026.
Tony is a total “hidden gem.” He is an expert snuggler, a master of the “lean,” and a dog who clearly just wants to make his person happy. In the short time he’s been with me, I’ve discovered he is housebroken, a fantastic napper, and surprisingly unphased by other dogs or city noises. While he’s a big boy, he has no prey drive—he’s just a curious guy who is very eager to please, especially if you have a pocket full of treats!
Truthfully, I wasn’t ready to take a foster. I am personally looking to adopt, and I have a massive week ahead with work. I definitely wasn’t looking for a foster this big and strong—I actually had to get a mini-lesson on the best ways to walk a dog of his size while protecting my back, since I’m quite petite and still mindful of my back injury recovery and physical limitations.
Because of my own physical recovery, Tony is looking for a “takeover” foster or—even better—his forever home! He would thrive with someone who has experience with bully breeds and the physical stature to handle his curiosity on walks. He’s already making great progress on the leash and loves working on his brain games, Kongs, and lick mats.
Sometimes, when a being really needs us, we do things before we’re ready. If we all step up just a bit when we see a way to help, the whole system gets better. Every foster dog I’ve had has taught me something. None of those lessons were ones I anticipated; they were lessons I didn’t even know I needed. I’m sure Tony is here to teach me something that will make me a better person, and I’m so happy to be the bridge to his forever home.
A jaguar in the wild—a symbol of the resilience we are seeing return to the American Southwest. Photo by Ramon Vloon on Unsplash
I started Togetherhood, my weekly nature newsletter, exactly one year ago, and I am so grateful to every one of you who has subscribed, read, shared, and commented on my nature stories along the way.
To mark this one-year anniversary—and the arrival of 2026—I wanted today’s post to focus on the wins nature secured in 2025. Yes, there were heartbreaking losses that felt like a gut punch. But there were also moments of joy and triumph that received far too little coverage. While we must be clear-eyed about the darkness, we must also give the light her due.
Yesterday, CBS Sunday Morning aired a segment with David Pogue on the good news of 2025. It was a perfect reminder that innovation and compassion are still alive and well. Here are two of the standout nature stories from that segment, plus a few other big wins from around the globe that we should celebrate.
The End of “Forever” Plastic? David Pogue highlighted a game-changer happening right now in Massachusetts. A company called Black Earth Compost is proving that single-use doesn’t have to mean forever. They are utilizing a new kind of “plastic” made entirely from sugar cane. Unlike the “biodegradable” labels of the past that didn’t really work, this stuff actually breaks down alongside household food scraps, turning into nutrient-rich compost rather than microplastics in our soil. It’s a closed-loop win we desperately need.
Farmers & Birds: A Surprise Alliance In California, a program is flipping the script on the usual farmer-vs-environmentalist narrative. Pogue spoke with Katie Riley from The Nature Conservancy about the “BirdReturns” program. In this initiative, farmers (like the Zuckerman family in Lodi, CA) are paid to flood their fields during specific times of the year. These pop-up wetlands create crucial rest stops and feeding grounds for migratory birds like Sandhill Cranes. The result? Farmers get a new revenue stream, and bird populations that were struggling are getting a massive lifeline.
Renewables Finally Beat Coal: This isn’t just a projection anymore; it’s a fact. In October, energy think tank Ember confirmed that for the first time in history, renewables generated more electricity globally than coal (34.3% vs 33.1%) in the first half of the year. Solar alone is doing the heavy lifting, meeting 83% of the increase in global power demand.
The High Seas Are Officially Protected: On September 19, we hit a massive milestone: The High Seas Treatysecured its 60th ratification (thanks to Morocco!), which is the magic number needed to make it international law. This triggers the treaty’s entry into force in January 2026, finally allowing us to create marine sanctuaries in the “Wild West” of the open ocean.
Species Bouncing Back:
Jaguars in Arizona: Just this month, officials confirmed a new male jaguar—dubbed “Jaguar #5”—was spotted on trail cams in Southern Arizona in late November. He is the fifth wild jaguar documented in the state since 2011, proving that despite border walls, these cats are finding a way to return home.
It’s going to be a tough year ahead, but these stories prove that when we give nature half a chance—or when we get smart about solutions—it has an incredible ability to heal.
See you in 2026! We’ve got work to do, and we’ll work together with nature to make this a better world for all beings.
Jumaane Williams delivering his inauguration speech on January 1, 2026. Photo by Christa Avampato.
Yesterday, I watched the NYC inauguration of Mayor Zohran Mamdani, Comptroller Mark Levine, and Public Advocate Jumaane Williams. Each used a different holy book for their swearing in ceremonies: Quaran, Hebrew Bible, and Christian Bible, respectively. This was a first in NYC history. Each of them comes from a different ethnic background: Muslim and South Asian, Jewish, and Black and Caribbean heritage. Another first in NYC history. The level of diversity and inclusivity at the ceremony mirrors a truth that runs deep in our city: everyone from everywhere comes to NYC and makes this their home.
I have never watched an inauguration before yesterday. Given this historic moment, I wanted to be part of it in a small way. I wanted to bear witness in the hopes that this really is an inflection point in our city. I’m always hopeful and optimistic about our city because I believe in New Yorkers. It’s inspiring to see so many others also hopeful and optimistic about our city.
I believe strongly that when we start a new journey, we should begin as we wish to go. Though it will be a long road to make our city equitable and affordable for all, yesterday was a very good start. I would like to find a way to do my part (and then some.) I don’t know yet exactly what that means, but I’m excited to find out how I can help.
My favorite part of the ceremony came from Jumaane Williams. He gave a poetic and poignant speech, a message to us and his younger self. “If we are all connected, we can’t lose anyone,” he said. That idea keeps ringing in my ears. So many New Yorkers slip through the cracks for a million different reasons. But it doesn’t have to be that way. If we can help everyone, every single one, plug into a community where they can connect, no one gets lost. No one has to be alone. In a city this big and varied and resourced, there is space for everyone to have someone they can depend on. There’s something in there. Something powerful that’s worthy of exploration and action. Let’s see what we can do together.
Happy New Year! Each year I select a word to guide my thoughts and actions. In 2025, I chose Rebuild. Now, with that foundation, I’m ready to scale the efforts I’ve loved most.
2026 at a Glance:
The Word:Momentum (finding the moment within the movement).
The Focus: Scaling NYC’s Secrets & Lies, adopting a heart dog, and publishing in a dream publication.
The Goal: Moving from “rebuilding” to intentional acceleration in community, health, and creativity.
Within the word “Momentum” is the word “Moment”. That’s where I want to be in 2026 – in the moment, in every moment. I want to focus on my lived experience each day.
Even with all the challenges and difficulties in the world, in 2025 I found ways to build community through longer tables and creative projects that inspire wonder and curiosity. It’s made me so happy to reflect on that and think about how that can continue in 2026.
Here are some of the areas that interest me most. What are you thinking of in 2026?
Storytelling
I am beyond thrilled that my show NYC’s Secrets & Lies is back and that so many lovely people have filled out audience and graced the stage with their knowledge and humor. This show encapsulates so many things I love: storytelling, a celebration of NYC, history, laughter, and awe. I know how lucky I am to call this city home and I love nothing more than sharing all the wild stories of our collective past that still exists on every street. I’ve also made some of my very best friends because of this show, and those relationships have saved and transformed my life.
We started doing location-based shows with partners in 2025, the dream I always had, and I can’t wait to create more of those immersive environments for our audiences in 2026. Our show at the Seaport Museum was a huge success and they were wonderful to work with so I’m hoping we can do more projects together.
We’re already working on some fun plans during this very momentous year in our city’s history to celebrate:
NYC’s 400th anniversary
The country’s 250th anniversary
100th anniversary of Houdini‘s death on Halloween (yep – he was a New Yorker!)
National Pet Adoption Week in March
Our first outdoor show in April with Natural Areas Conservancy for Earth Day
Climate Week shows in San Francisco (nature in the San Francisco area) and in NYC (NYC food history)
A few things we’re considering in addition to our shows:
Free field trips where a group of us go to an interesting location in NYC and learn about its history
Reading club on historical topics
Potluck dinners with historical recipes
Entering the Great Borough Bake-off at Museum of the City of New York
Dogs
In January 2024, I lost my soul dog, Phineas, after 13 1/2 years together.2024 was a painful year. Sometimes I could barely breathe because the grief was so heavy. It was the worst grief I’ve ever felt. At the very end of 2024 and through 2025, I fostered 10 dogs through Muddy Paws Rescue and became an active volunteer with the organization. I never imagined I would become as involved as I am. More than anything else I’ve done, fostering and volunteering to save shelter dogs has helped me heal. I still miss Phinny every single day. I will miss him every day for the rest of my life.
2025 taught me how to carry the grief of losing Phinny and the joy of rescuing other dogs like him. He never left me, not really. I feel his spirit with me always. There are, sadly, so many shelter dogs who need forever homes. In 2026, I want to get even more involved with helping more shelter dogs. I don’t know exactly what that looks like yet.
I am ready to adopt my heart dog and especially excited to go through therapy dog training with them. My hope is that we’ll become a certified team so we can visit chemo patients and participate in library programs where kids read to dogs.
Writing
At the end of 2025, I pitched an article to my dream publication and they accepted it! This is the good news I hinted at yesterday—I’m so thrilled to finally share it. I’m working on the piece right now and will share it once it’s published.
I spent 2025 further honing my writing skills in different genres and formats, and now I’m excited to put more of it out into the world in more publications and platforms. I learn so much as a writer by reading, and I’m trying to read more books and better track the books I read in a fun analog way.
Learning
2025 brought me many opportunities to learn new skills and grow my areas of expertise. Some of them came through work and many of them I explored on my own. I continued my language learning and I want to build on that in the new year. I signed up for Masterclass again because a few of their courses caught my eye and there was a massive 50% off sale for the new year. My interests vary widely so a platform like Masterclass is perfect for me. I loved their programs that I took a few years ago so I’m excited to dive back into it. I’d also like to find more opportunities to learn alongside others.
Nature
In 2025, I graduated with my Master’s in Sustainability Leadership at University of Cambridge. That was an enormous personal and professional accomplishment. I fulfilled my dream of studying abroad with the most incredible group of people who inspire me every day.
I had hoped to transition my full-time work into climate but political circumstances being what they are in the U.S., that didn’t happen. Through writing my Togetherhood newsletter, storytelling, and advocacy work, I’ve been able to be involved with the climate community and aid collective efforts. In 2026, I’d like to explore more ways that I can help even if my full-time work is not rooted in sustainability. Sometimes, dreams take longer than we’d like. The route isn’t as clear as we planned. The planet needs tending, and in 2026 I want to find opportunities to use what I have where I am to be useful.
Travel
In 2025, I finally got to Italy and Scandinavia, two places that have been on my list for some time. In June, I’ll skip back across the pond to reunite with my Cambridge classmates in London for our now-annual get-together. I’m already looking forward to that. I also decided to plan more weekends away. That’s something I don’t typically do. I’m not sure why I’ve not planned that more often – maybe because I love NYC so much and there is always a lot to do here.
In 2026, I’m going to make the effort to explore more and visit more friends who live outside of NYC. I’m hoping to finally get to Asia, another area of the world I’ve not yet visited.
Home and Finance
I’m very lucky to have a stable living situation after years of being a market-rate renter in a city that is insanely expensive. I love my Brooklyn neighborhood and my apartment. In 2025, I crunched the numbers many times and it didn’t make financial sense to buy a place of my own because of the deal I have in my place now and the soaring interest rates and downpayment requirements. I’ll continue to keep an eye on that in 2026 to see if anything changes. In the meantime, I’m working closely with my financial planner to save for a home down the line. I’m also refreshing my space with some new design touches.
Love Dating apps did not bring me joy in 2025. Even the mechanics of them are off-putting to me. I know they work for lots of people, so I’ve not abandoned them completely. I’d like to put myself in situations to meet more people who share my interests, and maybe that will also include a partner who is as wonderful as my friends. That’s the only kind of partner I’m interested in having. It’s worth trying. At the very least, I’ll meet interesting people who become friends.
Health
And finally, my health is the basis of all my dreams. It’s really true that health is the first wealth. I learned a lot in 2025 about medicine, nutrition, exercise, and the value of rest. I healed from a few injuries and in the process learned how to better care for my body. In 2026, I’d like to refocus on more meditation – that’s a practice I fell away from in 2025 and I always feel better when it’s part of my routine. I experimented a lot with new recipes, and loved the art and eating of cooking and baking. I want to continue that and invite more people to have meals with me in my home.
2025 marked 5 years since my cancer diagnosis and I’m grateful for my restored health. In 2026, I’ll mark 5 years since the end of active treatment and finish taking one of my medications that may also lead to a change in another of my medications. While these are all positive changes, I’m always wary of new meds and med changes because of past experiences I’ve had. I’m exploring ways to support myself in that process – maybe through acupuncture, saunas, and other holistic modalities.
Some closing thoughts
2025 saw a lot of upheaval and pain around the world. Through donations to and volunteering with organizations doing work, I was able to help others and that is something I will always continue to do. Improving the lives of all beings and the planet has to happen as a collective, and I’m looking forward to using my good health, resources, and skills to further cultivate community and cheer loudly for others in 2026.
Happy New Year. I’m glad we’re here together. Long may that continue.
What is one area where you’re looking to find momentum this year?
In 2025, I focused on what I could construct. It turns out, community is the strongest foundation. Photo by John Cameron on Unsplash.
Rather than make resolutions, I select a word each year to guide my thoughts and actions. In 2025, I chose “Rebuild.”Looking back at my post from January 1, 2025, I started the year meditating on the Mary Oliver quote: “Listen, are you breathing a little and calling it a life?” I realized I had been waiting for everything—more time, money, clarity, experience, validation—to finally do the things I wanted to do. I was waiting for permission that only I could give to myself.
In a world that often felt fractured and difficult, I wanted to focus on what I could construct. I spent 2025 building community, seeking advice, iterating, and lifting others up as I rose. This year had many days that broke me down, but it turns out that being broken down is just the first step of a remodel. Each time, I got up a little stronger and more intentional.
I worked hard to be the most generous person in the room, the best listener, and a truly collaborative partner. I couldn’t have done this alone, and I am deeply grateful to the mentors, friends, and all of you who sat in the “construction zone” with me.
I launched my Togetherhood weekly nature newsletter to share the solace I find in the outdoors, and teamed up with a wonderful group of creators to restart NYC’s Secrets & Lies. Both projects were born from the same goal: to ignite curiosity, wonder, and a sense of belonging in a world that can sometimes feel lonely. Beyond my own projects, I worked alongside others as a volunteer with Muddy Paws Rescue and City Harvest to provide safety and care for dogs, people, and the planet.
Amidst the busyness, I kept up with foreign language learning, indulged my love for baking and cooking, and looked after my health. I also spent a lot of quiet time honing my storytelling in ways I didn’t expect; I have some good news and lessons learned to share on that front in January.
Going into 2026, I’m excited to take everything I rebuilt this year and carry it further. More on that tomorrow. Wishing you and yours a bright, happy, and healthy new year.
In November 2025, a college friend of mine passed away. He was just two years older than me. He had recently decided to leave his long-term job, where he’d been very successful, to finally pursue a passion project in this next season of his life. Six months later, he was diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer. Eighteen months after that, he was gone. He was so young, and his battle was both short and harrowing.
If you could know how and when your life would end, would you want to know? And what would you do with that information? How might you live differently when you know the end?
Start at the End
When I write anything, I either write backwards or, at least, with the end in mind. That’s also how I live life—knowing just how precious it always is and knowing that it may very well be much shorter than I’d like.
This isn’t just a somber reflection; it’s a necessary call to action. I recently heard an interview with the actor Minnie Driver where she said: “Don’t wait. For anything. What are you waiting for? Go live! Right now!” I feel that in my bones. That element of time is always front of mind for me. Maybe it’s a bit too front of mind sometimes, but in my opinion, that’s better than not thinking of it at all.
The Gift of “Extra” Time
I know how short life can be. I know how short my life almost was while I was going through cancer treatment and all the complications I faced. Because of that, I know this is all “extra.” I know I’m lucky to be here at all, and lucky to be healthy and able-bodied.
So, I don’t wait. I’m doing my passion projects now. I spend my time exactly the way I want and with whom I want. I don’t care about titles and money and prestige. Those things were meaningless when I was lying in a hospital bed surrounded by the whirring of breathing machines hoping to live to see the sunrise the next day.
All I wanted then was my dog and my friends. That’s it. That’s all I want now, too. Instead of chasing a title, I choose work that brings me joy. Instead of prestige, I choose the creative projects that might never make a dime but make me feel alive.
The Heartbreaking Truth
Since that hospital stay, my soul dog and several of my friends and family members have passed away. The time with them was too brief. We never, ever get enough time with those we love. That is the powerful and heartbreaking truth of life: It is never long enough, no matter how long it is.
My wish for all of us as we head into a new year is that we don’t wait another second to live a life we love. Do exactly what you want to do right now and every day you have. Don’t wait on passion projects. Don’t wait on love—for yourself, the beings you care about, and your community.
Don’t wait for “someday.” None of us have that luxury.
The moon and the stars through the trees. Image by Christa Avampato.
Tonight, as we usher in the longest night of 2025, may we give ourselves the permission and grace to rest. Yes, the light begins to return slowly and surely as we move forward. But before us tonight lies the gift of darkness.
It is a time for dreaming, for reflecting, for remembering. It allows the light to shine brightest—from stars, from the moon, and from the people around us. Just as stars require the dark to be seen, we often find the best in others and ourselves during the darkest times. When confronted with difficulty, we rise to help each other.
We cannot get through this life alone. Relationships are the center of everything. Love is the center of everything.
This winter, I wish you peace. As the daylight grows, I hope the light within you and the light within me grows, too.
Christa Avampato 