A Time to Reset

Jan. 1st is one of my favorite holidays of the year. It feels like a reset, a moment to pause, reflect, and decide how we want to show up for the next 364 days. 

In the past, vision boards have been my way to take this pause. The process has helped me be intentional about each year. In 2014 and 2015, I hosted vision board parties for a few organizations and even made one for myself. I believe in the power of visualizing what you desire and acting as if it’s already yours. My vision board in 2014 set my heart on fire: I envisioned becoming a mom, and after four years of infertility, that happened. I envisioned growing closer to my mom, and throughout that year, our relationship deepened and sprouted new blooms. I envisioned moving into a new home, attending more live music concerts, and embracing my womanhood, and each of those desires became reality. 

Since then, I’ve created different versions of vision boards, and they all do one thing: clarify and focus my intention. They help my mind see clearly what I want, making it easier to take aligned action toward my goals. 

Oprah Winfrey has a famous quote: “Cheers to a new year and another chance for us to get it right.” As we step into 2026, these words make me pause. Sometimes I have years like 2014, where I can my visions come to life, but sometimes the last days of the year are spent thinking about what I could have done differently. But the last part of Oprah’s quote, “…and another chance to get it right,” reminds me that life isn’t about dwelling on mistakes; it’s about opportunity. 

Of course, we don’t always get it right. Sometimes we make decisions that feel wrong in hindsight or take actions that don’t align with our values. But mistakes aren’t detours; they’re data. They teach us what worked, what didn’t work, what feels off, and what truly matters to us. 

For so many years, I would spend January 1st writing down my goals and creating my vision board, mapping out exactly how I wanted the year to unfold. But over time, I’ve learned to trust my gut and not rush things. Now, it takes me a few days, or even weeks, to figure out how I want to show up for myself and others. I pull from different experiences, conversations I’ve had, notes from the first book I’m reading that year, excerpts from TV shows, or even commercials that spark insight. 

I’ve realized that I don’t have to hit the ground running immediately on January 1st. It is okay for my new year to “start” when normalcy returns: my child is back at school, my husband is back at work, and I’m home alone with just the hum of my heater and my work emails. It’s in these quiet moments, after the long two-week holiday break, that I get to pause, reflect, and think deeply about how I want to show up. 

So, take your time this year. Know that as we set our hearts and intentions for this new year, we get to imagine, plan, and act with purpose, using each day, each choice, as another chance to get it right. 

As an organization dedicated to supporting children and families in crisis, we recognize that holidays can be a delicate and nuanced time for many. In this series, Purposeful Perspectives, we asked our staff and board members to select a season, month, or day that is meaningful to them to share with our CASA community. Thank you for joining us as we take a deeper look behind the celebrations that fill our lives.