KikiFikar

Stars, Stripes, and Overtime

Daily Prompt 1850

Are you patriotic? What does that word even mean to you?

For me, it has always meant something simple and steady. Something that lives in the quiet corners of memory and shows up in the loudest moments of celebration.

I’ve always loved our Memorial Day parade marching down the main drag of our little town. It was the unofficial start of summer — sunscreen, lawn chairs, neighbors calling out to one another, and the hum of anticipation in the air. We would march each year with different community groups. My very first memory is walking beside my Dad with the Knights of Columbus.

We assembled in the train station parking lot, a sea of familiar faces. Someone handed each of us a small American flag on a wooden stick. I remember gripping mine tightly, the thin stick warm in my hand. We walked through town waving to friends and family, flags fluttering in the May breeze.

I loved holding that flag.

Even as a child, I knew it stood for something bigger than our small town. Bigger than the parade. It stood for sacrifice. For freedom. For possibility. I may not have known all the history yet, but I felt it.

Years later, when our kids were young, we took a trip to Baltimore and boarded the ferry to Fort McHenry. Inside the Visitor’s Center, we watched a film about how The Star-Spangled Banner was written. On September 14, 1814, after a relentless 25-hour British bombardment during the War of 1812, Francis Scott Key looked out and saw the American flag still flying. Inspired, he penned the poem originally titled “Defence of Fort M’Henry.”

As the film ended, the lights dimmed. Slowly — almost reverently — the floor-to-ceiling drapes began to open. And there it was. The largest American flag I had ever seen, stretching upward in breathtaking silence.

We all gasped.

I have never been so moved by our flag as I was in that moment. It wasn’t political. It wasn’t loud. It was simply powerful. A visual reminder that through bombardment — literal and figurative — we are still standing.

And then came this morning.

I walked in from the gym and the house was buzzing. The USA men’s hockey team was tied with Canada and heading into overtime for the Gold Medal in the 2026 Winter Olympics. I dropped my bag and joined the crowd in my own living room. Ten minutes later, Jack Hughes took the shot that sealed it. USA. Gold Medal.

Just like that.

It brought me right back to the 1980 “Miracle on Ice” — that scrappy, determined group of young men who captured gold and our hearts at the 1980 Winter Olympics.

Thirty minutes later, there we were — hands over hearts — singing along with the team as the National Anthem echoed through the arena. Their eyes were glassy. So were ours. They represented our country, and in that moment, they made us all stand a little taller.

So if you ask me whether I’m patriotic?

Yes. I am.

No matter who is in charge. No matter the season. No matter the noise.

For me, patriotism isn’t about perfection. It’s about pride. It’s about remembering where we’ve been, honoring those who stood before us, and believing — always believing — that when the drapes open and the flag is revealed, we will still be here.

Standing. Singing. Waving.

Fine Dining

This morning I read a fabulous post from one of my favorite authors, Tracie (please do yourself a favor and visit Squiggle Line Cafe — she’s wonderful). She wrote about lunchboxes from back in the day and just like that, I was transported.

Until Fourth Grade, I was the proud owner of a tin lunchbox featuring The Bugaloos — yes, that Saturday morning masterpiece brought to us by Sid and Marty Krofft. The lunchbox was embossed on the front in all its psychedelic glory. It had a metal hinge and clasp that could be heard opening from the other end of the cafeteria. There was no such thing as a quiet entrance when you carried The Bugaloos.

Inside sat the matching thermos — either filled with Campbell’s soup in the colder months or lemonade when the sun decided to show off. That lunchbox was more than a container. It was a status symbol. A conversation starter. A piece of personality.

It held a prime seat each day at Central Boulevard Elementary School, where thirty of your closest friends gathered around long tables under fluorescent lighting that did none of us any favors. Before we even took a bite, we would survey the scene. Who had what? Was there a Hostess cupcake in sight? Pretzels? A pudding cup? Occasionally — and I mean occasionally — a coveted trade would take place. Negotiations were swift. Serious. Binding.

And then there were the days when The Bugaloos stayed home at 36 Grant Avenue and I opted for cafeteria cuisine.

Oh, the confidence.

I would waltz right up to the lunch lady in her hairnet as if I had a reservation.

“I’ll have the special.”

Would you like a side salad with dressing, Miss Eastwood?

Why yes. Yes, I would, Mrs. Lunch Lady.

Back then, it felt like a five-star establishment. The round Friday pizza. The mystery-meat Mondays. That iceberg lettuce salad that I can still smell to this day (and not in a good way). But in the moment? It was divine. It was independence. It was grown-up.

Every meal was served on a sturdy melamine tray with tidy compartments — our very own version of a TV dinner. Everything in its place. Orderly. Predictable. Safe.

But nothing — and I mean nothing — compared to what happened when someone dropped their tray.

There was a stainless steel bucket outside the cafeteria doors where you deposited your used tray. Every now and then, someone would misstep. A sneaker would catch. A hand would slip. And down it went.

Crash.

The tray would hit the green tile floor with a dramatic smash, aluminum silverware scattering like confetti. The sound echoed off the walls.

Then came the silence.

Three… maybe four seconds of absolute stillness. A hush so complete you could hear your own heartbeat.

And then—

The eruption.

The entire cafeteria would leap to its feet in thunderous, stadium-worthy applause. The kind reserved for rock stars taking the stage. It was instantaneous and unanimous. A rite of passage. We always felt terrible for the unfortunate soul standing amid the carnage… but the applause? Legendary.

To this day, that memory makes me laugh out loud.

My dining experiences have certainly evolved over the years. I’ve enjoyed meals in beautiful restaurants with linen napkins and candlelight. I’ve tasted cuisine I couldn’t pronounce in cities far from Central Boulevard.

But none of it quite compares to those 42 minutes each school day when food and friendship sat side by side on a plastic tray.

Fine dining, indeed.

Sometimes the best restaurants in the world aren’t the ones with five stars — they’re the ones with fluorescent lights, round pizza, and a standing ovation you never saw coming.

The Governor, Me, and the Ticket

Have you ever unintentionally broken the law?

Many moons ago—back when my calendar was color-coded in highlighter and my car basically ran on Dunkin’ and determination—I served on every PTA board in our school district from 2004 to 2016. Elementary, middle, high school. If there was a bake sale, a budget vote, or a debate about cafeteria pizza, I was there.

It was unpaid. It was exhausting. It was one of the most meaningful seasons of my life.

One sunny afternoon in June, my phone rang. It was our district Superintendent. In that tone that says, This is not about pretzel sales, he explained that the Governor of New York would be coming to our district to sign a newly passed bill. The legislation would reduce the speed limit in front of school buildings to 25 mph and install remote cameras in those zones to track speeding.

Safety first. Children first. All good things.

Then he added, almost casually, that the Governor’s office would like the PTA Council President to deliver a short speech in support of the bill.

That would be me.

I said yes before he could finish the sentence. Of course I did. PTA moms don’t say no. We say, “Sure, what time?”

A few days later I arrived at the school and was escorted behind the stage like I was part of a traveling Broadway show. That’s when I was introduced to Andrew Cuomo.

Let me tell you—what a production. Lights. Cameras. Staffers with earpieces. He was polished, charming, larger than life. If you’ve heard stories, let’s just say… yes. That. All of it.

I delivered my speech. I spoke about protecting our children, about the peace of mind parents deserve, about how slowing down for a few seconds could save a lifetime. The bill was signed. Hands were shaken. Pictures were taken. Pomp. Circumstance. Applause.

And then?

I went back to packing lunches and answering emails.

One week later, I grabbed the mail after work. Bills. Coupons. And then—front and center—a crisp envelope from the Town.

A speeding ticket.

For driving 30 in a 25 mph school zone.

Issued in the neighboring district’s school zone.

There I was. On video. Zipping past the school like I had somewhere far more important to be than my own public platform.

I just stood there staring at it. The irony was almost poetic.

I immediately called my Superintendent and said, “Guess who got the first school zone ticket? Me!”

He burst out laughing. I burst out laughing. To this day, years later, when we talk, we still fall down laughing about it.

For the record, I am probably the most conservative driver on the planet. I brake at yellow lights. I wave pedestrians across like I’m directing traffic at LaGuardia. But that June in 2014?

Public enemy number one.

And here’s what I’ve learned: life has a wicked sense of humor. Just when you’re standing at a podium feeling polished and purposeful, it humbles you with a grainy traffic camera photo.

Sometimes you’re the advocate.

Sometimes you’re the example.

And sometimes—if you’re lucky—you get to be both.

Outside Chaos. Inside Calm.

The alarm rang at 4 a.m.

I crawled down the hall and popped into the shower. We had planned for this. Pre-op appointments. Ice packs in the freezer. Blankets fluffed and ready. I knew it would be a long day, but I was ready.

Ernie was scheduled for shoulder surgery and we needed to be at the hospital by 6 a.m. Two weeks of preparation finally brought us to this morning.

Last month he fell off the top step on the back patio trying to photograph the Northern Lights. No magical sky pictures. Just a busted shoulder that unraveled the hard-earned success of his second rotator cuff surgery ten years ago. Four pins floating around where they most certainly did not belong.

Some days we are crazed squirrels running in opposite directions looking for car keys and favorite hoodies. But today? Today we were a well-oiled machine. Quiet. Efficient. Focused. We walked out the door like a team that had studied the playbook.

The drive was short, but at 5:37 a.m. the world already felt loud. Horns honking. A couple arguing in the parking lot. Headlights cutting through the early morning gray.

I glanced over at Ernie in the passenger seat. He was tense. And that caught me.

He’s a big guy with nerves of steel. A retired Corrections Officer. A Volunteer Firefighter for over forty years. He’s seen things most of us can’t even imagine. The kind of man who runs toward chaos when everyone else runs away. But surgery? Surgery makes you hand over control. And that’s a different kind of bravery.

The hospital doors slid open and then shut behind us. Outside noise muted instantly.

Forms exchanged. ID badges clipped on. A team of nurses swept in and brought Ern back to the OR prep room. Thirty minutes later they came for me. The anesthesiologist arrived. More forms. More signatures. Finally the doctor walked in — our orthopedist for years now. We’re on a first-name basis. Not exactly a club you want to belong to, but here we are.

Then the nurses walked me back out.

Time to wait.

If there’s one thing I do well, it’s observe. I am a fierce people watcher. I talk to everyone. I listen with my whole body. And as I sat there, here’s what I saw:

Deep compassion.

Outside chaos.

Inside calm.

Every person within those walls moved with purpose but never with panic. They smiled. They touched arms gently while speaking. They made steady eye contact. No rushed glances at phones. No distracted nods. Just honest-to-goodness human interaction.

It struck me.

In a place where fear quietly sits in every chair, kindness becomes oxygen.

No one raised their voice. No one rolled their eyes. They explained things twice. They reassured. They paused. They looked you in the face like you mattered — because you did.

And it made me think — we are capable of this everywhere.

Not just in hospitals. Not just when something is broken. Not just when we are scared.

We can choose calm over chaos.

Connection over confrontation.

Kindness over noise.

Ernie was wheeled back hours later — groggy, stitched, repaired. The surgeon said it went well. Four renegade pins handled. Shoulder rebuilt again.

As we drove home, the morning felt different than it had at 5:37 a.m. Still traffic. Still horns. Still people rushing.

But inside our car?

Calm.

Sometimes healing isn’t just what happens in the operating room. Sometimes it’s what happens in the waiting room. In the quiet moments when strangers show up with compassion and remind you that humanity is still very much intact.

And maybe that’s the solid takeaway.

When the world feels loud, be the hospital hallway.

Be the steady hand.

Be the calm inside someone else’s chaos.

Because kindness — real, eye-contact, hand-on-the-arm kindness — might just be the strongest medicine we have.

The Junior Mint Moment

What’s your favorite candy?

There are certain candies that don’t just taste sweet—they mean something. They carry memories. Moments. A time stamp on your life. For me, that candy is the Junior Mint.

Chocolate on the outside. Cool mint on the inside. A perfect balance of rich and refreshing. Not loud. Not flashy. Just quietly confident. The kind of candy that doesn’t need to shout to be remembered.

I don’t remember the first Junior Mint I ever had, but I do remember how it made me feel. Like a pause button. Like things were okay, even if just for a minute. There’s something about mint that clears your head while chocolate comforts your soul.

And then there’s Seinfeld.

If you’re a fan, you already know the episode. If you’re not, let me paint the picture. A routine medical procedure. A quiet operating room. And Jerry and Kramer watching from above, snacking on Junior Mints. One slips. It falls. Directly into the patient.

Cue panic. Cue guilt. Cue laughter.

Only on Seinfeld could a piece of candy become a medical plot twist. And somehow—miraculously—the patient improves. The Junior Mint, against all odds, becomes a hero. Not bad for a candy that usually lives at the bottom of a movie theater box.

That episode sealed it for me. Junior Mints weren’t just candy anymore. They were cultural icons. They had range. They had depth. They had a storyline.

But maybe that’s why I love them so much.

Life is a lot like that episode. We’re all sitting in the observation deck, thinking we’re just passing time, tossing candy into our mouths, when suddenly something slips. A word. A decision. A moment we didn’t think through. And it drops right into the middle of something important.

We assume the worst.

But every now and then, that unexpected drop-in doesn’t ruin things. Sometimes it makes things better. Sometimes the mistake heals instead of harms. Sometimes the Junior Mint saves the day.

So yes, I love Junior Mints because they taste good. Because they remind me of movie theaters and sharing a box with someone I love. Because mint and chocolate are better together than they ever were apart.

But mostly, I love them because they remind me that life doesn’t always go according to plan—and that doesn’t mean it’s going wrong.

Sometimes, the thing you never meant to drop ends up being exactly what was needed.

I Like to Say a Prayer and Drink To World Peace”

Albert Einstein famously said that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again while expecting a different result. I don’t know about you, but I am absolutely guilty of this every so often. I get stuck in a familiar loop, convincing myself, this has to work this time. Same effort. Same approach. Same outcome.

Today is February 2nd — Groundhog Day. The day we collectively wait to see whether a groundhog (most famously Punxsutawney Phil) sees his shadow. Shadow means six more weeks of winter. No shadow means an early spring. This blonde only realized a few years ago that spring technically arrives in six weeks anyway… but traditions are traditions, and here we are.

While it’s not an official holiday, February 2nd gave us a gift back in 1993: the movie Groundhog Day, starring Bill Murray as Phil Connors, a cynical local weatherman sent to cover the festivities in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. A snowstorm traps Phil and his crew overnight — except Phil doesn’t just spend the night. He ends up reliving the same 24 hours over and over again.

I won’t recount the entire movie here (though I could — it’s firmly in my top five cinematic picks), but what I will say is this: the film is a master class in what happens when we stay the same.

Phil wakes up every morning at 6:00 a.m. to Sonny & Cher’s I’ve Got You Babe. At first, he repeats every move from the day before. Then he starts experimenting. Each new morning becomes a chance to change things — indulgence, arrogance, charm, cruelty, excess. He tries being outrageously rude. He tries being wildly self-serving. He tries manipulating outcomes. Yet no matter what he does — good or bad — the result never changes. He is stuck. Eternally.

As the story unfolds, Phil falls in love with his producer, Rita. Day after day, he learns her likes, her quirks, her values. In one scene, he orders her exact cocktail — knowledge gained from countless previous days — and offers a toast: “I like to say a prayer and drink to world peace.” Rita is stunned by the synchronicity. It feels magical. Meant to be.

But the magic doesn’t actually come from knowing the script. It comes later.

It isn’t until Phil stops trying to control the outcome — stops performing, manipulating, repeating — and starts genuinely changing himself that time finally moves forward. He learns. He gives. He becomes kind without expecting anything in return. He learns to love Rita, yes — but more importantly, he learns to love who he is becoming.

And only then does the alarm clock change. Only then does February 3rd arrive.

That’s the quiet truth hidden inside Groundhog Day: nothing changes unless you change. Not the day. Not the season. Not the outcome. We can wake up to the same song every morning and swear this time will be different — but until we do something differently, until we choose growth over habit, awareness over autopilot, we’ll keep living the same day.

Sometimes the shadow isn’t cast by a groundhog at all. Sometimes it’s our own unwillingness to change.

🟤🟤🟤🟤🟤🟤🟤🟤🟤🟤🟤🟤🟤🟤🟤🟤🟤🟤

Copyright 2026 © mobileorderforkaren All rights reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author, except in the case of brief quotations used in critical reviews or scholarly work. This work is protected under domestic and international copyright laws. Unauthorized use or reproduction of this material is strictly prohibited and may result in legal action.

Drop Back and Punt

It’s easy for any one of us to get caught up in the thick of things. A conversation. A situation at work. Bad news. Or sometimes, oddly enough, a string of good things happening too fast. Life gains momentum and suddenly we’re sprinting without realizing we’ve lost our footing. Before we know it, we’re stuck in a full-blown Lather. Rinse. Repeat. loop—reacting instead of responding, running plays that aren’t getting us anywhere.

I was having a conversation with my son yesterday when I could see his mood starting to tilt toward that familiar cliff of anxiety. His words came faster. His breathing shortened. I could almost hear his heart racing ahead of him. As expected, his voice began to rise. I remember thinking, Well, that escalated quickly.

And then—clear as day—I heard my father.

“Drop back and punt, Karen Anne.”

Now, I don’t know if it was my dad’s presence slipping quietly into the room—he left us two years ago yesterday—or just one of those instinctual mother moments where memory and muscle reflex collide. Either way, there it was. One of his Spitballs of Knowledge, perfectly timed.

My dad was famous for them. He had a deep bullpen of phrases and adages he rotated through our lives, always uncannily tailored to the exact moment we were in. “Drop Back and Punt” was a big one. We watched the New York Giants with him every Sunday from the time I was… three? Four? Football wasn’t just a game in our house—it was a language. We knew the plays, the rhythm, the patience required when a drive wasn’t going your way.

To my dad, “Drop Back and Punt” literally meant this: stop. Take two or three steps back—no more, that’s all the NFL allows—and punt the ball. Give yourself space. Reassess. Change the angle. Clear the field so you can regroup and move forward with intention instead of force.

That message—along with so many others—carried us through some pretty wacky moments, and some very serious ones too. It showed up in boardrooms, family kitchens, hospital waiting rooms, and long car rides where the answers weren’t obvious yet.

Yesterday, my son took that golden nugget from his grandfather and ran with it. He slowed his breathing. His shoulders dropped. The field opened up. Calmness replaced chaos.

And in that moment, I realized something: maybe my dad never really left the game. Maybe he just moved upstairs to the coaching booth. Quietly calling plays. Stepping in as Offensive Coordinator exactly when we need him. Reminding us that not every moment is meant to be charged ahead—sometimes the smartest move is to drop back, punt, and trust that there’s another drive coming.

🏈🏈🏈🏈🏈🏈🏈🏈🏈🏈🏈🏈🏈🏈🏈🏈🏈🏈

Copyright 2026 © mobileorderforkaren All rights reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author, except in the case of brief quotations used in critical reviews or scholarly work. This work is protected under domestic and international copyright laws. Unauthorized use or reproduction of this material is strictly prohibited and may result in legal action.

You ARE Enough

I entered the parking lot of Shop Rite at 1:43 p.m. on a Sunday afternoon knowing full well I was in for a hectic shopping experience. It was the day before Passover and people were driving like crazed lunatics trying to grab the last parking spot. It was like a modern day version of “Musical Chairs”. I knew if the parking lot was like this that inside the store would be pure chaos. Armed for battle with my reusable TJ Maxx turquoise/paisley bag and the determination of an army I followed the crowd through the front door.

My first encounter with a small mob of people was exactly what I expected. Arguments over who reached the banana display first with their cart. I was able to escape the “I was first” melee that was brewing and ducked down Aisle 2 in Health and Beauty. People were flying past me, some shouting into their phones while others texted and rammed their carts into me because they were swallowed up in thought.

Trying to enter and exit each aisle was ultra challenging in that you needed to jockey for position into a lane and pull yourself around all while I tried to keep my poker face in check so I didn’t let my “I am starting to lose it” look appear. The truth was I was starting to lose it. I was trying to keep it in check and not let things create a tidal wave that would wash over me.

After successfully completing my supermarket scavenger hunt as I like to call it, I tried to find the check out line which I knew would be not only long but filled with complaints from people who just like to complain to anyone who will listen.

I settled into the line at Aisle 12. Behind me was a woman with a cart overflowing with groceries. She was on the phone with her mother reviewing what was needed for Passover dinner. Her voice got more and more frantic as she talked. There was silence when she hung up. That’s when I felt a tap on my shoulder. I turned around and she said “Excuse me but I would love to take a picture of your hoodie.” I must of looked at her funny because I forgot what I was wearing. Recently I discovered an ad campaign on Instagram that introduced me to a hoodie that said “You are enough” and on the back “Dear person behind me, the world is a better place with you in it…Love, the person in front of you.” When I looked back she had tears in her eyes. This launched a convo that really made me dig deep all while passing Tide laundry pods and Gain fabric softener (which by the way is on sale this week). We chatted about all the negativity in the world and letting life take you over. I said I forget to reset and remember who I am. I’m guilty of it in major ways some days and before you know it, you’re on a monster line in a supermarket trying to remember your own name. We reached the register line and she introduced herself and said thank you for making me smile today. I wished her a happy holiday and we left to carry on with our Sunday lives.

I took the long way home and started to think about the conversation. I get caught up in my life, my crushing insecurities, and the day to day events. This forms a wall built by bricks of low self esteem. If I keep myself on this hamster wheel fueled by daily tasks, I can hit top speeds and start to spiral out of control. My mind won’t shut off. By day three of any given week I’m a mess. I compare myself to everything and everyone instead of remembering who I am. Who I am at the core is how I’ve arrived at this place at Level 58 in life. I may not be where I thought I would be but the truth is – are any of us there? Sure, I still need to take on life’s daily tasks but every once in a while I need to step back and remember that it’s not a race. I certainly don’t have to be first (I never am and that is ok). I struggle with this deeply.

Next time you are waiting in line and the frenzied, overwhelming feeling starts to bubble up from your toes, remember that the world really is a better place with you in it. The alternative notion of leaving early is not a thought. It’s hard work but we have to try. Please know you ARE enough.

Originally released April 2024

We’re All In This Together

Twenty years ago, these words took up permanent residence in my head. They moved in, unpacked, and never left.

We’re all in this together

Once we know

That we are

We’re all stars…

You know the rest. Of course you do. Because once Troy Bolton and Gabriella Montez locked eyes at a ski resort on New Year’s Eve, none of us were ever quite the same again.

It was a modern-day Grease—two teenagers from opposite ends of the high school social spectrum, finding each other despite sports jerseys and brainiac reputations. Only this time, it came with Disney polish, catchy choreography, and songs that burrowed into your soul and refused to be evicted.

High School Musical premiered on January 20, 2006, and just like that, it became part of our family fabric. We didn’t just watch it—we lived it. We bought everything. Blankets. Sweatshirts. Bedding. Somewhere deep in the basement (next to the holiday decorations and the forgotten treadmill) lives the Barbie-condo-style East High, complete with every doll and character from every possible scene. Proof that at one point in time, this movie ruled our world.

There were trips to Disney, of course. And yes, I once found myself in the middle of a flash mob at Hollywood Studios, dancing to We’re All In This Together with confidence that can only come from secretly learning the choreography on YouTube. I surprised the kids after a very fun lunch, arms flailing, heart full. I also quietly began setting money aside in case they ever needed behavioral therapy to process that memory. Parenting is about balance.

So here’s a heartfelt shoutout to Disney—for creating a world that wasn’t just for kids, but for us. The Disney Channel. The stars. The concerts. The magic. It gave us permission to dance in our living rooms, sing in our cars, and connect with our children in a way that felt joyful and effortless. Those moments mattered. They still do.

Today, while I was at work, the family group text exploded.

Madre! It’s today! HSM 20th Anniversary!

And suddenly, twenty years disappeared. I could see the blankets, hear the music, feel the energy of a time when togetherness looked like sitting side by side on the couch, singing at the top of our lungs, believing—if only for a moment—that dreams really do come true when we stand hand in hand.

Because some songs don’t just mark an era.

They mark a family.

And no matter how much time passes, we really are still all in this together.

Backspace…Backspace…Backspace.

As writers, we are forever editing. We add, enhance, delete—or sometimes, in my case, crumble up the paper and start all over again. When I’m writing on a computer or tablet, I’ll find myself cruising along at a good clip. Then I stop to collect my thoughts. Change that—backspace… backspace… backspace. Insert new words. Resume.

Some of the changes I make are dramatic. Others are so minuscule they’d go unnoticed by anyone else. But I know the difference. I never hit publish until I feel that all of me is standing behind my message. Some may call this perfectionism. My family calls it OCD. Either way, it’s my personal policy: nothing gets released into the writer’s universe unless it truly sounds like me.

Changes.

It’s a new year, and almost everyone is armed with resolutions—whether you call them goals, intentions, or improvements. Maybe you frame it as an enhancement, but it’s still a decision to do something differently. This year, I thought: why not make it a year of rephrasing? A tweak. A shift. A new approach. Still a change, just a subtler one.

In the middle of my class at the gym this morning, I glanced down at my heart rate as I pushed hard on the Assault Bike. My watch flashed 166—solidly in the orange zone. I rolled my eyes and muttered under my breath, “I’m too old for this effing %^+# sh*t. And yet I’ll be back here at 9 a.m. tomorrow.”

Backspace. Backspace. Backspace.

“I get to be back here tomorrow at 9 a.m.”

New spin. Reframing things will serve me far better. Yes, I’m older—but I’m still doing this six days a week, and I feel damn good. That matters.

I don’t have to do anything. I get to do everything. And for the next 348 days, when things feel heavy or rough or just plain exhausting, I’ll pause, reconsider, and edit accordingly. Because sometimes the most powerful change we can make isn’t rewriting the story at all—it’s simply knowing when to hit backspace and choose better words to keep going.