I Hurt. Goodbye 2025.
Er, why would I make a blog with “Goodbye 2025” on January 4th, 2026?
Why would I include “I hurt”?
Photo ©Jackie Hildering taken near NE Vancouver Island, traditional territories of the Kwakwa̱ka̱’wakw.
The following is what I posted on my social media channels just before 2025 turned into 2026. The posts have resonated with so many that I considered if I should share the content in a blog too. The deal I made with myself is that if the “reach” on social media was over 15,000, I would dare to do so. It’s well over that now so, here goes.
What you read below is what I posted on the cusp of January 1, 2026. May the words land where they affirm, heal, and fortify.
“I hurt.
Maybe you hurt too.
I believe in good, and truth.
Maybe you believe too.
_________
As it goes with such posts where I have to dig deep, I need to write this for myself. But, I anticipate I do not hurt alone. So, here goes in the belief that these words will be of use to others too.
In these final hours of 2025, I can’t bring myself to just post a pretty picture and type the words “Happy New Year!” for you. That somehow feels dishonest and as if I am contributing to blind hope. Yo, shake the dice and maybe rolling from December 31 to January 1 will somehow bring better order to the world.
It’s going to take more than that.
Many of us are acutely aware of the forces aimed solidly and so effectively at increasing overwhelm, fear, disengagement, and distortion of reality. The game plan is for it to be “too much”.
But are we aware of our reaction to it all? Are we among the fallen? Have we shut down, gone dark, or numb? Do we “hope” without action? Do we have to carry the weight of it all?
I rawly know the answer to that last question. We can’t carry the weight of it all nor dizzy ourselves with the details of all the insanity and inhumanity. Again, that’s the game plan… bury them.
But, I do need to have my eyes open enough to feel my way forward among the assaults on truth, facts, integrity, and equality. To know these assaults are aided by the misuse of artificial intelligence, reduced scientific literacy, conspiracy theories, the manufacturing of divisiveness, the erosion of journalistic integrity and the capacity for fact-checking, etc.
The chaos over our border has fed patriotism that favours short-term economic gain over potential long-term devastation. I think something broke in me when the rhetoric began anew about pipelines and tankers. We’ve been here before.
How to have a Happy New Year? How will I have a Happy New Year? Stand for truth. Put good into the world. Know the good and beauty around you. And protect the good in yourself, and others.
Onward.
It feels vulnerable as hell to hit “post” on this. May the words land where they may be of use.”
The Marine Detective 
4 Responses to “I Hurt. Goodbye 2025.”
Jackie, this is so true (“… the game plan…”), and that’s how I feel too. We need to stay awake and vigilant to be able to fight this evil. As you said: “Onward!”
Bravo!
Thank you Susanna.
Thank you! Feeding good and putting good into the world is what I feel I should do, too, and it’s good to see someone else saying it aloud, that we should feed good and put it into the world. Here’s to it. And thank you again.