Ooooof, I hardly know where to start. I want to babble about so many things today! Pour a cup of coffee and visit with me—and let’s start with thoughts about the Word for the Year trend, shall we? 

I am a recovering Resolution maniac. Historically, the lead-up to a new year would find me creating huge lists (often two pages of rule-lined paper, I kid you not!) of all my “resolutions.” Now, I have no problem with resolutions as a concept. I love goal-setting, dreaming, planning and scheming. However, sadly (sorry, little Ev, younger Ev, all past Evs.), my resolution lists were more like thinly veiled (or not thinly at all) criticisms, a catalogue of self-hatred, an inventory of all my perceived flaws and then a “remedy” for fixing them. 

A few years ago, I decided no more. Life was hard enough. People were mean enough. I needed to start having my own back. Needed to treat myself with the kindness and respect that I always strove hard to extend to others. I started practising something called RSA (radical self-acceptance and radical acceptance of others. It has been wonderful, freeing, and very growing. I do it incredibly imperfectly, and that’s a-ok. 😁 RSA could be its own blog post, actually!) 

And yet, I’m still a girl who loves to plan and dream, who enjoys looking back and thoughtfully considering what lessons the past might hold. I love being fully immersed in the present moment while simultaneously fantasising about possible futures. I missed my annual end-of-year resolution session, with candles, wine and mulling time. (Thankfully, not everything in my resolution tradition was mean to myself.) 

Anyway, around the time I was realizing my way of making resolutions perhaps wasn’t the healthiest, most beneficial, not to mention kindest, thing I could do for myself, a friend introduced me to the concept of adopting a word for the year, rather than drafting towering to-do and NOT-do lists. 

I was hooked. I loved the idea of—in a gentle, kind, super positive way—figuring out what I needed or wanted most in the upcoming year and then reminding myself to focus on it throughout the year. I haven’t missed my resolutions yet, and each year I feel my WOY becomes more powerful. 

Last year’s was Fearless. And I definitely, because of that word, chose to pursue things and reach for things that I might not have because of nerves or insecurity, “practicality,” “other commitments,” “good sense,” etc. (All words, for me, that I’ve started to recognise as fear). 

And choosing to be fearless, not talk myself out of going for things or trying new things, led to three extraordinary adventures for 2026. 

1) I committed to return to writing full-time, with the start date in mind of January 2026. Whoohooo!

2) This past summer, a very enticing call for applicants popped into my Social Media and, well, the long and short of it is that I am beyond thrilled, beyond super excited (and you guys know how excited and enthusiastic I am by nature!) and beyond honoured to announce that I am going to be Regina Public Library’s Writer in Residence January 2026 – June 2026.  

Just some of the things I’ll be doing as the WIR are: 

• One-to-one assistance with personal writing projects, providing writing advice and suggestions, giving encouragement and support, and offering insight into all publishing phases: from research, to writing the first draft, to publication
• Public readings and Q&A sessions
• Free writing workshops

If you’re in Regina, SK, or it’s an easy mini road trip for you, set up an appointment to connect with me (e-mail wir@reginalibrary.ca)! I’d love to chat about—and possibly help with—your writing goals!

The Writer-in-Residence program doesn’t just benefit the writing community, however. The lucky recipient (in this case, ME!) is also given time and resources to work on their own projects. It was fantastic timing. Having already decided to return to writing full-time after taking three or so years off, this opportunity makes that shift feel absolutely lovely and meant to be. 

3) Late summer, a writing acquaintance reached out to me with an amazing opportunity, wondering if I’d be interested. . . . and I was. I am thrilled to share that I’ve joined Sterling & Stone, a multi-media story studio. 

So . . . that’s me. Very excited after a year of nervously committing to being fearless—a year that utterly surprised me by being gentle, kind and fun—and leading to such exciting things for this year. (A very welcome and needed balm after some very, very difficult years.)

I understand that for some of you, however, 2025 was NOT the kind of year it was to me. If you’re happy to see it in the rearview mirror, I get that, and I hope that 2026 is much better in every way.

And if there’s something you’re longing to pursue but feel nervous or have a million “good” reasons why you shouldn’t . . . Please go for it. Be fearless! 💓