Tomorrow, we step into the Lunar New Year and the year of the Fire Horse. And I must say it rings a truth deep inside of me of how horses represent courage, freedom and independence that take me back to my childhood.

When I was just about 8, little did we know that a family visit to Missouri would end with us bringing a trailer full of pony’s home with us to California. 5 ponies to be exact. On all of our stops on the way home, my siblings and I would jump out of our station wagon and run back to check on them.

This morning many thoughts and words are churning through my head after the energy that came with last night’s Super Bowl. The music is continuing to ring with the promise that the words in Spanish represented. Most especially the final words on the video board everyone could clearly understand:

Love is more powerful than hate. 

Finding a love story that never fully came to life reminds us that even failed love shapes who we become.

Life doesn’t always go as planned, be it from the storms brought on by weather or other tragedies we experience. The storms can leave us feeling extremely vulnerable, fearful, and highly discouraged. Every major storm has the ability to change us because of the turbulence the storm brings, actually recalibrating the essence of our spirit.

I have mourned the loss of many legends over the years, but none has hit me with the grief like the recent passing of the Bob Weir. Bob known by those of us who loved him simply as Bobby, was a Musician, Songwriter, Collaborator, Founding Member of the Grateful Dead, and Humanitarian to name a few of his accolades.

One aspect of life I decided many years ago was that I would not let the cold of winter get me down. That’s why I decided to start growing flowers indoors. Something I came to realize was much easier, like anything in life when I had the right mindset, geared towards growing flowers.

Think of this time as your roots resting as they reset with new thoughts and ideas. Remember my friend, January isn’t always asking for decisions, or pumping up the to do list, think of this time more about paying attention as you focus on your what you want your ultimate Ta Da’s to be.

If you are reading todays letter you have made it this far into 2025, with only steps away from 2026.

Over the course of the last few weeks, I have been sharing tools that I have found are helpful in embracing the joy in life that is available to each of us, if we choose to embrace the possibilities.

“As the garden restores itself beneath the surface, winter invites us to do the same — nourishing our roots so we’re ready for what wants to grow next.”
— Cheri Ruskus

What are you tolerating in your life from daily little annoyances to perhaps some large issues that are keeping you from true happiness?