I know when I freshen this post up it won’t be long until I get into the time of year I dread the most… Tax Season. I only dread it because I make things hard for myself by not embracing change, but I know that now since 2025 for me was mainly a year of reflection.
I write a year end post each year and if you are interested in what I accomplished and what I’m setting out to do in 2026, you can find it here: My 2026 Writer Goals – DA’s Treasure Map. For the second year in a row, I will have time and space at the end of the year to fill my creative well. Having 2 weeks off at the end of the year is a luxury this working girl is very grateful for! I already have things planned for that time off, but honestly, if I just sit around and read I’m okay with that as well. Goddess knows I have tons of books on my TBR! So, back to the traditions of New Year…
During my search for the origins of the Baby, I came across some interesting tidbits. Did you know that making resolutions traces back to the ancient Babylonians? Truly! To think we have been at this for roughly 4,000 years! I wonder if they were any better at keeping resolutions than I’ve been in the past? I am guessing no, and that breaking them wasn’t far behind their initial invention, since that seems to be a trend that is universal as well. Or is it just me? I’m planning for this year to be different, hence the 2026 Writer Goal Post I’ve already put out into the ether.
I also learned that Julius Caesar was the one who developed the Gregorian calendar in 46 B.C. that named January 1st as the first day of the year. The month was named in honor of Janus, the Roman God of new beginnings (among other things). He is depicted with two faces, one to see to the future and one to look to the past. His symbolism seems fitting as we still use this time of year to look back on the challenges and victories of the prior year while looking toward the promise of the new year ahead. However, I tend to vibe more with Hecate who has 3 faces who is maybe a little more present than good ol’ Janus used to be. Being present with those I love continues to be a priority with me and my phone stays in my purse for the most part.
What are the challenges you overcame in 2025? Have you acknowledged how far you have come? What victories did you have, no matter the size? If all you could do was get out of bed and put one foot in front of the other, that counts as well. Here are some things to consider: If you could name one goal for 2026 what would it be? If not a goal… a vibe then. Like Hecate, and based on your past miscalculations (they are never mistakes), what do you need to change in your present to get to the future you envision? And lastly, if resolutions are too overwhelming, try this: If you had to pick just one word as a theme for your goals in 2026, what would it be?
Now, back to the baby, because… who doesn’t love babies? The baby symbolizes rebirth and the Greeks believed that their god of wine, Dionysus, was reborn each New Year. His rebirth symbolized fertility, and a baby would be paraded around in a basket during the celebration in his honor. Fertility and the earth’s ability to provide a good harvest were the focus of most of the celebrations in those days and wine played an important role in that. As a matter of fact, I’m thinking that also never really went away, since wine still plays an important role in many of the celebrations we have today. It also is often included in the equation that results in babies, but we won’t talk about that here… #KeepingitPG for the kiddos.
Some have said that throughout the year the baby ages into Father Time, and that at the end of the year, he turns over his responsibilities to the next baby New Year. I don’t know about you, but time goes fast enough already! That would be the worst job ever! And by the way, it would be nice of Father Time to slow his rolls a little. It seems like he is ticking away the days quicker and quicker each year. I could use a little slow motion in 2026, especially after the last few years we’ve had! How about you?
For all its pomp and celebration, the New Year celebration is about retrospect and looking to the future, and much like the god Janus, we need to continue to do both in order to take the best path for ourselves in the future ahead. If you are a writer who would like to get more accomplished in 2026, I recommend starting the year off with a Goals list and coming back to it at the end of each year. The reflection and planning is invaluable for keeping you on track and you may surprise yourself with what you accomplish.
As I reflect, I am so very grateful for love of my family & friends, the support of my ever-growing network of writer peeps, and to my Muse who provides a continuous flow of stories from my head to my fingertips. I am most grateful that she stuck by me through the most soul-sucking burnout I have ever lived through. Now that I’m ready to chat with her… she won’t keep quiet. I suspect it will be a busy year for us both.
I wish all of you a year filled with Love, Happiness, Health, and Writing. Happy New Year and remember to Embrace the Journey! XO
P.S. While talking about New Year traditions at work a few years back, I learned about the tradition of eating black-eyed peas and cornbread. Found this great article that lists several traditions from around the world that I thought would be fun to share.
https://media.familysearch.org/15-international-family-traditions-for-celebrating-new-years/
For those who would like to learn more historical facts about the day, you can check out this post from History.com!
https://www.history.com/news/new-years-history-festive-facts
Lastly, for anyone interested in what I have in store for 2026, be sure to check out my Year End Wrap-Up post!
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D.A. Henneman - Romance Author 