2026
Letting Go.
Those are the words I have chosen for this home page going into 2026. There’s a lot to pack into those two words, there’s both good & bad news here, so lets get the icky part over first:
Letting Go of the fear & sadness of losing ourselves
I am very grateful that my health remains good, so I am fortunately not talking about that. I’m talking about the day to day loss of what aging brings into our lives….the Letting Go part. The change of energy, mobility, memory, looks, strength, our bodies, skin…all of it begins to show wear. So, while I’m working on keeping the good parts of my body as healthy as they can be, I’m trying to Let Go of the resistance & fear that block me from embracing the normalcy of aging.
Letting Go of relationships
There are a couple of special people in my life that learned that lesson before me…I was the one Let Go. It’s been very difficult for me to adjust without them in my life & while I accepted their choices (who wants a friendship where they’re not wanted?) my heart could not catch up so quickly. I don’t put this later on this list because it belongs there, it’s just very personal & very disheartening. I know I’m not alone in this world of intolerance, negativity, divide & chaos where many relationships have been broken…there’s a lot of us hurting out there. But, its time to Let Go of what is not meant to be & know that hearts do heal.
I also lost & Let Go of both of my much loved cats this past year…Sammy & Bob…a hole in my heart that remains empty.
And last on this list…is Letting Go of Tripscribbles
Until this morning, I didn’t know this would be my last post. 2026 would have been my 19th year to document my travels & I have loved writing about & photographing so many amazing places. But the website has been on the brink of extinction for awhile now… between it’s last creators leaving it an unsupported program (& leaving thousands of us stranded in web creation in no mans land) & Apple updating their devices to a point where mine will not sync with each other; it’s no longer going to work. I tried to rebuild again a couple of years ago, (I’ve done this 4 times before when other web programs died), but it’s too much. I have thousands of pages & images that just won’t roll over to another site. I could start a whole new program with only new content, but that would also require me to update my laptop, buy & learn a new program & the list of new & expensive things just goes on & on. It’s never been a site that has made money or had thousands of followers, but its my travel life & I have loved it. (Ironic, isn’t it? I chose my 2026 words before I realized Tripscribbles would be part of the plan). But, I have decided to Let it Go.
Now the uplifting side to Letting Go!
We hear it all the time because it’s true…aging is a privilege. And, it also opens a big door to Letting Go of those things that might have been more difficult when we were younger. I can Let Go of judgments or negativity directed at me…I don’t care so much what random others think of me…from the way I look, the way I choose to dress, my solo adventures, my crappy grammar & that I still love to make, to create, to sing out loud & always always dance when I can. I can Let Go of others expectations of who I should be.
I can Let Go of the rat race…I can get up early, stay up late, pretty much do what I want with my time.
And, while I’m still learning to Let Go of my vanity, I know my scars are part of my lifes story. I know that my aging skin is the end result of so many, many hours spent outside. I would not give up any of my experiences in the mountains, the deserts, along trails, in the rivers, camping, or hiking to have perfect white unlined unspotted skin. While I’m layering on the sunscreen now, the damage is done, but those memories are priceless & I wouldn’t change any of that. So, I”m taking a peek in that mirror, feeling a bit shocked at what’s looking back, but then I’m following it up with a smile filled with scenic memories & saying to myself, “How lucky was I to do all of that?”.
Letting Go also means for me that I’m not holding back…especially for my family. When I’m with my grandkids, I can be silly, playful, loud, crawling around, jumping up & down…there’s no holding back for the sake of always acting “adult”. I’m going to say I love you, I’m sorry, What can I do?, You’re special --to all of my family…there’s no time to hold anything in. Let Go of any past issues & share your joy.
Letting Go of self doubt. Age has given me wisdom, inner strength, & permission to be who I am right now.
Letting Go of arguing, trying to be right or prove a point. I want & choose peace.
Letting Go of worry. I’m still flunking this one, but it gives me a lot to work on. Living with a retired Danny is very helpful because I see how he never seems to worry about anything. Never. We are polar opposite’s but I am trying to learn from his calmness, I am trying to learn to not overthink things. And while I’m not there yet, I’m also going to Let Go of any self recrimination on the things I don’t get done in life.
And while it’s not quite the same, I’m embracing the “Let’s Go!”. While there won’t be anymore posting of photographs or travel writing on this site, Danny & I are headed out to finally travel together. And, I’m thrilled about that! We already have a couple of trips planned for the first 1/2 of this year.
I won’t be Letting Go of my solo travels though…yay! Danny still has his family lake house he will be spending time at when he wants & I’ll still be heading west to my many happy places when we’re not together!
To those of you who have followed tripscribbles, thank you!
May your travels open your mind, bring you new friends, expand your cultural knowledge,
make you laugh, & bring wonder & awe into your heart.
May 2026 be everything you want it to be.
Best wishes for all things good!
Exploring Florida!...checking out all things “fun” in our new home state