I last posted on December 19.

And yes — this is me being strong enough to start again.

So yes… I kind of disappeared.
Not a dramatic exit. No announcement. Just a quiet poof.

I had big plans to blog more as the year wrapped up. Instead, my body had other ideas — and apparently it’s now running the show.

At 57, post-menopausal, I’m finally accepting a truth I’ve been politely ignoring:
this is not the same body I entered my 50s with.
That body packed light.
This one travels with extra luggage and needs snacks, breaks, and very clear instructions.

This year also came with a few plot twists I didn’t order: discovering I’m gluten intolerant, learning to eat around biliary dyskinesia, and realizing that my digestive system has officially entered its “we do things differently now” era.

Fun times.

Acceptance has been the biggest lesson.
Not the dramatic kind — just the quiet, grown-up kind where you stop arguing with reality and start adjusting your expectations.

Yes, I’ve gained weight.
Yes, losing it is a lot harder now.
And no, yelling at the scale has not helped. (I tried.)

So I’m choosing a new motto:

Strong enough to start again.
And also… strong is the new skinny.

2026 isn’t about chasing a smaller version of myself.
It’s about learning to love this one — the one that’s wiser, more resilient, and still very much capable of adventure.

I want to treat my body with more respect and a lot less criticism.
To move because it feels good.
To eat in ways that support me.
To rest without guilt.

I’m also embracing semi-retirement — which sounds very relaxing until you realize I’m using it to build a life filled with blogging, writing, traveling, and booking trips for friends, family, and the community that’s found its way here.

So… not exactly slowing down.
Just choosing better directions.

Some days I’ll be productive.
Some days I’ll be quiet.
Some days I’ll be strong.
Some days I’ll just be human.

And that all counts.

If you’ve “fallen off” this year, missed a few goals, or feel like you’re starting over — welcome to the club. We meet irregularly and cancel plans often.

Here’s to starting again in 2026.
With humour. With grace. With fewer food rules and better boundaries.

Because strong is enough.
And honestly?