Fifty, Seasoned, and Done with Resolutions

Happy 2026 to you all! And yes, of course, as we start a new year, we all do that thing where we look at our lives and say, "What can I do differently or better this year?" If you haven't had that thought, good for you—your life must be more organized than mine!

So here I am, going into a new year, fifty and seasoned, with a whole list of things I want to do, think, see, or just try and tame. I am not a big one on resolutions. I've read that the vast majority of resolutions don't make it past February. If that is true, I am a testament to it!

I've made fitness and weight loss resolutions (always short-lived!). I've made the professional resolutions for a more fulfilling and less chaotic work life (crashed before I ever got off the ground!). I've done the more "me time" and I'll be more empathetic or spiritual (Yeah, can't even remember exactly what those were now!).

So, instead, I started just having intentions. Giving myself some grace to just have a direction, not so specific, but rather a pivot point about something that I actually deal with all year long, not just a thought on New Year's Eve after a few glasses of champagne!

Speaking of, that is one of my intentions this year. I don't know about you, but age and perimenopause/menopause does a number on a woman when she drinks. I started noticing it last year when I mentioned to a colleague, "I can't drink wine like I used to; I get terrible headaches even with a glass." And, I started to notice that what I used to be able to drink was now significantly less or I would quickly feel "out of it."

So for these and other reasons (like my overall health), I am really intending to not drink much at all, not just this year, but going forward. Yes, of course I'll enjoy that glass of wine from time to time, but I just want to see what my life looks like without alcohol too. Even though we rarely admit it, many of us have used alcohol to handle stress or just get a break from everyday woes. I am guilty of that and at times, I did drink too much and beat myself up about it afterwards.

So my intention going forward is to do this for myself - live without alcohol and see how it goes. So far, so good. I did not have more than a glass of wine over the holidays and now I haven't had anything in a few weeks. I can feel the difference. I feel clearer, have better energy and I think my moods are even better. Who knew? Apparently my body did, and it was just waiting for me to listen.

My other intention is to go back to working full-time. I know, you are probably reading this and saying, "What? I thought you put that aside?" You know what, I had. But what has been so wonderful about the past six months is that I have had time to gain perspective, try things out, see what the world looked like when I wasn't working a regular full-time job. And you know what? I miss it. I miss having a dedicated purpose everyday. I miss having work colleagues to talk to and collaborate with. I understand now that this is who I am, no matter what form my work takes. These last six months have taught me to not be afraid, to try and do hard things that make me uncomfortable and to take a chance on myself.

What I also realized is that it doesn't have to be all or nothing. I can be Tracey, the Fifty & Seasoned blogger and recipe designer who has more sass than she should while also being that professional who is impassioned by big challenges to solve and the commitment to working everyday to make the world I am in a better place.

This year has a lot to look forward to. My daughter's wedding is going to be a big thing in our lives and I am so excited about it. But, I am also going to focus on me too, professionally. I am going to find (and secure) that role I am supposed to have where I can bring the talents I have procured all these years back to life.

What are you intending? Make sure to share it with someone so it feels real. That is something I have learned. Saying something out loud makes it much more real and makes you more committed to it. Be proud of who you are—whether that means organizing that closet or traveling the world. Do whatever makes you feel most like you this year!