While brushing my teeth this morning, I took – what I believe to be – my first deep inhale since Thanksgiving. I guess it’s only when stepping off the merry-go-round do I notice just how constantly I’ve been spinning.

It’s almost time to begin my next hopeful year and looking back just now, I see this will be my tenth year writing (and hoping) here on this blog. Ten years is a long time to commit to anything, really, and while my attention here is often sporadic, I do feel at home here and I’m always hopeful I’ll make it back more often. Maybe this year’s the year.

Because I do have high hopes for this next year and all the wide-open months to come in it. Despite – everything – I am looking forward. I’m ever more self-aware of what I need, want, and hope for. Sitting here on the back end of December I’m dreaming dreams, setting intentions, and making space for all those needs, wants, and hopes.

Maybe there is no greater hope than that found on January 1st, but I’m looking for hope each and every day of this next year. Day after day. One day at a time.

Today’s hope might be all I really need.