New year, New Balance

The start of a new year always arrives with a strange mix of hope and pressure. There’s something about turning the calendar that makes us pause and take stock—of where we’ve been, what we’ve survived, and what we still dream of becoming. For many of us, the new year feels like a clean slate, even if we know deep down that life doesn’t magically reset at midnight on December 31st.

With the new year come the stereotypical traditions: setting resolutions, promising ourselves we’ll be healthier, more organized, more productive, more everything. Gyms fill up, planners get bought, and words like discipline and consistency suddenly dominate our thoughts. Some resolutions fade by February, but others linger because they’re rooted in something deeper than motivation—they’re tied to purpose.

This year, my resolution is a simple one in theory, but a challenging one in practice: to focus more clearly on my world and what truly matters. I’m attempting to build a new venture, something meaningful that aligns with my values, while also working toward giving my kids what they truly deserve—stability, love, understanding, and opportunity.

As a special educational needs parent carer, life already requires a careful balancing act. There are many roles I carry every single day: parent, advocate, carer, professional, problem-solver, and often emotional anchor. Each role matters, and none of them can be neglected without consequences. Finding the right balance between all of these “professions” is an ongoing challenge, not a destination I’ll ever fully arrive at.

There are days when progress feels slow, when exhaustion outweighs optimism, and when the idea of building something new feels overwhelming. But there are also days filled with small wins—moments of connection, breakthroughs, laughter, and reminders of why I’m doing this in the first place. Those moments matter. They count.

This new year, I’m learning to redefine success. It’s not just about productivity or growth; it’s about sustainability. It’s about creating a life where ambition doesn’t come at the cost of wellbeing, and where caring for others doesn’t mean losing myself in the process. Balance, I’m realizing, doesn’t mean equal time for everything—it means intentional choices, honest boundaries, and self-compassion when things don’t go to plan.

So here’s to the new year—not as a promise of perfection, but as an opportunity to try again. To keep showing up. To build, to care, to grow, and to believe that even small, steady steps forward can lead to something meaningful.

This year, I’m choosing purpose over pressure—and that feels like a resolution worth keeping.

Aml

Chantelle