I've got crates upon crates of old writing and journals to go through (since I was 12 years old when I began writing in journals!) and I'm not sure when that will start to occur, but it goes along with your other suggestion of "what would you do if you didn't have to work" in the same way. Reviewing my archives and sorting them, learning from them, and perhaps publishing some of it - that's always on my List.
I did bristle at the "trust the youth"! I completely concur with allowing them to be themselves, and they are creating their own future with their own needs and perspectives (going along with Surrender and Trust in general). I can trust the youth's processes and trajectories, and respect their points of view, without relinquishing my hard-earned wisdom of 50+. Means, I need to trust myself (my Self) first - my embodied history and insights - alongside trusting humanity's foibles and successes no matter the generation. Interesting prompt!
Again returning to "what what you do if basic needs were met," etc. - I feel I am living this way in general. I can always ask myself the question, "If you had all the time and money in the world, where would you go/be and how would you be spending your time?" This is a creative brainstorm to reveal true wants and needs.
For myself, for 2026, I continue this way: writing, contributing, teaching, traveling, resting, playing, self-care and health and exercise, Nature, music, art, reading, loving, relating, sharing, giving thanks - and communing with wonderful thinkers and humans like you, Natalia!
Wow! I had another realization sometime after finishing my comments. I realized that my biggest dream of what I would do if I could do anything (if my needs are met and I don't have to work) is to be able to do nothing and go nowhere.
Hi, Erin! Thank you so much for taking the time to read and reflect. I myself stumble a bit with trusting the youth part. If I am to generelize, I absolutely believe that the youth needs our wisdom; however, since we tend not to trust their wisdom, they don't relate to us and loose touch with us. And on the other side, we also loose touch with our younger selves. The result is that as a society we keep doing same-old-same-old mistakes and discoveries.
As far as already now "doing what I would do if having all the money and time..." that's not always easy for me but being conscious of that is already a lot. It reminds me of the one year sabbatical I took back in my corporate career with a long list of things I would do now that I had time. Well, most of it got undone and my conclusion from that time was that whatever we don't find time for is less of a priority for us. And then again- that does not encompass all of it either... Hence an exploration and experimenation is the way for me...
And love your list, these are the things I think for most of us and yet, the wisdom is in the details...
Natalia, so much to say and hope to add more soon. For now: I love this piece and it truly makes me miss your regular writings. I also appreciate your comments and follow up. Your perspective is valuable to me and I love your examples and reminders.
I would agree with some of your postulates. They look attractive and even philosophical. And I understand people love the philosophy, though it's very abstract to follow. I think your best: looking at the trees. They bring calmness and wisdom. I live among the old trees. They help me.
Accepting the unacceptable. It sounds terrific and biblical. But how can I accept Putin or the owner of the house I recently bought, when I paid $22,000 for the heating of his home, and he and the inspector lied to me that everything was in order with the house? And so on... It is so easy to teach people how to live, but to live real life is much more complex. Happy New Year!
Dear Larisa, thank you for your comment. I hope the year is starting great for you!
As far as your comment, some of these things have been a theory for me at some point in my life. However, right now, I am sharing things that are defining how I live my life right now to a smaller or bigger degree. If they seem theoretical, it is because I did not go to explain in depth how I have arrived at them, who or what has influenced me, how they show up in my life today and why they are defining for me the start of 2026. In a way all my articles relate to the same theme but looking at this article by itself - there is no complete explanation.
To be more specific on your comment, I will follow up with your example of Putin as this is someone most of us can relate to. Including the unacceptable does not mean accepting or agreeing with them. Far from it. It means looking at a situation as a whole. Half of the world seems to support Putin and half of it doesn't. Isn't that interesting to explore? Again, this does not mean agreeing or liking other people's perspectives or Putin's perspective in particular. No! It only means including- including these perspectives when we try to understand the state of the world. Excluding him and everyone who supports him is an act of dehumanizing. It's as if we are saying, you don't exist, your opinion does not matter. Than whatever solution we try to come up with will be the result of a incomplete picture of the world we live in and therefore won't work as a solution.
But mostly, I want to emphasize this paragraph I wrote in the article: "So, how do we live with these messy, contradictory, and never-ending stimuli? I will share my personal refreshed rules for the year ahead and I hope they will provoke you to think what yours are- maybe similar, maybe very different." And also the subtitle: "My personal five guiding principles to sync with the magic that unfolds this year." I am emphasizing this because I don't expect you to agree with me, and I also fully accept that what is lived experience for me might sound theoretical or even unacceptable. But even then, it has the right to be included, to exist. So, thank you for including my article in your readings. I value that and I am grateful!
Oh, I am not as bitter as I sounded! Thank you for asking. And money for me never was so dear as it could appearin mycomment. It's people who use the idealism of others and do wrong, or even criminal deeds, that are the problem. I was too concrete, and you were too generalizing. Sorry. I myself want to feel the magic of this year.
Dear Larisa, thank you again and cheers to the magic here and ahead!
I could not agree more on "people who use the idealism of others and do wrong, or even criminal deeds." That dominates our world a lot. Most of the really bad things are done under the flag of something good that connects with the idealism of people. However, when you look deeper, the people using that flag represent completely different ideals.
Related to that, we need to be careful in idealizing anything because it blinds us and makes us easy to be manipulated.That's where the idea of inclusion (including all) comes in again because an idealization is a type of exclusion in itself allowing the unfolding of the whole process.
If I am to isolate the biggest turning point in my life, this is it. REALIZING THE SHADOWS OF IDEALS! Wow - just mentioning it touches me deeply. I would add that any ideals dehumanize others by denying them the right to exist. And ultimately, they dehumanize us by denyng we are all one at the end. Thank you!
I love all of these, of course the TREES.
I've got crates upon crates of old writing and journals to go through (since I was 12 years old when I began writing in journals!) and I'm not sure when that will start to occur, but it goes along with your other suggestion of "what would you do if you didn't have to work" in the same way. Reviewing my archives and sorting them, learning from them, and perhaps publishing some of it - that's always on my List.
I did bristle at the "trust the youth"! I completely concur with allowing them to be themselves, and they are creating their own future with their own needs and perspectives (going along with Surrender and Trust in general). I can trust the youth's processes and trajectories, and respect their points of view, without relinquishing my hard-earned wisdom of 50+. Means, I need to trust myself (my Self) first - my embodied history and insights - alongside trusting humanity's foibles and successes no matter the generation. Interesting prompt!
Again returning to "what what you do if basic needs were met," etc. - I feel I am living this way in general. I can always ask myself the question, "If you had all the time and money in the world, where would you go/be and how would you be spending your time?" This is a creative brainstorm to reveal true wants and needs.
For myself, for 2026, I continue this way: writing, contributing, teaching, traveling, resting, playing, self-care and health and exercise, Nature, music, art, reading, loving, relating, sharing, giving thanks - and communing with wonderful thinkers and humans like you, Natalia!
Happy 2026!
Wow! I had another realization sometime after finishing my comments. I realized that my biggest dream of what I would do if I could do anything (if my needs are met and I don't have to work) is to be able to do nothing and go nowhere.
Haha!!! Exactly. That is the Ultimate in-sight.
Hi, Erin! Thank you so much for taking the time to read and reflect. I myself stumble a bit with trusting the youth part. If I am to generelize, I absolutely believe that the youth needs our wisdom; however, since we tend not to trust their wisdom, they don't relate to us and loose touch with us. And on the other side, we also loose touch with our younger selves. The result is that as a society we keep doing same-old-same-old mistakes and discoveries.
As far as already now "doing what I would do if having all the money and time..." that's not always easy for me but being conscious of that is already a lot. It reminds me of the one year sabbatical I took back in my corporate career with a long list of things I would do now that I had time. Well, most of it got undone and my conclusion from that time was that whatever we don't find time for is less of a priority for us. And then again- that does not encompass all of it either... Hence an exploration and experimenation is the way for me...
And love your list, these are the things I think for most of us and yet, the wisdom is in the details...
Natalia, so much to say and hope to add more soon. For now: I love this piece and it truly makes me miss your regular writings. I also appreciate your comments and follow up. Your perspective is valuable to me and I love your examples and reminders.
Thank you for "missing my writings." Means a lot and inspires me to do more of it. Grateful for that!
Well said Natalia! I see you gave this article deep inner thought. I particular liked number five. Thanks for the wisdom.
#5 is my personal favorite as well! Thank you and best of luck in 2026!
really!!! Ok thanks for the info.
Beautiful as always Natalia. Thank you!
Thank you, Akhil. Much appreciated! Happy New Year!
I would agree with some of your postulates. They look attractive and even philosophical. And I understand people love the philosophy, though it's very abstract to follow. I think your best: looking at the trees. They bring calmness and wisdom. I live among the old trees. They help me.
Accepting the unacceptable. It sounds terrific and biblical. But how can I accept Putin or the owner of the house I recently bought, when I paid $22,000 for the heating of his home, and he and the inspector lied to me that everything was in order with the house? And so on... It is so easy to teach people how to live, but to live real life is much more complex. Happy New Year!
Dear Larisa, thank you for your comment. I hope the year is starting great for you!
As far as your comment, some of these things have been a theory for me at some point in my life. However, right now, I am sharing things that are defining how I live my life right now to a smaller or bigger degree. If they seem theoretical, it is because I did not go to explain in depth how I have arrived at them, who or what has influenced me, how they show up in my life today and why they are defining for me the start of 2026. In a way all my articles relate to the same theme but looking at this article by itself - there is no complete explanation.
To be more specific on your comment, I will follow up with your example of Putin as this is someone most of us can relate to. Including the unacceptable does not mean accepting or agreeing with them. Far from it. It means looking at a situation as a whole. Half of the world seems to support Putin and half of it doesn't. Isn't that interesting to explore? Again, this does not mean agreeing or liking other people's perspectives or Putin's perspective in particular. No! It only means including- including these perspectives when we try to understand the state of the world. Excluding him and everyone who supports him is an act of dehumanizing. It's as if we are saying, you don't exist, your opinion does not matter. Than whatever solution we try to come up with will be the result of a incomplete picture of the world we live in and therefore won't work as a solution.
But mostly, I want to emphasize this paragraph I wrote in the article: "So, how do we live with these messy, contradictory, and never-ending stimuli? I will share my personal refreshed rules for the year ahead and I hope they will provoke you to think what yours are- maybe similar, maybe very different." And also the subtitle: "My personal five guiding principles to sync with the magic that unfolds this year." I am emphasizing this because I don't expect you to agree with me, and I also fully accept that what is lived experience for me might sound theoretical or even unacceptable. But even then, it has the right to be included, to exist. So, thank you for including my article in your readings. I value that and I am grateful!
Oh, I am not as bitter as I sounded! Thank you for asking. And money for me never was so dear as it could appearin mycomment. It's people who use the idealism of others and do wrong, or even criminal deeds, that are the problem. I was too concrete, and you were too generalizing. Sorry. I myself want to feel the magic of this year.
Dear Larisa, thank you again and cheers to the magic here and ahead!
I could not agree more on "people who use the idealism of others and do wrong, or even criminal deeds." That dominates our world a lot. Most of the really bad things are done under the flag of something good that connects with the idealism of people. However, when you look deeper, the people using that flag represent completely different ideals.
Related to that, we need to be careful in idealizing anything because it blinds us and makes us easy to be manipulated.That's where the idea of inclusion (including all) comes in again because an idealization is a type of exclusion in itself allowing the unfolding of the whole process.
Bravo re: idealization!
If I am to isolate the biggest turning point in my life, this is it. REALIZING THE SHADOWS OF IDEALS! Wow - just mentioning it touches me deeply. I would add that any ideals dehumanize others by denying them the right to exist. And ultimately, they dehumanize us by denyng we are all one at the end. Thank you!
Excellent!!!! Sounds like a fabulous topic for one of your next articles!!!
Thank you for liking my comment, Cari Taylor.