And now we welcome the new year. Full of things that have never been. — Rainer Maria Rilke
I really am feeling like I need to set a few intentions for this month and year because I fear if I don’t the Great Wallowing in Aimless Days will consume me. I am really struggling to find a focus each day, I am not sleeping well… which might be contributing. But neither waking hours nor sleep seem to be good companions of late… so what’s a person to do in all this but to set some intentions with the hopes of redirecting myself a bit.
In 2025 I did not spend any time at all spinning and as I began to review the year in the last weeks of December, I thought about “what was missing” in my 2025 days… and spinning jumped right out at me. I have been thinking about spinning quite a bit since Full On Sweater Weather arrived… I have had a “sweater spin” that has been knocking about in my head, and it became a bit louder since I have been wearing this sweater. The spinning of the yarn for that sweater did not happen overnight and it certainly won’t happen at all for a new sweater if I don’t make a plan to do some spinning. So yes, spinning will be A Thing in 2026. I think the added bonus will be the very meditative quality that spinning provides will be a boon to my mental health.
I finished my 2025 Year of Stitching on NYE, but I have yet to sit down and begin my 2026 stitching project. I had intentions of getting it all prepped in December but that did not happen. I have added it to my list this week… perhaps the thrill of “checking it off” will be just the inspiration I need. As for last year’s stitching… it needs a bit of a wash and some gentle pressing before I can completely finish it. But I am excited to get it finished although my idea for how to use it has changed dramatically, I want to get it finished and tucked safely away.
Over the course of December roughly a half a dozen pairs of socks sprung holes with several more wearing very thin… so I am declaring 2026 Operation Sock Drawer Replenishment. I began a pair in late December and am moving down the leg of sock two. My plan for the year is to just keep going on socks… at least until the Sock Drawer reaches the correct volume of socks.
I had spent a good bit of last year thinking that 2026 would be the last year I focus on a “Word of the Year” and I thought it would be a good finish to circle back to the word I began this journey with – joy. I really did not understand or know what spending a year contemplating a word could mean and, as the year began and unfolded, I felt like joy and I could spend a good bit of time together… but then in August a new Emergence volume appeared and, while I ordered the new volume and companion book, I did not veer from my plans for A Year of Joy. But then as November brought life to a crashing halt… I realized that I could not stomach spending a year finding joy at all. So this year, it feels exactly right to contemplate Seasons as my word. I feel like this will be the exact journey I need to begin in this moment.
Finally, this whole blogging thing has really been a struggle for me recently because most days I do not feel very cheerful or upbeat right now. I have started a few blog posts that never went beyond the starting points. Forced cheerfulness is not an easy place to write from. The only posts I feel up to writing currently are the Unraveled Wednesday posts. Those will continue in the exact format they are currently… there will be a post every Wednesday with a link up for all those who want to participate. The community of making and reading bloggers is one I am so grateful for… I cannot promise that every Wednesday I will be cheerful and upbeat… but there will be socks, and stitching, and some spinning, and of course… reading. That being said, I don’t know if I will be posting anything at all beyond the Wednesday posts, although my thoughts are that I will share an update of how Seasons and I are getting along sometime near the end of January.
Whew, for not thinking I had anything to say… this sure got wordy and fast! If you are still here… thank you. I wish you all the Happiest of New Year’s and a healthy January.
I will see you all back here on Wednesday!
Intentions are very personal, but yours sound good to me! Spinning, sock knitting, stitching, and a contemplation of Seasons all sound like things that will be positive activities, good for your mental health, and good for your sock drawer. Also, please don’t feel like your posts need to be cheerful and upbeat. This is your blog so you should post when you want to (or not) and say what you want to, cheerful or not. I appreciate that you plan to continue Unraveled Wednesday because it’s a highlight of the week for me and helps me to make sure that my knitting is progressing (and I’m not wallowing in Aimless Days). But you have to do what works best for you! I hope that your intentions are setting a good path for you, and I’ll read whenever and whatever you choose to post.
Just be. That is enough and post when you want to post and feel what you want to feel. I have to work very hard mentally at focusing on what I want to do each day. I’ve just accepted that that is what is me right now.
I’ll be hoping you keep giving us updates from time to time. And you know, forced cheerfulness isn’t all it’s cracked up to be, in my opinion. Though sometimes it’s the only face we can bear to show the world. Take care.
I think a focus on sock knitting and spinning will be good for you this year; both are endeavors where you can see real progress. And I understand about the difficulty in blogging when you feel like you’re forcing it, so I want to say, my friend, we understand. I’m always happy to read an update from you, even if it’s not sunshine and roses. Unraveled Wednesdays are still my favorite blogging day, so if that’s all you feel able to manage, so be it. I have a feeling that as the year moves on, the days get longer, and your grief diminishes, you will have more to say.
Over here agreeing with everyone Kat. Especially that blog posts do not have to be cheerful all the time. To me, that’s not reality. But, if you don’t feel like posting I certainly understand. So glad to hear that Unraveled Wednesdays will continue as we all look forward to that and sharing what’s on our needles or in our hands and what we are reading. Spinning and sock knitting (and a sweater!) all sound great. Thinking of you my friend and sending hugs.
Spinning and sock knitting sound like good intentions for the new year. I will join the chorus recommending you post when you feel like posting. Take good care and Happy New Year.
I know others have also said this but I’ll still chime in and say that you are under no obligation to be upbeat or cheerful. Life is what it is and sometimes it’s hard and we’ve all had those times. I think it’s far more important to be authentic than cheerful.
Upbeat? Cheerful? I didn’t read that part in the Blogger’s Handbook. One of the most wonderful things about blogging . . . is that it’s YOUR blog and you get to say what you want. There are no rules or requirements. Sharing your grief journey (or not), being mortified by what’s happening to our country, feeling generally . . . Not Cheerful or Upbeat. . . all of those things are LIFE, y’know? You are under no obligation to share only upbeat and cheerful feelings (or ANY feelings for that matter). If you do, though, feel like sharing stuff that isn’t unicorns and rainbows, then share away! LIFE is life and we all have our good times and bad. Sometimes having an outlet is actually helpful. (And how can this community support you if you don’t let us know that you need it?)
Okay. That’s enough of my preaching. (Sorry.) Your intentions for the coming year sound like very grounding practices. I think they will all serve you well, Kat. And SEASONS . . . what a brilliant word! XOXO
A big ol’ hug from me to you. I agree with all of the above. Just be… yourself.
xoxo