The start of January 2026 is a time to look ahead, filled with optimism about our hopes, dreams, and ambitions.
My goals for this year are two important things for me to accomplish. One focus is to connect with friends and colleagues, sharing laughter and stories. I understood this when I thought about the friends I had lost to death, particularly during the stretch from November to the year’s start. Hearing the stories shared with me has inspired me to reach out to those who’ve shaped my life, and it pushes me to achieve two specific goals. Even with my health issues, I’m resolved to run this race and accomplish as much as possible while I still have the chance.
During the past year and a half, I have received considerable support from two organizations that have helped me navigate my health challenges. My first goal, which is working with the Collaborative Cancer Care group, is to plan their inaugural event, The Oncologue Project. Our goal is to share stories and amplify the voices of those affected by cancer, offering a space for their narratives to take center stage.
In my role as co-chair, I am tasked with the duty of discovering and creating narratives that encompass the experiences of cancer patients, survivors, and caregivers. My goal is to support people with monologues for presentations and to include their stories in our book.
My second goal is to complete book one of my novel about domestic violence and a woman’s journey to rebuild her life. My editor has been remarkably supportive and gracious, particularly when my health issues caused me to miss deadlines. When my beta readers shared their feedback, expressing dissatisfaction with the ending. By the end of December, after listening to their suggestions and working with my coach, I had completed the rewrites of the last two chapters.
This month, edits are my priority, plus another beta read as I write the synopsis. I expect the final will be with my editor by February. With publication as my ultimate goal, I plan on first finding an agent to represent my work.
It’s a bit ambitious, yet I am resolute in my determination to reach these two goals. I hope you too have goals that will bring you satisfaction this year.
If you want additional information about the Oncologue Forum happening on May 9th, check out the Collaborative Cancer Care website for updates and resources.
Image by Alexander Naumann from Pixabay