The Chronicles Of Nay

Happy New Year! I hope that everyone has had a great holiday season! Mine has been pretty great! Spent time with old friends, with new friends, and everything in between! As I look back on this past year there have been ups and downs, good times, and rough times. There have been times that I have laughed, there have been times that I cried. I lost my fur baby, I reconnected with friends that I had last contact with and I continue to grow my village of people that I know support me and my endeavors. I continue to build my CV (basically my resume but with my academic accomplishments too!).

One of my big goals for 2025 was 1000 outside hours. I did not make it. haha If you know me you know that I am not a super like outdoorsy kinda person, I am not the friend that says “let’s go on a hike!”. I did make it outside for about 300 hours though, which overall is not too shabby. This year I am shooting for more than 300. I would like to say that I will hit 1000 but let’s be honest, the goal is just more than 300! I downloaded an app and I am going to try to log it that way. I am hoping that will help me keep track of it better. 1000 hours in a year is about 2 hours and 45 minutes a day. I did 32 minutes today so I am already behind 2 hours and 13 minutes tomorrow. See how this snowballs! haha again the goal is more than 300! haha

I am still working towards finishing off my washi tape collection! haha that one every year is just to finish off more tape than I buy. I am doing pretty well with that. I own so much washi tape, I don’t think I have bought any in like 3 years and I still have PLENTY! haha I use it in my tape dispensers at work. I have it in my backpack. I am hoping to use more this year. I am going to try to do a junk journal. I started one a few years ago and I got sort behind then I stopped. Let’s see how many days I can get through this one. Over all the goal is to use more washi tape! haha

I blew my reading goal away this year. My goal was 75 and I read 97! There is a blog coming in the near future of the book run down and stuff. My goal again this year is 75. I don’t know if I you all know that I had my home library organized by color. like all the books were in color order based on the spine. and as cool as that was on my shelf, it just got to be a bit much once I aquired quite a few books. So this break I have been working on reorganizing based on author like a normal human! haha not nearly as pretty but when someone asks if they can borrow a book, I can find it!

I have been a little behind this year in getting my goals and stuff together for 2026. Anyone that knows me also knows I tend to be a bit of a worry wort! Well, I am a little stressed about the year to come! I should be finishing with classes and all that entails. Then hopefully, barring no weird events starting to write my dissertation in the fall. As exciting as that is, it is also kinda scary. As I was talking to my mom and telling her this she said something practical. If you know my mom, you know that for as anxious as I am she is on the other side of the spectrum! haha So she doesn’t know it yet but she gave me my word for 2026. Enjoy. She told me that sure I can be nervous and apprehensive about all the things to come. However, I could, and should, enjoy the ride. I don’t like change, I never have. but she is right. So my goal this year and my word for the year is to enjoy it. Enjoy the hard, enjoy the easy, enjoy the people, enjoy the silence. Even if I am not enjoying it… remember, there are things and parts to enjoy!

Well I hope that all of you enjoy the rest of the time you have off before we hit the ground running in to 2026!