A Grant Writer’s Honest Start to 2026

I usually love the start of a new year. I’m normally energized, motivated, ready to set goals, and hit the ground running.

However, this year feels different, and not in a shiny, “new beginnings” kind of way. More like I’m walking into January already feeling heavy.

A lot of that has to do with grief. Late last year, my stepdad was diagnosed with terminal cancer, and he isn’t expected to be with us much longer. And this past weekend, my husband’s bird died unexpectedly, adding one more layer of heaviness to a year that already feels fragile.

So this week, I’m heading to Indiana to spend time with my stepdad and mom. There are no big plans, though. We’ll just be sitting on the couch, crocheting, and binge-watching TV together. And honestly, that feels like exactly what’s needed right now.

And while this year is starting out heavier than usual, there are still things I’m looking forward to. For instance, I’ll be traveling to Arizona to visit clients and attend Live & Learn’s annual brunch fundraiser. Later this year, I’ll be going to Manhattan for the first time with my husband and our girlfriend. The three of us are also heading to Vegas in the early fall, and our son turns five in July, which somehow feels like one of the biggest milestones of all. 

Side note: This is the first time I’m sharing this part of my life here, and it feels worth saying plainly: we’re a polyamorous family raising our son together. I’ve always been highly thoughtful about how much of my personal life I share publicly, but as I move into this year with more intention and honesty, it feels like the right time to let that fuller picture be seen.

Because of everything I’m carrying into this year, I’m making a conscious effort to take better care of myself. Not in a “new year, new me” way, but in a very real “be gentle or burn out” way. That means more realistic boundaries, more rest without guilt, and more grace when progress looks slower than I want it to. It also means I set just three business goals this year that are still challenging, but far more realistic than the ones I piled on last year.

In short, I don’t need 2026 to be perfect or impressive. This year, I’m choosing intention over pressure, and if you need permission to do the same, consider this it.