Fresh Starts and Slow Mornings for a New Year

caring for yourself:

Welcome Baby New Year! I have intentionally begun this year with slow mornings. I realized late into last year that I was constantly doing things as if my life were in danger, if things were an emergency, or if I were running late for something. Not important things. Things like taking a shower, brushing my teeth, or washing dishes. That is always a warning we should listen to. I’m not trying to tell you how to start your mornings, or live your life, I simply thought I’d take a minute or two to share a couple thoughts with you as we begin this new year. Curious?

Letting go…

Sometimes, in order to move forward, we have to let go of the past. That’s no great philosophical idea, it’s just simply true. I mean….let’s not end up like Lot’s wife. Letting go all started for me one morning in the shower. Strange place for a life-awakening, but nonetheless, that’s where this story begins.

I love coffee. Of course you already know that. I had read about all the effects coffee has on you when consumed in great quantities. And may I just be honest for a second? I consumed coffee in GREAT amounts of steamy, creamy, wonderful, yummy-goodness quantities. However, in the interest of trying to better myself, I decided to make a one cup of coffee switch to a cup of my favorite tea. First thing in the morning I had a cup of tea, then, a while later, I started my daily coffee escapades.

Over time, I switched to two cups of tea before my coffee… One day in the fall, my husband was away on business. I got up, pushed the button on the coffee maker and drank all three cups of coffee. All. By. Myself! It was glorious and decadent and it felt completely indulgent. Until it didn’t.

As I stood in the shower that morning, I found myself holding my breath – not just for a second – but as if I were literally under water. When I did take a breath, I couldn’t inhale deeply enough. And I couldn’t exhale completely. I felt an imaginary band around my ribcage, holding my lungs hostage. My mind raced. I couldn’t imagine how I could face the day ahead. A day with an empty calendar, mind you. I had no appointments, no phone calls, no engagements with editors or publishers. I didn’t even have to leave the flat if I didn’t want to. And yet, there I stood in my shower, water raining down, crying uncontrollable tears.

Complete overwhelm.

Total panic.

Absolute Anxiety.

And that’s when I realized the culprit. It was the coffee. Do you mean to tell me that the stress and anxiety and overwhelm I’d been feeling in every moment of most of my days was linked to my very favorite thing in the whole wide world? Yes. I think maybe so.

So for 2026, I decided to never self-sabotage myself again this way. And that’s when I started completely switching out my morning coffee for my morning tea. It’s been glorious. I still occasionally have a cup of coffee, but it’s usually after my morning walk, a quick bit of strength training, or a workout session. It’s now something I enjoy in moderation.

And it has changed my life for the better.

Letting go, two point Oh for heaven’s sake!

In the spirit of making 2026 the best it can be, I also determined there were some things in my life I needed to figure out and get under control. Allow me a moment to share a bit of a back story with you:

In 2013 I was diagnosed with stage-three bladder cancer. It was in two lymph nodes and I had a 22% chance of survival. My odds were bleak. Bleak, bleak, bleakity bleak. After several rounds of chemotherapy, a blood transfusion, a life-altering surgery, and years of recovery, I fight inflammation. No one knows why, the doctors can’t quite pinpoint the cause or give it a name. Let’s just say the last time I had an inflammation panel run, my numbers were supposed to be around 120. But since I’m a total “go big or go home” kind of gal, my numbers run over 875.

So, when I come under high moments of stress, do a little too much, or simply don’t take care of myself (cough, cough), I fall prey to an inflammation flare up. I run low grade fever, I am fatigued to the point I can’t get out of bed, or off the sofa. My body feels swollen even when it isn’t, and oddly enough, the blood in my veins feels like it’s on fire. Literal fire. This flare up typically lasts anywhere from 5 – 9 days. It’s not a great time – don’t believe the hype.

For goodness sake….

Understanding that sugar is one of the main causes of inflammation, guess what I decided to give up for January? Yes! I gave up both coffee and sugar. What on earth was I thinking?

But let me attest: It has been an enormous relief to my system. I have more energy, less brain fog, and more motivation. The best part is, I’m sleeping more soundly, my body doesn’t feel like concrete, and I haven’t had a single inkling of a flare up. Well, for goodness sake! Why didn’t someone tell me sooner all that sugar was bad for me? (Eye roll…)

Encouragement to take that step…

Obviously, I don’t know what you’re facing. If I did, I would hold your hand and tell you it will be okay. I would hug you gently and tell you I will stand by your side as you walk through it. I believe in you!

The thing is, no matter what we are facing, I believe there are steps we can all take to help ourselves along. Maybe it’s as simple as cutting out coffee, or sugar, or alcohol, or fill in the blank. Maybe it’s something you know you need to start. Perhaps you want to get more movement in; start walking, or buy a rebounder, or pick up a set of 3 lb weights.

Let this be a gentle reminder to you that you can still do those things. The year has just begun and it’s already loud and obnoxious and busy and stressful. BUT, it is still a new year. And you can still be a new you. I encourage you, whatever you’re going through, take the step(s) you need to take to make yourself 1% better today than you were yesterday. Your world is full of potential. Tap into it.

I promise you will amaze yourself. Because you are amazing! Happy New Year!