2026 is here whether or not I am ready.

(I am not)

I mentioned in my recent YouTube short that December was rough and 2025 was hard. I lost a dear friend to cancer. I think in time I will honor her on my platforms; but for now I am processing in private.

I am determined to be better about my writing, posts, and YouTube this year. I have some ideas up my sleeve. I have a renewed since of focus that is (inevitably) branching from my grief.

I listened to the unabridged A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens this year. In 1843, Dickens was inspired to write a new kind of story. He pushed for his story to be published that Christmas. I think he knew his ghosts would have an impact, but could he have grasped the idea that his story would still be popular roughly one hundred eighty years later?

What’s not to love about a beautiful redemption arc? Most versions today focus on evil turning wholesome by the scary magic of Christmas; and why wouldn’t they? It’s powerful. A man is forced to face his own past and present because his dark future and torturous afterlife is his own doing. It’s a psychiatric evaluation no mortal wishes to undergo. Yet we read the modern versions and re-create modern portrayals over and over because good triumphs in the end.

I’m so glad I listened to the original, “extended” version a few weeks ago because there’s another really poignant part at the very end that is cut out of pretty much every modern version/re-telling I’ve seen.

(If you know of a version that has this part please tell me, I’d like to watch/read it!)

The second to last paragraph of the original version reads, “Some people laughed to see the alteration in him, but he let them laugh, and little heeded them; for he was wise enough to know that nothing ever happened on this globe, for good, at which some people did not have their fill of laughter in the outset; and knowing that such as these would be blind anyway, he thought it quite as well that they should wrinkle up their eyes in grins, as have the malady in less attractive forms.”

Scrooge knew people would laugh at him. He knew because he used to be someone who would mock happiness. He mocked his nephew. He humbugged the joy of Christmas. He knew the world was just as full of people who would laugh at a good thing -especially at the beginning- as those who would support him. But he figured at least if they were laughing they look more attractive!

The paragraph ends with, “His own heart laughed, and that was quite enough for him.”

Let 2026 be the year we stop caring what other people think of our passions, our hobbies, our projects.

Let 2026 be the year we say “laugh away, it looks good on you.”

Let 2026 be the year we let our own laughter in our heart be enough.

I know there’s enough going on in the world to overwhelm our passion. I am aware the news is loud with hatred and it is hard to hope. I am aware the mocking laughter of social media is deafening. I feel as though this post of hope is but a flare of a matchstick against the oppressive darkness we are facing.

But I will strike my match anyway. As fleeting as the light may be. As temporary as that warmth may be.

And I will say laugh.

Whether their laughter comes from the spirit of joy or mockery. Whether their lips turn up in spite or in praise. I’m glad I made them laugh.

I’m doing them a favor. Everyone is more attractive when they laugh!

Let your passion, strenth, joy, uniqueness, and hope be enough.