Holding Hope: a New Year's Resolution

"Genesis" oil by Steve Fabian

by Jane Stahl

And so, we begin another year. Another chance to get our lives in order. To finally lose the extra pounds, exercise daily to strengthen our core, empty our closets of nonessential items, try out all the vegan recipes we keep sharing on our FB feed. 

And yet, just thinking about those resolutions is depressing. I know none are gonna happen! And I'm sure I'm not alone in believing that the better part of wisdom is to skip making resolutions and--for sure--not make them public!

Yet, we hope. We hope that all the crazy things that happened in 2025 are behind us. And we hope that we can easily handle whatever challenges 2026 presents.

It's been a tough year in many arenas; I'm sure the anxiety and disappointments along with a creeping sense of  powerlessness and despair that I've experienced throughout the year are shared by many. And while I sometimes circle the drain, poised to deep dive into depression thinking of all the things that didn't go right all year, there seems to come what some call "glimmers" --those tiny moments of joy that cannot be ignored and inspire hope for better times. 

Just yesterday, late afternoon, I received notice of a generous grant award for Studio B Art Gallery from one of my favorite families--the James K. and Nancy Lang Boyer Family Fund. The notice serves to remind me that the studio can survive troubling economic times through the support of those who share our mission. And, more personally, a few hours before 2025 ended, a student I'd coached many years ago, a highly accomplished "dynamo," named me as the one woman in her life who had made the biggest impact. What lovely surprises--some giant glimmers--came to me that I couldn't ignore just as the year was quickly winding down!

My anxiety and disappointment, along with feelings of powerlessness and despair, snuck away at the timely arrival of these joyful moments. And I am reminded of practices I've resolved to master: to let go of negative feelings that surface, remembering that feelings don't solve problems. Instead, to accept what is; there's no point in wishing things were different. I must work with what's in front of me. Third, to remember that others' unhappiness belongs to them. I'm in charge of only myself.

Fourth: to trust in timing. This is a big one. The adage that sometimes when one door closes, a window opens to something unimagined and better for me. I need to be patient. The gifts I received  brought joy I didn't expect and  inspire my hope.

And so, to our readers: "Happy New Year!" May the glimmers light up every day of 2026!  Don't forget to look for them! 

More News from Boyertown

• Building a Better Boyertown receives $150,000 to acquire land in Colebrookdale Township. Building a Better Boyertown receives financing for land to create the Iron Valley Trail connecting Boyertown to the Schuylkill River Trail.
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