How Cliché

A brief reflection of a year in the side-view mirror

I didn’t make any publisher’s list of top favorite posts this year. But that’s ok––it was never my goal. Punching thesend to everyone now tab was challenging enough. Sometimes this selection was tapped with self-confidence, and sometimes a tad too early and careless in editing. But most times there was a hesitant hover trying to second-guess the reader’s reaction resulting in a gentle press like the timid church mouse.

For me, 2025 has been a year of advancement in many areas. But in my practice of writing, I let off the gas, coasted to a slow roll, even coming to a full stop on several occasions. After painstaking soul searching, it boiled down to this phrase “trying to second-guess the reader’s reaction.” I am a self-sabotaging people pleaser looking for approval––how cliché.

There are too many variables to the equation predicting an audience response: personality, mood, a current life situation, worldview, and experience of the reader to second-guess any reaction. (I confess my momentary mood determines my appreciation level of another’s post.)

I’m choosing for this year of 2026 less second-guessing the audience’s reaction. What will be, will be and let the chips fall where they may.

My goals outside of my “cute little hobby” of writing includes learning to play the cello and learning to knit. Both seem monumental. I’ve always played brass instruments and percussion. It’s time to try the strings. I did attempt to knit once in high school and the lessons ended the way my summer-school typing class did––more exciting things to do than sit in a chair. These days I’m perfectly willing to be seated while working with my hands, like tapping the keys on a laptop.

By the time this post goes live, I’m certain I will have talked myself out of both goals: a cello is too big for the house and knitting needles too small for my clumsy hands. Tapping the keys of a laptop is just right!