By Justin Wheeler

On January 1st, 2026 I suddenly fell into an extreme funk. I can’t explain it perfectly, but every once in a while I just lose all motivation and get crushed by the overwhelming weight of life. In this case, the feeling lasted about 12 hours. I stayed in bed for much of the morning, fairly certain I just stared at the ceiling. I dreaded the new year. In my head I have built up the year 2026 to be filled with challenges. 

That feeling is not unfounded, as I have many goals for the year. The Modern Daybreak album is the one I think about most, but that’s mostly a fun creative outlet. We have much work to be done in terms of recording and promotion, so maybe that feels daunting at times. 

I also have on my mind the goal of buying some type of home this year. Gia and I don’t want to rent anymore. We can’t seriously start looking until April, so it’s just a waiting game, building suspense day by day. 

Buying a home comes with quite a bit of financial burden, or so I hear. At the beginning of the year, I was kind of in a gray area with my job and the potential for a promotion. I wouldn’t be able to stay if I didn’t get some sort of significant raise. I love my job and my team because they allow me to use my talents for music and organization in a way that enriches the lives of seniors. I don't want to leave.

These are all great things to look forward to. You can hopefully see why I felt (and still feel) stressed. I forget what snapped me out of the funk. I think it was a funny movie and some food or something. Three weeks into 2026, I certainly feel better than I did on the 1st. We’ve been consistently chipping away at our album every week and I’m happy with the sounds so far. The home hunt is still on hold, so no use worrying over that. However, I did get that promotion, so I started that this week. My new title will put me in more of a fine arts role, empowering my residents to experience arts in meaningful ways. 

I have to remind myself to trust the process. Yes, there is much to do in 2026, but I am surrounded by people who support me in all aspects of life. The necessary things will get done. I feel I’ve curated a nice little life for myself and I’m excited/nervous for the next chapter.