As 2025 closes its doors, I’m doing a very un-2025 thing. I’m packing up, taking stock, and actually leaving stuff behind. And, I don’t mean my Netflix queue or my collection of weird mugs. I mean the heavy, exhausting, soul-sucking stuff that weighs more than a Manhattan subway rush hour.

First on the list are toxic people. You know the ones who are constantly demanding energy, drama, or validation that you didn’t even know you had in your account. I suppose I value them  like a character in a tragic-comedy, but they’re not coming with me to 2026. They’re staying on the platform while I board my express train.

Second in my list is the infamous savior mentality. Newsflash! I cannot rescue everyone. Nor should I. I’m hanging up my cape, turning off “update notifications” from people whose lives I do not need to orbit. Life is better without constant check-ins that feel like emotional emails with no “unsubscribe” button.

Third on my list and most importantly are bad habits. They’re stubborn, sneaky, and sometimes make me feel nostalgic for the wrong reasons. But 2026 is a blank page, and I’m willing to do the work to swap out the old scripts for better ones. Deep reflection, incremental change, maybe a few tears, but also a little laugh at myself when I stumble.

And yet, as much as I’m leaving behind, I’m not moving forward blindly. I’m returning to my roots which includes the people, places, and parts of myself that feel like home even if they’re a little overgrown or messy. The parts that remind me who I am at the core, the parts that survived the ups and downs, the lessons, and yes, the subway commutes that nearly killed me.

So here’s to 2026! A year of clarity, balance, and deliberate choices. A year of forward movement with roots intact. A year of being both lion and lamb, knowing what to let go, and embracing what truly matters.

Because sometimes growth isn’t about adding more. It’s about leaving the unnecessary behind with grace, wit, and maybe just a touch of sass.