The last line is so powerful that I’ve re-read it several times: “When we make space for death, we open up to new life—in this case, a new year and all its new possibilities.”
I love that this is about the death of the last year. It's fascinating how our bodies (if we let them) know something more instinctive. I am spending a couple of days finding the space to read and lounge and wonder instead of pushing myself so much. It's very sweet to allow the darkness to flow over us right now.
This really resonated. I am depleted from the past year of intense, challenging (loving but exhausting) caregiving for my elderly mother and moving her to assisted living. I made a half-hearted attempt at a year-in-review like you described and identifying what I want to accomplish in the year ahead, but it felt forced. Like you, what I need is rest and recovery. What I want most in 2026 is more ease in my life. These year-end days don’t feel particularly celebratory, especially given our political situation and the heaviness I feel, but rather a time to rest, reflect, and process a difficult year. The dark quiet days feel appropriate.
Thanks for sharing, Carey—you are definitely not alone. This year I decided to honor my body by taking these quieter, darker days to rest, and setting my intentions and goals for the year on the Lunar New Year in late February. Being first, doing second feels right these days. Wishing you an easeful 2026.
The last line is so powerful that I’ve re-read it several times: “When we make space for death, we open up to new life—in this case, a new year and all its new possibilities.”
I love that this is about the death of the last year. It's fascinating how our bodies (if we let them) know something more instinctive. I am spending a couple of days finding the space to read and lounge and wonder instead of pushing myself so much. It's very sweet to allow the darkness to flow over us right now.
Our bodies always know!
"To allow the darkness to flow over us" stirs something in me. So beautifully said~
@Carolyn Gregoire @Maura McInerney-Rowley
“I’ve been so woven
into the mesh of my trivial errands,
that only now do l begin to hear the mystery of dying
everywhere."
— Rumi, "Dying"
This really resonated. I am depleted from the past year of intense, challenging (loving but exhausting) caregiving for my elderly mother and moving her to assisted living. I made a half-hearted attempt at a year-in-review like you described and identifying what I want to accomplish in the year ahead, but it felt forced. Like you, what I need is rest and recovery. What I want most in 2026 is more ease in my life. These year-end days don’t feel particularly celebratory, especially given our political situation and the heaviness I feel, but rather a time to rest, reflect, and process a difficult year. The dark quiet days feel appropriate.
Thanks for sharing, Carey—you are definitely not alone. This year I decided to honor my body by taking these quieter, darker days to rest, and setting my intentions and goals for the year on the Lunar New Year in late February. Being first, doing second feels right these days. Wishing you an easeful 2026.
Yes! When we’re ready, grief is activating and serves as a portal to what’s next. Like a threshold. Thank you for this piece
Well said! It’s so true. Death is a doorway
Very well said; thank you…
Thank you for this one. 2025 is just going to challenge me all the way till the end, but today I am feeling all the feels.
Right there with you :)
reading this in the first couple weeks of January and it's landing for me now.
i've been sick with a cold that's running through my family. despite all the pressure to hit the ground running, i've hit it laying down and resting.
over the holiday break i felt a lot like you. i just couldn't bring myself to do an annual review, no matter how thoughtful it was.
so i just went to a cafe with a journal and spent two hours writing down whatever was coming up for me. that was all i did. it was wonderful.
Beautiful reflection of the cycle of our year with the non-linearity of the grieving process 💙