MAKING MY PEACE … with gaining ground in 2026
A Meditation for 2026
Today I sat in meditation, slowing my breath, imagining what 2026 will mean for me.
In my mind, I walked along the coastline and waded into the ocean. A manatee drifted through the warm water: large, gentle, unhurried. It brought me the message that kindness and slowness is strength. A giant turtle swam into view, waiting for dusk to move to shore to lay her eggs. Both creatures move unrushed and serenely through life.
The scene changed. I returned to stillness, effortlessly hiking a mountain path at dusk, high enough that the world below had blurred into the misty distance. The path was ancient and steady. It held many footsteps before mine and will hold many after. Above me, a small fire burned, not blazed. It warmed without consuming and illuminated without blinding. This was the way of the wanderer or the exile.
The sky deepened into indigo. The last red of sunset lingered, not bright, but grounding. The fire cast moving shadows on the mountain stone. The path ahead was visible — but only just. Only what I needed to see. I heard the soft crackle of fire, and wind passing lightly across the rock. Somewhere far below, I heard unseen water. The air smelled of wood smoke and there was a faint scent of dry mountain herbs and oakmoss underfoot.
I tasted something subtle in the air: iron and smoke. The ground was firm beneath. I felt independent, not abandoned. Alone, but not lonely. This was a place to pause, enjoy the fresh air, and think about nature. The Wanderer walks lightly, respects the ground she stands on, and carries only what is essential. And the mountain, in return, offers steadiness and support, though not direction.
In my meditation, as night approaches, I know I will move on. Not in fear. Not in haste. I am not lost. I am in between. Between the top of the mountain and the sea below. When the mist clears, I have a distant view of the horizon before the sun goes down. I absorb the beauty, turn towards home, and return to the shelter of the shack on the lower slope.
Throughout my meditation among all images, I see red. The red of life force. The red of courage that lives in the mind, and of creativity that warms without burning.
As I step into 2026, I do so slowly, attentively, creatively, with stillness as my guide, and the dignity of the Wanderer as companion.
In 2026, I will not just be gaining ground. I will be embracing the year as an unfolding adventure, where every small step forward contributes to a greater story of growth, resilience, and triumph.
***
Making my peace with gaining ground in 2026, I will do the following:
- Let go of, and learn from, the challenges of 2025
- Focus on steady, patient movement forward and upward, with purpose
- Include moments to breath and contemplate the view
- Travel somewhere: new and unknown, familiar and welcoming, and near or far
- Maintain the warmth of a red fire, a red dress, a red life force
- Nurture my creativity and artistic expression
- Experience more walking meditations along coastlines and the rolling hills of nature, no matter how long the route
***
Rainy Day Healing blogs: “This kind of quiet, honest reflection is exactly what makes Rainy Day Healing such a special space.” Chaz. T., USA
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Map your way back to tranquility. Map emotional geography in real life. Feel the benefits of restorative spaces. If you have a notebook, blank paper, pencils, crayons or highlighters, and optional stickers and sticky notes, you can begin. You don’t have to wait for peace to find you. You can find it, design it, and return to it anytime. You can design the tranquility you want to feel.
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