A Clearing For the New Year✨

January 2nd 2026 | 13 Tevet 5786

We made it to 2026. 

It’s good to be back. 

A fresh start after another long year is here and I’d love to infuse your inboxes more often with what I hope feels like a deep breath, food for thought, and a meaningful touchpoint as you make it through another week. So let’s get to the fun stuff! 

This past year, I started working as a mental health therapist at a group practice in the DMV. While in graduate school, I certainly had my fair share of meaningful experiences, both teachable and challenging, but doing true talk therapy sessions with clients was not something I experienced. Stepping into the role of a therapist came with imposter syndrome we likely all feel when starting a new job, but I’ve certainly found myself coming into my own over time. 

At the end of many sessions, I find myself asking my clients: “What would you like to leave behind, and what would you like to bring with you?” This is likely inspired by the clearing exercises we did at the beginning of my indoor cycling teacher training when living in Nashville, which I carried over into many of my Ethics with Emily sessions when working at Hillel. I believe these questions offer a chance for us to let go of what’s no longer serving us, and identify new insights that can help us feel more empowered, inspired, and grounded as we move forward in our day. 

The start of a new year offers a natural opportunity for clearings. But, that’s not the only one. Every week, Shabbat allows us to do the same. Separating what’s no longer serving us from the past week, and entering into a day of rest from a calm and mindful place. Every single day also offers an opportunity for a fresh start. We get to choose whether or not we can leave behind the ugly, or step into a different type of motivation and energy. Having autonomy to decide what’s working for us and what’s not, and making those intentional decisions to move forward, each day, week, or year. 

With the new year also comes more months of winter. A darker time, literally. Depending on where you are in the world, the colder weather, the rainy or snowy forecasts, can impact the energy sometimes more than we realize. However, the winter season also plays an important role in how we can choose to rest and recuperate for the brighter seasons. Tevet, the lunar month we’re in currently, leans into the darkness of winter, while Shevat, the month that follows, is all about the rebirth that a season like spring represents, and offers us. The winter allows us time for our ideas, creations, and offers time to marinate. So when spring comes, we’re ready to thrive in a way that feels good and fills our cups to the brim. If we’re lucky, maybe they’ll overflow.

As you decide how you’d like to start your new year, consider your version of a clearing. 

• What’s no longer serving you, holding you back, or dragging you down?

• What’s keeping you from being present for yourself and your loved ones?

What can you leave behind, and what are you welcoming in? 

Today, I choose to leave behind feeling like I’m not doing enough and welcoming in the ability to live this year from a grounded place. 

My wish for you is that this message allows you to enter into this new year, this Shabbat, and your next day from a grounded place (whatever that means to you), and it is all exactly what you need it to be and more. 

Shabbat Shalom✨

Ethically,

Emily