2026, for me
as i write this, i'm crying. crying because i’ve realized how much i’ve asked of myself, how often i’ve forgotten to be gentle with the one person who’s always been here—me. this year, i want to take myself seriously. not in a harsh way. in a soft, caring one. i want to earn more money, not just to have it, but to feel safe, less anxious, less stretched thin. to stop feeling guilty for wanting comfort and stability. i want to dress better, not to impress, but to feel like myself when i step outside. to wear things that remind me i deserve effort, that remind me i am worthy. i want to take care of my hair. treat it gently. stop rushing it, pulling it, ignoring it. let it be healthy, not just present. i want to take my health seriously. not through extremes. not through punishment. just through small, steady choices that honor my body. most of all, i want to be soft and gentle with myself, with this very body that carries me every day, that loves me and has been here since i was born. i don’t want to lose myself this year. i want to be confident in my own skin, the quiet kind that doesn’t need permission, the kind that knows when to rest, when to speak, when to walk away. i want to feel pretty again. not in comparison. not for anyone else. but in a way that feels natural, private, and real. this year isn’t about becoming someone new. it’s about coming back to myself, more grounded, more secure, more sure. to build a life that feels stable, to take care of the body i live in, and to love myself without guilt.