Brethren, if you have started this year with the determination to create positive new habits, congratulations! I am cheering you on and hoping you will stick with it.
Today’s article is for those whose spouses, partners or children have started off on their 2026 goals with fire and fury. There should be some sort of counselling provided for those of us who have to live alongside the change-makers. Just this morning, my husband, who is rarely awake before 6am, decided to wake up early. I was jolted out of a very sweet dream by an alarm that I had not set, at 4.45 am.
Now, there is nothing wrong with waking up at 4.45am, or even 4.30am. The problem comes when it is not your decision. The worst part is that after the alarm went off, I remained wide awake and he instantly fell asleep again! You can imagine the conversation that went on at 4.46am when I, awake and furious, decided that no way was he robbing me of my sleep and then going on to enjoy his.
Maybe your partner has decided that their New Year goal is to exercise, and this exercise is the type that happens at home.
Now you have to live with a noisy exercise session-with those video instructors who think the louder they shout the faster the fat burns-at an hour when you are usually enjoying peace and quiet.
Or they are miles away in the gym while you try to wrestle the children out of bed, into their uniforms and have them eat at least a little breakfast before the school bus arrives, all while getting ready for work yourself.
That circus, dear friends, is the real workout!
Perhaps your loved one has given up tea or coffee, and now the whole household is dealing with the withdrawal symptoms. I know you are tempted to sneak a little coffee into their hot water but please, hang in there.
Let us stay strong, brethren, as our loved ones disturb our lives with their New Year resolutions. You are not alone!