Dear Reader,

How are you?

What would you do if you weren’t afraid? This is the title of a book by Michal Oshman. I want to share a quote from her book:

”Accepting the fact that you can’t fully control your life - relationships, career, health, ageing - is one of the greatest ways to manage fear”.

Life is full of opportunities to be afraid, and as the New Year approaches, ask yourself: Are you fearful of what it brings? Or are you anticipating, hoping with all hope that you can quickly and quietly leave 2025 and its problems behind?

Here's the thing though, wherever you go and whatever day it is, there you are. So why not start now? What do you need to change today that you’re hoping will change in a few days or weeks? Whether you set goals or you simply resolve to do and be better in 2026, here are a few tips that can help you to start now:

Write out your dreams, desires, and yes, your frustrations: Grab your notebook or journal and develop a habit to write every day. You will soon find that giving your thoughts a place to live rather than swirling around in your head will lighten the feeling of overwhelm.
Create a vision board: Whether your dream is for you or your children, create visuals of what you want to happen in the future. Cut out photos or draw a picture of what that looks like for you and put it on the fridge or bathroom door - some place where you’ll see it regularly. For example, before I started SoloMoms! Talk, I had large PostIt! Notes on the wall between my bedroom and my bathroom. I wrote out what I wanted the show to be for single moms and added photos of those dreams.
Start to believe: That trip you want to take, or that business you want to start or that husband you desire, is not a fallacy. Believe it can happen. Practice doing #1 & #2 often. Also, prepare your heart and mind for the dream to come true. For example, if you desire to start a business, think about what skills and resources you’ll need to start. Don’t just focus on the finances. Be courageous. Dream big. And believe it can happen for you.

Wrapping up, I want to say how grateful I am to have you in my life. I may not have met you, but I feel a kinship with you. I pray that all your dreams come true, starting today. I thank God and pray that He will keep you whole and safe going forward and that no matter what lies ahead, you will always have the courage to believe.

Happy New Year,

J. Rosemarie Francis
P.S. If you want to go deeper into these themes of emotional healing, I’ve put my heart into "Courage To Believe: 21 Day Devotional For Single Moms." It's now available in easy to read and affordable in Kindle as well as a beautiful paperback version. You can find both here.

“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

~ Isaiah 41:10 (NIV)

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