The theme on this website today was created in 2019. I like the “continuous scrolling” in front of a stationary view of the back patio with the rose arch in full bloom. I am not sure I am a fan of the semi-transparent background for the text itself. I want to check out what options are available over this weekend. I chose a bright green border for the text area as a nod to prosperity, growth, life… and hope. We are living in, and moving through, dark times with great risk for people who are compassionate and brave. We need all the life and hope we can get.

BREAKING IT DOWN:

Health

Today is the last day of January, 2026. A month in which I missed nearly 1/4 of the teaching days – some for directly supporting my health, some for being able to stay home and focus on “activities of daily living” while my darling Tom has been away caring for some loved ones with critical health issues. A task that I cannot do any more. And proof that what I have been saying for years is true: I cannot teach and also live independently.

Mobility, allergic/anaphylactic reactions in public, and additional health issues (including two bouts of covid 3 year apart!) restrict my ability to shop, cook, clean, maintain the house in general – and sometimes restrict my ability to feed myself and even bathe. I rely on Tom’s support in order to allow me to teach at all – and this year, even with his help, I am not able to keep up with the demands of teaching.

Moving on…

Politics

January 2026: a month in which the federal government of the United States continued to intimidate, kidnap, incarcerate, and deport any member of the public who they deemed unworthy of life within our borders, NOT just convicted criminal immigrants. Children picked up and moved to other states. Children used as “bait” to lure parents and then incarcerating and/or deporting U.S. citizen children. Immigrants with permission to be within U.S. borders – green card holders, permanent residents, DACA recipients, asylum seekers with scheduled court dates. Also U.S. citizens who have been naturalized, with no criminal record. Also U.S.-born citizens. ANYONE who witnesses and records or protests a kidnapping, harassment, or other show of force by federal paramilitary thugs in CBP/ICE (Customs and Border Patrol/Immigration and Customs Enforcement (unscreened, unqualified, untrained, unprepared…).

January 2026: a month in which two civilians who were exercising their constitutional rights to protest, gather, speak out… were gunned down by the previously mentioned thugs.

Moving on…

International Affairs and Finance

January 2026: a month in which the president attempted to annex Greenland, accused the Norwegian government of interfering with the Nobel Peace Prize process, rambled in speeches to world leaders and seemed to take delight in threatening allies more than adversaries; and rambled more – and more incoherently – in middle-of-the-night sundowning posts on a right-wing social media website.

The stock market in the U.S., and many markets of U.S. “allies,” began to behave erratically, and the U.S. dollar began to slump in earnest world-wide. U.S. stocks lost ground, U.S. businesses began to flounder more and more as tariffs took effect or non-U.S. suppliers just decided to stop shipping… The uncertainty in the U.S. over what and whether may be available feels familiar now, but not at all comfortable.

Moving on…

Climate Impacts on Real People

January 2026: a month that is closing out with severe weather across much of the contiguous United States. Snow and cold from the Rockies to the east coast; snow and cold from the Great Plains states to the coast of the Gulf of Mexico. A month that continued a record-breaking dry streak in the Pacific Northwest, along with warmer-than-normal temperatures. Trees and spring plants are setting buds… Birds are nesting… I heard a frog singing this month. The summer-essential snowmelt will be affected, the plants and animals will reproduce earlier than usual. – Will February bring more of the same, or will the much-needed rain of the last few days continue into the second month of the year to help refresh groundwater, and perhaps become snow that lasts at higher elevations? If there is snow and cold in the lower elevations at this point, wildlife populations and many of the native plants will have losses.

As a gardener, it’s hard to judge whether to start spring plants early, hoping there won’t be a late freeze in April… or wait until March/April to plant and hope there won’t be extreme heat and drought in the middle of our growing season. I won’t be the only one wondering – commercial orchards and farms will be wondering, too.

And the prices of “ordinary” grocery store staples? Eggs, milk, vegetables, bread, chicken? Rising rapidly. Families are literally going without the bare necessities, and the worst is yet to come…

Climate change is affecting us all.

Moving on…

Putting on Your Oxygen Mask First

January 2026: the month in which I actually articulated to others how awful I feel about my lack of energy everywhere because I am spending all my time and energy on trying to stay caught up with teaching tasks. The month I decided on a new goal in my Hero’s Quest Journal (not sponsored, just a fan!): TAKE THE LEAP INTO THE UNKNOWN.

And made the decision to work in earnest on finalizing diagnoses, arranging a treatment plan, and finding out how to access early retirement for medical reasons. It will mean lower monthly income, but it would also mean that I continue to have income – if I simply step back from teaching (since I have not been teaching long enough to retire at 62 or 65) I won’t have income from my retirement plan until age 67.

I am using up my accrued sick leave fairly rapidly since January began.

Moving on…

Nothing Goes According to Plan

January 2026: The month Tom’s car had a serious-enough car code to be a no-drive for me while my darling was on the other side of the mountains with my car. One rental car for three weeks into February, just enough time to get his car to the first repair appointment, when we can re-evaluate whether we need to continue the rental. Not convenient, not really affordable, and perhaps a sign that I am resisting early retirement, since my justification is that I need to drive so far every day. I depend on Tom being available to rescue me if I get ill at school or have problems with my car!

Moving on…

My Unresolution-Resolution

I made no resolutions this year for anything spectacular. Just my commitment to finally taking care of my own health, and respecting my non-contracted time as dedicated to family. This pair of commitments means my ability to teach when I am at school will improve, but my ability to prepare to teach (which has been happening in the evenings and on weekends, during vacations, and early in the early morning for years) – ??? Greatly diminished. Teaching, being a professional is important to me. And right now I am not satisfied with my output. Will being healthier and better-rested help?

Equally important to me is being able to contribute in meaningful ways to our home life – it is not, and has not, been fair for Tom to work a full-time job and also work full-time after his work day to take care of me. It is not, and has not, been fair to my students and colleagues that I cannot complete all the projects, organizing, and “side quests” that are so common for teachers. It also is not, and has not, been fair that I am too overwhelmed/sick/in pain/tired to do the projects and side-quests that bring me personal fulfillment and enjoyment.

So for me, with my eye on continuing to teach in some capacity that doesn’t put my health or life in jeopardy the way teaching classes in person does … (Tutoring? Online classes? Creating materials for other teachers?) Once my health prognosis is pinned down, I can start working out some details for “Life after Teaching” – or at least the next stage of teaching.

Decisions, Decisions…

Moving on?

Taking a leap into the unknown?

Trying to live a braver, more compassionate, more engaged life in the community?

Choosing family over work?

Choosing hope over hate?

Actively resisting authoritarianism, fascism, racism…. ????

Already 8% of 2026 has passed by. Focus on what is possible and sustainable for you with the type of life and resources available to you. Don’t worry about how others may be able to “do more” or “do better.” Focus on doing what YOU do best, whether it’s keeping your children safe and healthy; supporting your spouse or community; advocating in print, video, or audio publishing; creating art/clothing/meals….