respect is owed to elders

I don't do New Year's Resolutions anymore.

The whole charade was empty, shallow, performative. Just a thing I was raised to do. And I've been unlearning the things I was raised to do since my early 20s. Resolutions became the white feminist of holiday traditions (but just her holidays, ofc).

But, Tommie, how do you want to feel every January 1st?

The question was easy enough, but the linguist in me said, "Hold my beer, bitch." About 4,294 words later, I knew exactly what I wanted every first day of January to feel like for my foreseeable future.

PURPOSE. RENEWED, REIGNITED, READY TO STEAL YO GIRL.

Out with the original sin of the Gregorian Calendar's January 1st.

[Peep that sick ass allegory, eh?]

In with my personally fulfilling & challenging tradition because I've been reading dictionaries for enjoyment for 30 or so years, collecting themed dictionaries for about a decade, and now I literally curate and write them.

Words are my thing. [I just enjoy cursing like a sailor.]

Now, I choose an overarching theme - conceptual always, theoretical most of the time, but ABSOLUTELY NEVER rhetorical EVER. I choose with intention, reflecting my purpose, the essence that propels me forward.

Wait, what's the saying? OH YEH--I overthink; therefore, I rewrote this message so many times that every single word combines to express my exact thoughts in this precise moment, worded with the precision of a surgeon and the audacity of a...

So, what's my motivation for 2026?

3 words. 3 syllables.

CHANGE THE WORLD

And I plan on it.

In times of self- doubt, put on some Megan thee Stallion and start to dance it out then get distracted by the music video.

Damn. Well, I deserve some rest, let me zoom in...

What's your resolution? Personal goal? Vibe, word, phrase of the year? Does your culture not celebrate New Year on January 1? Any other holidays going on that you are celebrating?

Yes, I would really love to hear about your favorite way to spend 1/1 each year. My work is human-centric. The variations, the differences, the mythologies and legends, the theology and philosophy, the dichotomous nature of the entire fucking human condition.

Like seriously. I developed a series of themed dictionaries inspired by the various facets and theories, abstract concepts, finite proof, existential crises, and then my nerdy ass nicknamed the collection THE HUMAN CONDICTIONARY.

Well, it's time to end this diatribe, my lovely Peers.

May you have the day you deserve and not the day you want.

Best--

tommie, the token linguist™

Disclaimer: If you feel pangs of guilt tugging at your privilege, good. Be better. Do better. No white feminists were harmed during the making of this status. Most importantly, all opinions, statements, and personal ethics reflected in this post are mine and mine alone.