Today is New Year’s Day. By chance, I also posted here most recently on Christmas Day. Does my holiday timing forecast a propitious 2026? Only time will tell.
Regardless, my dreams are modest. In fact, these days I’d be satisfied maintaining a status quo of sorts.
Importantly, my 2026 status quo will no longer include practicing law (except for certain pro bono matters), as I am now officially on voluntary inactive status, effective today. This new professional designation marks the culmination of a long process that began, if I am to be honest, on the day Lee died. (In contrast, the law firm where I worked has wasted no time notifying me that my dental insurance is not going to be renewed for 2026.)
I don’t accept I’m washed up; I’d like to think I still have more to give.
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For example, in 2026, I plan to continue writing. Reading, also.
This past holiday season, Robyn asked me to share my current list of new titles, and I was pleased to receive two of them as gifts. My first new read of 2026 is a thick biography of Francis Crick. It’s still too early to tell, but so far, despite its girth, I’ve found the book to be a quick read about the life and work of an interesting and important scientific figure. As for my second book, one review recommends this history about post-WWI Germany because it contains lessons about the present. I’ll look forward to starting it once I’m done with “Crick,” unless something else strikes my fancy before then.
Of course, in 2026, I vow to keep up my physical activity. Science indicates that strength training and movement exercises are increasingly important for an aging gentleman like me. The truth is, I often find these so tedious that it can be a chore to summon the gumption to get off my duff.
Hardly a surprise. After all, it is widely recognized that New Year’s resolutions involving diets and exercise are destined to be broken, even when one’s intentions are pure.
It’s tough work to resist my natural tendency toward sloth; fortunately, over many years, I have developed a habit of regular exercise. Particularly, I still greatly enjoy playing games, including racquetball and pickleball. I look forward to playing pickleball in the sunshine almost every day once I start my annual visit to Arizona, beginning later in the month.
On a related issue involving health, I’d swear that my treatment for sciatica might finally be paying slight dividends. However, after so much time and effort, I am reluctant to say something positive out of concern that I will jinx myself. If I am right, maybe I can look forward to occasional hikes in the desert or mountains that surround Tucson. Until then, I’ll be keeping my fingers crossed.
Finally, during the coming year, I don’t expect any dramatic changes in my romance with Robyn. 2026 marks our fifth year together. We’re not only getting older but also getting better.
As I say, modest goals. When I look ahead to a new year, I feel confident the more things change, the more they will stay the same. And that’s fine with me.
