2025 Issue #51

How to Let Go of What No Longer Serves You Before the New Year

From: Nikki Leary I nikki@rootfornew.com

Hi Reader,

Close up of a python's head against a dark background

We've officially reached the in-between.

That quiet stretch between Christmas and New Year's where no one knows what day it is and eating chocolate before 9am somehow feels...acceptable.

This is the week where big projects politely wait their turn, productivity loosens its grip, and our bodies finally get a little of the rest they've been asking for all year.

And it's the perfect moment to reflect on the year.

2025 has been known as the Year of the Snake - a year about releasing what no longer fits.

And I felt that deeply.

Doors closed that I was sure would stay open.
Relationships I assumed were constant, ended.
Plans didn’t unfold on the timeline I had carefully mapped out in my head.

At the time, it felt uncomfortable. Like loss.

But with a little distance and reflection, I can see it more clearly now - it wasn't just loss. It was a shift.

So let me ask you this:
Where did 2025 shift you?
What did you shed this year that wasn’t meant to come with you into 2026?

Before we start talking about next year — goals, intentions, all of it — it’s worth making sure we’re not accidentally carrying something unnecessary forward…

(You know, like that mysterious box of cords that somehow moved from the basement of my old house to the basement of this one. Still unopened. Still unnecessary.)

Here’s what I’m consciously leaving behind in 2025:

I’m shedding the belief that things should happen faster.
I don’t need the quick fix or instant gratification anymore. The things that matter — the ones that actually last — take time to build. Whether it’s my dream of a giant flower garden or my recurring fantasy of baking all our bread while homeschooling, running a business, and farming… this year reminded me that timing isn’t something you can bully into submission.

I’m also shedding the belief that I can plan my way into controlling everything.
I can map things out perfectly… and still get hit with an ice storm.
I can feel ready and excited about an idea to collaborate on a project… and the other person just isn’t there yet.
I can do all the “right” things… and the timing still won’t cooperate.

This year reminded me that planning is useful — but it doesn’t equal control.

What I do control is how I respond when things don’t go as planned.
How much energy I spend pushing versus adjusting. And whether I listen to my body instead of forcing it to keep up with my plans.

So before the calendar flips, I’ll leave you with this:

What are you ready to shed before stepping into 2026?

You don’t need to decide what’s next just yet. Sometimes the most powerful move is simply setting something down.

I'll see you in 2026 with tips on how to make the year amazing!

xo,