A Year Wrapped in Grace and Ease

Happy New Year

On the last day of 2025, I reflect on my year of GRACE AND EASE, my theme for the year. Not knowing (obviously) what the year had in store, I couldn’t have anticipated what a perfect theme it was. It was with grace and ease—sometimes radical, sometimes peaceful, always remarkable—that I sailed through the year, greeting both waves and calm along the way.

As it has been for many, it’s been a challenging year. Not as life-shattering as many are dealing with, but my stomach was often in knots just the same.

And, as you may know from reading my writings this year, my mind has been laden with worry, primarily about my parents’ health. Things are now progressing positively: both my parents are incredibly resilient and full of life spirit!

Even as my family was steeped in angst about my mom’s health and what her next steps would be, we had hilarious moments together in utter snorts of belly laughter. Insider family laugh-track kind of stuff that always makes us laugh.

Ups and downs walk hand in hand, as many seemingly opposing forces often do. Grief and joy. Truth and jest. Time flies as the pace is slow. One can be the overarching tone, as in grief, with inklings or memories of joy sprinkling in.

I lost a beloved aunt this year. My Aunt Sherry was always a light in my life—as she was for all of our family. Hers was the voice in my head that said, “Follow your dreams. Don’t listen to anyone else; keep following your dreams.” I still hear her. My sister and I had the honor of speaking at her memorial. It was in grief that I spoke, but my heart and my words were infused with joy and love, and some humor, because that’s the way Aunt Sherry rolled. And, “grace and ease” was the prayer I whispered before getting up to speak.

“Grace and ease” is the prayer that stayed with me throughout the year. It was comforting to have this foundation I provided myself at the beginning of the year. Truly, a gift that kept on giving.

A moment arose, anxiety knocked on the door, one I knew I had to, wanted to, must answer. Then… I remembered grace and ease.

“Grace and ease” has been my inhale and exhale. It keeps me present, moment to moment, in gratitude for every moment to moment.

Grace and ease walk hand in hand, partners, as well as bookends to begin and end with. They were definitely my bookends this year.

“Grace and ease” is a gentle force to guide self and others, in family unknowns as well as vital creative and life endeavors. Supportive foundation holders.

“Grace and ease” is sacred permission to just be, something that sounds simple, but often we need to be reminded. To just be.

It has been and is a daily resting place for my energy. A prayer and a mantra—whispered in obvious moments and in obscure settings.

Like before swinging a golf club (yes, I did this!). Or when meeting someone interesting and new. Or when settling down to sleep. Or talking to our parents’ medical teams. Or while accepting a new writing assignment, and again while creating, completing, and submitting it to editors. Or while pushing myself outside the comfort zone.

With grace and ease, the flow comes.

It’s the I’ve got this. You’ve got this. We’ve got this.

Grace adds to a higher level of guidance to ease. It’s divinity.

Grace and ease in my creative work feels like WD40 for squeaky, reluctant joints. It’s smooth sailing and graceful soaring.

Ease is forward motion at a graceful pace. And, if a rocket launch happens, ease allows its flow and perfect timing. Grace gives it divine guidance.

“Grace and ease” is the softening of the heart. It’s the gentle breath moving through the body to smooth the edges.

“Grace and ease” offers sweet INNER forgiveness and the permission to just be in the moment.

It is present.

It’s patience.

I felt grace and ease often accompany me in nature and when connecting with animals. It was awe-inspiring. My sister and I swam with the dolphins in Cozumel in September, and that was the most powerful force I felt from their gentle natures: We connected at grace and ease.

The author, with Stella and Athena, in Cozumel.

“Grace and ease” is allowing yourself to feel the breeze on your face, to pause and feel it until your body tingles.

“Grace and ease” is finding the flow inside a sporadic and spontaneous schedule.

Grace and ease. How lovely to have this to call upon and invoke all day, every day.

Grace and ease will forever now be a call from within. It works.

Happy New Year!

A theme for 2026 is unfolding…