Openings

January 4, 2026

We returned from the airport the other night having taken our daughter and her boyfriend for their early evening flight. Our other daughter had left when we headed to the airport. The house was dark but for the small lamp in the corner of the living room and the twinkling Christmas tree lights. All was still and quiet. The house was empty again. Just as I knew it would, Christmas came and went too fast.

Having the girls home together was a gift beyond words. They love cooking and baking, and had a list of things they wanted to make. We spent many hours in the kitchen stirring up old family recipes, getting messy, and laughing.

Spending time together grounds us as a family and individually, and we all seemed to need that this Christmas. Keeping traditions alive and creating new ones, we remember what matters and rekindle the bonds of family as adults. It’s not always easy, but we try to hold a safe space for each other as we navigate the changes and challenges life brings.

Now I linger in the afterglow and look out at the new year, an opening to possibility. I sit in peace and gratitude, savoring the last moments before I return to work. Now that my spirit has been revived, I see things anew. The Christmas decorations are put away for another year and there is more space. I feel an inner urge to create, refresh, and discover.

Possibility requires an opening. It needs room to breathe, expand and take shape. That means I have to let go of anything that is in the way. I may not always notice the culprits, but they linger in the shadows and consume oxygen. Things like past mistakes, self-doubt, judgment, anxiety, and impatience. They tend to show up when I am tired, so how do I get rid of them?

First I have to see these gremlins and call them what they are. Then I can speak to them….”I see you. I know you’ve been there to teach me something, but I no longer need you. You can go now.” Or, maybe I ask a question…”What do you have to show me? Why are you still here?” And then release them. I am going to try these approaches and see how they work. It will be new for me, but I know awareness creates an opening.

In addition to letting go is knowing what to hold on to that brings me joy, energy, health, balance, and peace. What do I want to add to my life? How do I want to grow this year? I’ve been writing these in my journal as a first step, putting my intentions on paper. This brings focus and clarity. I’ve also written down the things I am releasing, even though I know it will be an ongoing process.

Remember, God is the silent Power behind all things, always ready to pour into our experience that which we need. -Ernest Holmes

This helps. So I begin the year with renewed hope, energy, and resolve. I hope your spirit has been revived as well. We will need each other this year, along with a healthy dose of faith and courage. If we can remain open to possibility, we will discover something new in ourselves and our world. As Sarah Ban Breathnach writes in Simple Abundance:

Someone who loves you unconditionally is at the helm. Divine Love sustains you, surrounds you, enfolds you, protects you. Go in peace. You are well equipped for the adventures awaiting.

She reminds us that we must ask for help, supply, guidance, and Grace, and then give thanks.

We have the power to choose, create, and celebrate life every single day, and that is how we move forward - one single day at a time, open to possibility, wonder, and joy.

Open your arms as wide as you can to receive all the miracles with your name on them. Never forget that all you have is all you need. -Sarah Ban Breathnach

Wishing you beauty, bounty, & bliss in the new year!

ej

Elisa J. Juarez