Happy New Year! My dad said 2026 is going to be the best one yet so I’m leaning into that. Let’s make it so in whatever way “best” is for you.
I had a “check your privilege” moment when opening presents this year. My mom bought my daughter and I aprons. When I held mine up, I remarked how it was short…and asked if this was supposed to be for Julianna, not me.
The punch in the gut came when my mom said she bought it from a wheelchair-bound woman at a craft fair—who shared that typical adult aprons are too long for her and that’s why she started sewing her own aprons.
Have you had one of those moments? Maybe one that’s stuck with you for a while and changed your perspective or approach? I’d love to hear it!
Those are GREAT moments…to learn, grow, and do better next time. Progress, not perfection.
P.S. This month’s image is a mural from downtown Raleigh, NC!
Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.
Resources & Ways to Take Action
Combining this section to keep it tighter. A bit all over the place this month, and I’d also recommend taking time to volunteer on MLK Day, Monday, January 19th. Volunteer, give back, and make it a day on, not off.
Forbes shared some nuggets of hope—billionaires giving to HBCUs, including MacKenzie Scott using her privilege (wealth, white) for good!
“Grandpa Diaries” by James Finck is inspiring:
“But if you find yourself angry about what’s going on in the world, and you can’t answer those questions [about making the world better], then you’re not helping. You’re just getting angry.”
Marta Bralic Kerns raised $92 million to advance women’s health, and my hope is that it also eliminates the disparities in Black women’s health, too.
Melinda French Gates is also investing in women’s health.
The Canary Code (again)! It’s so good—a favorite sentence, “Long before she knew she was gifted with an ADHD brain…” GIFTED with an ADHD brain, beautiful!!
Earlier this month, a reader shared this fantastic video:
Cornelius Eady’s remarks and poem at Zohran Mamdani’s NYC Mayoral Inauguration
Quote of the Month
From his poem delivered at Zohran Mamdani’s NYC Mayoral Inauguration…
You have to imagine that space they said wasn’t yours. That time they said you’d never own.
