Serving the Treasure Valley
HAPPY NEW YEAR, my friends! Here we come 2026!
At the end of each year during the busy holiday season I find myself rushing around. Buying presents, planning get togethers, cooking a big meal, bracing myself for that one family member, clean up and repeat. By the time January 1st rolls around I am exhausted, but at peace.
As some of us do, I have set my intentions for this year; I will be consciously autonomous. This statement seems so simple and obvious yet, are we actually living autonomously? Simply being alive means that we have external influences coming at us starting from the day we are born. Intentional or not we are taught how we should think, act, feel, how to respond, what to achieve, our beliefs, and the list goes on. These were of course other people’s decisions, but they shaped us and created behaviors in us that we carried on unquestioning. And today, this is where I find myself.
Though it is only a couple of weeks into my 2026 experiment, I am amazed at how many times I have decided to not choose the behavior that was given to me after I have the chance to consciously think it through. It felt strange at first to question my thoughts, responses and behaviors. Now it feels empowering that I can change my mind simply by assessing the moment and making a decision that feels right for me. Even if it remains the same as before, I chose it this time.
Outside of the empowerment I am also finding this process to be harder than I expected. Turns out it’s not just the one action I have to question; it is the lifetime of experiences behind it that create a psychological tennis match in my head as to if this is the “right” decision. Getting stuck in our heads seems to be a human trait. Sometimes it’s easy to redirect and other times it seems nearly impossible. This is where being in nature has come into play.
You know that feeling when you are at the ocean? You feel so free and alive! This is the same feeling I seek out when the tennis match comes back. Walking barefoot in the yard and feeling my way through my landscape plants helps me to get out of my head and in touch with what is real for me. Yes, if you must know, this includes tree hugging. 🙂 It’s ok, you can make fun. But nature has no opinion or expectation of us.
We are bioelectrical beings that are simply soothed and grounded by removing ourselves from the created world and immersing ourselves back into nature. These energy fields recalibrate us without effort and this includes mental clarity. What a great practice this has become in accessing my emotional, mental and physical health. Not only do I feel better and less stressed, but I am also able to gain clarity for what best suits me and my life today. The chatter fades away and I am able to “know” what I need and want.
Whether you have set intentions for 2026 or are just going to ride the wave of life, I wish you peace. Peace to be yourself and strength to withstand the challenges that can bring.
In Health-
The Micro-Managers
