Letter to You | Jan 2026

Hi there, I hope this finds you well.

So many sad things happened this month. It feels strange in a way that’s hard to name. Living through these events while still being expected to answer emails, make dinner, and carry on as usual feels really odd and wrong. The wheels of our time are turning, and we’re caught inside them.

In the middle of all this, there were some joyful moments. I got a haircut and honestly, there are few better feelings than actually liking your haircut. I always end up more chatty than I intend to be in the chair, as if I owe the hairdresser conversation. It’s a little silly. I’m sure he doesn’t feel that pressure at all, but there I am, filling the air anyway.

This winter feels like the snowiest we’ve had in years. We had a snowstorm, and I got to work from home, which felt like a gift. I was grateful not to commute. Through it all, my work and my coworkers have been a steady presence. We had a team dinner, and I received a book as a gift, and it's one I’ve been wanting to read. Is there a better feeling than that?

I also started the New York City Trash Academy series and have been learning a lot. One participant shared the Take Alter archive which quickly became one of my favorite discoveries this month. I wish we had something like that in my building, though management sends warnings even when someone leaves a book in the common area for others to take. Small acts of sharing like that feel like the beginnings of community, which feels especially necessary right now.

Stay hopeful. Take action.

Yours Truly :)