Pretty Lynne Writes

The temptation to remake myself every new year is strong. I love the idea of fresh starts. New notebooks, a fresh stack of paper, a new pen, a clean slate. Leave who you are in the old year and begin again. Be whoever you wish you could be. Fix whatever is wrong with you. 

But I’m learning that there’s nothing wrong with me. I have dings and foibles. For example, I’m grumpy sometimes when I’m tired and can have tantrums with my people when I have expectations that they don’t meet. But rather than fixing these things about myself, I’m learning new skills: to get enough sleep and give myself space when I’m tired; to voice expectations and apologize if I act like a jerk. 

I’m human, after all. I don’t need to be fixed. I just need to give myself some grace, and take care of myself so that I do things the way I want to do them. 

This year, instead of making resolutions for things I want to change about myself, I’m collecting some ideas to make myself happier. 

I saw a TikTok creator set a goal to compliment people out loud whenever it occurs to him. I love that, and I’m stealing it. I already compliment people a lot. If I like your sweater, your haircut, the script you wrote, the sound of your voice, I’m going to let you know. But I can do it more, and I will. 

Some other things I’m thinking about adding to my life:

• more time sitting in cafes drinking excellent coffee
• finding a choir to join because I love to sing in harmony with other people
• finding a new dentist even though I’m dental-phobic, because I’m a grownup and know I need to take care of my teeth
• taking some time every morning to enter my day with ease
• riding my bike every day because I love it
• loving people loudly and saying the things that need to be said. Life is short. 

It’s a new year, but I’m the same me. Just a me who wants to bring a little more happiness to my own and others’ lives. A me who recognizes that joy is out there to be had when you look for it. A me who finds meaning in every day. 

May you find things in 2026 that make you happy, give you joy, and bring meaning to your life. Thank you for being a part of my life and reading my words. 💛