We are already a quarter of the way through 2026. In January, my supervisor asked me to share one word that I would take with me into this new year. I chose the word "confidence". From that cold January day until now, I have poured my soul into increasing my confidence. As I reflect on the past 3 months, I realize that the seed of confidence I planted is starting to take root and I can begin to branch out and work on new things.
As we move into the second quarter of 2026, my goal is to work on self-care. Now that I have confidence, I can work on using that confidence to prioritize my life, say "no" to unnecessary things, and let go of what I can't control.Almost a year ago, I moved into to inclusive independent living. During the Summer of 2025, I absolutely flourished. I switched jobs to better meet my independent goals and I was able to work with people with whom I have had trusted relationships with for years. In the Fall, I began working for FTE and slowly transitioned into a full-time position there. Shortly before Spring Break, I committed to working at CEEL on top of my full-time job.
While I work full-time and live independently, Best Buddies also provides a wealth of social opportunities that truly makes the experience inclusive. I typically have some sort of extra activity after CEEL, 3-4 nights a week. I have been burning the candle at both ends, but this new opportunity to work at CEEL has also provided me with more independence.
I''m sure by this point, many of you may be thinking that what I am describing, sure doesn't sound like self-care or saying "no", but wait! After reflecting on the decisions that I have made, there are ways to become more flexible and juggle the various activities I have on any given week. I'm still in the process of determining whether it is better to group things together into marathon days in order to have some "rest days" or spread things out in a balancing act.
Through this process, I am becoming more mindful of what I need at different times of the day (puzzle breaks, dinner in silence, hot baths etc). This process has allowed me to reflect on what is working and areas for growth. It has provided me with the opportunity to reflect on what self-care means to me and what my brain and body need to stay healthy.
Several years ago, I attended a Professional Development training. During this training, we were told to make each day a new day. If one of our student's had a bad day, it was our job to wake up the next morning, with a smile on our face, ready to greet that student as if nothing ever happened. It was not our job to remind that student about what had happened the day prior.
Last week, I was reminded about this strategy in a way that can make my life a little smoother. Last week was awful. There was no one simple reason as to why it was awful, but it was much more so a complex web of things that made me feel like the sky was falling, when nothing earth shattering actually happened.
As I reflect on the self-confidence I have developed, the self-care I need to be a happy, healthy, human, and the lessons I have learned from past professional development opportunities, I have discovered that I have the confidence to let go of the pas, start fresh, and treat myself with some love.
