New Year, Same Me - And I'm fine with that
So it’s 2025 now I guess. Who knows what’s in store in the coming weeks. What I can say is that having a new year is something I always like because while we don’t actually get to start off fresh with everything, we have a solid date that we can mark where we are in life and see how we progress.
Life is progress, even if it’s just in surviving another season. There’s a lot to be said for making it through bumpy times or not giving into the despair that could easily envelop us. With kids growing and work happening and a hard freeze on the way, just being able to keep going feels good. We have lots of exciting things coming our way and I know we’re going to appreciate the distraction of it all.
In todays’ newsletter I’m sharing my current life goals, what’s new on the blogs (so much in the last two weeks!), what we have happening in the Taylor household, and my thoughts on the current state of our country. Thank you for taking the time to peek into my world and be a sounding board for what fills my mind daily.
Updates below include links to new articles on 2TravelDads.com, MyAlohaTrip.com and TheKeysExplored.com. I hope you’ll check out our sites to see the full scope of what’s new and what’s keeping us excited for travel!
New Years Goals
I can see what I’ve accomplished and what I hope to accomplish, and instead of making resolutions, I have set some goals and picked some milestones I want to hit.
I asked some friends about New Year/New You stuff and I got such a mix of responses from people. Some folks are really into the whole thing and literally are rockstars at executing their life changes and goals, and some people got really honest and shared how goal setting feels like proactive failure. I get it on both views. So for me, here’s what I’m working on.
saying yes when the kids want to do something with me, even if it’s a boardgame (if you know me you know this is a hard thing to commit to)
actually doing stuff with my wildlife photography, even if it’s just sharing in on Instagram
clearing out all of my writing drafts - this doesn’t mean publishing everything, but either fishing or cutting bait
saying no to work things that are either not aligned with US or from people that are users - yes, there are people in my happy world of writing and blogging that aren’t awesome
to paint and draw more, and to become more physically fit (no goal or number to reach for any of that)
I feel like these are all things that will make mine and our lives better in some way and that I don’t know that I’ll be able to fail at. I might not hit the mark on each goal each day, but it’s a marathon, not a sprint. And no, I’m not going to train for a marathon THIS YEAR.
What’s New with Travel Writing
It’s so hard to work on 2TravelDads.com when I have other projects that really get me jazzed. 2TravelDads is my baby and I’m now in my 11th year with it, but TheKeysExplored.com and MyAlohaTrip.com are so much fun to work on! It’s difficult to focus on my site that pays the bills when I can write detailed articles about specific snorkeling spots and kayaking haunts. Maybe that should be one of my resolutions: feed the beast that pays the bills.
BUT I love what I’ve been creating, so here’s what’s new!:
Horizon Divers Key Largo, Danger Charters Key West (sail/kayak/snorkel trip), Starfish Adventure Catamaran, Honest Eco Key West
Waimea Canyon on Kauai, Iao Valley State Park on Maui, Hiking the Hualalai Volcano
Kayaking Kauai, Kilauea Lighthouse and Refuge, Kayaking Oahu, Papakolea Green Sand Beach, Punaluu Black Sand Beach
I’ve actually completed more than these but I think anyone heading to the Keys or Hawaii would want to peek at this bunch of articles the most.
Upcoming Travel
In other travel writing news, we have a project coming up next week that’s going to be really fun. We’re heading to Winter Park, Colorado. The Winter Park Resort has invited us to come check it out and try out all the family friendly ski and snow options, which is very out of character for us. We’ll be having ski lessons, doing glow-tubing, heading out on a snow-cat and all kinds of other stuff. It’s actually going to be really fun to write and make videos about, so stay tuned!
In February I get to head back to Hawaii with my bff, Kelly. We’re going to the Big Island and Maui to explore the state parks, historic sites and lesser-visited spots. We’ve got some awesome birdwatching planned (yes, I love my birds) and hopefully Kilauea will still be erupting so we can enjoy some lava glow!
I’m going to wait to share our spring break plan until I have more details, but it’s going to be epic and hopefully will be full of the Northern Lights, dogsleds and icy fun. I will be so stoked when I can share THAT itinerary for a MyAlaskaTrip.com project.
April is right around the corner too! Wow, time is flying. In April the Keys are calling us down. This is going to be a very busy trip with visiting EVERY state park and beach from Key Largo to Key West. We also get to go out to Dry Tortugas National Park, which is one of my favorite places in Florida. It’s going to be incredible.
My Thoughts on the USA this Month
I’m a little bit dreading the next two weeks as Inauguration Day approaches. Hopefully good things that will be a happy surprise to us all will come to pass, but I’m losing the hope for a last-minute hail Mary to guard American democracy. We’ll see. But that’s what’s overshadowing my thoughts as the year takes off. Yes, I’m trying to do the whole power of positive thinking thing, but that only is getting me so far.
As we look at what the current administration has been doing in this last bit of time, I do feel a twinge of hope as federal judges are installed that seem to be on the right side of history. And there’s been legislation and happenings that are good, including newly protected lands and committees that hopefully cannot be immediately disassembled by Orangey McOrangerson.
I’m hopeful that checks and balances remain in tact and that marginalized people, such as immigrant, women, LGBTQ people, other minorities, I hope we can all make it through with our rights and lives fully intact. It sad that that’s a hope. Nobody should have to HOPE that they get to continue to exist with their same rights and protections. We’ll see…
I would love to get an update from people about how they’re currently feeling about things and what their biggest concerns are with the incoming administration. It’s tough to think deeply about some days.
That’s all I’ve got to share for now. Thank you for listening and following along. I’m excited for the kids to be back at school this week, as it’s also the start of basketball for each of them. This is going to be a new chapter in our lives and hopefully it’ll be a good one.
Stay safe, happy travels, and may 2025 be a year of health and peace for us all.