Jinx

I did my gratitude blog. But I'm a believer in balance, so here's me balancing the scale. Jack says I'm a cactus. So here's me going full prickly mode. Move me to the desert so I can thrive.

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I feel like every year, but especially the last few, people have been saying, “This year has been awful. It needs to end. Bring on, 202X! It can't get worse!” 

What are you doing? Yes it can. It absolutely can. Are you trying to jinx all of us? Did you learn nothing from last year? Stop it. I'll muzzle you.

But do you know what I think is kinda hilarious? I've noticed that most of the people who heralded the new years of the past sure are quiet this year. If anything, everyone seems to be white knuckling the last few days of December while they thousand-yard stare 2026 like it's emerging from the shadows. Which is fair. 2025 can suck it, and I'll just preemptively say 2026 can join in.

I am a pessimist at heart. I might try very hard to find every silver lining, but that's because I am determined to fight my natural state of a certified grump. I think I'm actually doing a good job of it. If anything, I'm laughing harder at the dark humor of it all. My poor sister probably thinks I'm becoming completely unhinged. (Actually, she told me I could be worse and is full on encouraging it.)

Maybe a few people are leaving 2025 unscathed. Good for them, honestly. But I think most people had it rough in a couple different ways, whether financially, relationally, career/job, kid worries, health, personal loss…whatever. Some in a multitude of ways. And almost all of them rather privately. 

And yes, like I said in the gratitude blog, I'm grateful for the lessons I learned. But multiple things can be true and I can still flip 2025 the bird. I'm not running into 2026 thinking “this is the year everything gets better.” 

2026 is the year of the horse, which I guess according to Google, represents determination, passion, and dynamic change. I grew up either owning horses or taking lessons (about 7 years worth). I know horses. I adore them. But they are prey animals that can weigh over a thousand pounds and think plastic bags are scary. They respond to their environment in pretty big ways, and very rarely is it predictable or pleasant when they do. I broke my arm, for a second time, coming off one when I was twelve. In my early twenties, my dad's mare once fell on me when I was cantering her around an arena. I've had them spook and take off down a road as I clung on for dear life. They can be gentle and kind, so long as they keep some sense. But I'll still embrace what this year's animal represents while treating it like it's real life counterpart: with a lot of respect and caution, because anything else can land you in a lot of pain otherwise.

If anything, I think I'll try and approach 2026 with the mindset I'm leaving 2025 with: sometimes my only option is to laugh, because the others are not as fun. While I might be a bit of a cactus sometimes, I still try to make an effort to remind myself to look outward. I think, since so many people seem to be quieter about the new year, to look around and see if someone needs help. Because there is something else about horses that I think I sometimes forget: they're service animals. We don't eat horse, at least in most western societies, but we have a long history of using them to help get things done.

So, I'm going to keep those traits by Google in mind, but also what I know about this year's animal and add service or help to the list. Because I think this year might be hard for people, and if possible, as I try to go about my goals, to also look up and out to others and what they might be struggling with. Even if it's to just listen, because sometimes that's all people need (especially if 2026 is anything like 2025). And if able, then other ways as well.

One of my favorite books, “The Boy, the Mole, the Fox, and the Horse,” has an exchange in it:

“What's the bravest thing you've ever said?” asked the boy.

“Help,” said the horse. 

“Asking for help isn't giving up,” said the horse. “It's refusing to give up.”

I love that. But in real life horses can't speak, but that doesn't mean they still don't communicate. They might have all those qualities the “year of the horse” is supposed to represent, but they still ask for help—you have to be paying attention to other signs to know when they need you or need something. I think people are more often than not also a lot like that. I think that's something I need to remember as I try to keep the exhausting Polly Anna/Mary Poppins enthusiasm going so the cynic doesn't run the show.

I can go into this year and its challenges with determination and passion, while embracing dynamic change and trying to help those around me do the same.

But, ya' know, if all that fails, there is always option b by burning it all down. There's always that, too. Totally a reasonable response.