Welcome back! I hope you’ve missed me as much as I missed you.
The New Year has approached me quicker than I anticipated. Although 2026 is already upon us, I wanted to share the things I would have implemented in 2025 and want to implement in 2026. Before I begin, let us remember that we are human. Mistakes are natural and necessary to teach us valuable lessons about the experiences we endure. Without further ado, let’s begin.
6 Lessons to Maximize Your 2026
Privacy is Power
- If you have a brilliant idea, a new venture you want to take on, or anything of the like, but are unsure if it will work out, keep that information close. I have learned that the more I reveal my future plans, the more pressure I feel to carry them out. Although it is nice to share personal goals, updates, or information with the people close to you, many different responses can pile up and overwhelm you. You are your own diary, with your mouth acting as the key.Â
Saying “I don’t know” is Normal
- It is perfectly okay not to understand or have an answer for everything. It is a part of the learning process. If anything, it is better to reflect on or ask a question to someone with experience in a topic, rather than answering while being informed. Similarly to the previous lesson, there is nothing wrong with changing your mind during a discussion. We are constantly evolving, and not everyone is used to the different versions of you they were previously familiar with. A topic that might be considered “taboo” is changing your mind due to the influence or opinion of someone else. Once again, there is no shame in admitting that. Our minds grow with time, wisdom, and experience.
You Create Yourself
- You are the author of the different genres in your life. You shape yourself, how you think, how you speak, how you look, how you behave. We are not fully formed at the beginning; we have to shape ourselves over time. If you are not satisfied with this current version of you, you hold the power to change it, to recreate yourself in a new way. By letting something fresh into your life, you need to discard something that no longer benefits you. Often, the “one chance” you gave something is confirmation that your happiness lies elsewhere.Â
Not All Relationships Will Last Forever
- As much as it hurts to say, it is possible that the relationships you cherish now might not be with you forever. As Carrie said, “Computers crash, people die, relationships fall apart. The best we can do is breathe, and reboot.” Each relationship in our lives serves a meaningful purpose, even if you do not realize it right now. At some point, your energy may no longer correspond with someone else’s, and you will go your separate ways.Â
Acceptance
- As much as I want to forget my middle school self, she will always be with me, and I should not be ashamed of her. Each version of ourselves is essential in molding who we are today.Â
Trust Your InstinctsÂ
- Your intuition is rarely wrong. If your intuition tells you something, it does so for a reason, and that is worth paying attention to. One “no” is more valuable than a million “yeses”.Â
As you can tell, 2025 has been a rollercoaster for me, but one where I was not afraid to keep my hands up the entire time. I have grown a lot personally and artistically. As always, thank you for reading Manolo Blognik.
With love,
Kierstyn
UIC Department of CommunicationsÂ
Her Campus at UIC, Social Media Team & Editorial Team
Contact Information: kherr23@uic.edu