As we approach the end of the year we are again reminded about goals an aspirations and all that fun New Years stuff. Whether we recommit to ourselves or decide that this is the year we complete a project or something else. The New Year is a new beginning. It is also an ending, and for me, I am about to close the chapter on what has been an overall difficult and frustrating year.
Starting the year off with the death of a father is not easy. It is a terrible ordeal and really hard to deal with. It created a massive ripple effect that lead to both good and bad things. It is also far from over.
As much as I would like to have hope an optimism heading into the New Year I am finding it difficult. My mother ended 2025 with another trip to the hospital. A short and unproductive trip. I visited her the day after she was admitted and PT and OT were already working on her. She is being sent home on IV antibiotics.
She went to the hospital because of a sever UTI and is coming home without that being cured. It was like the hospitals main priority was getting her home instead of getting her well. There is a lot going on with her health that has me concerned and frustrated with a broken American medical system. One that puts profit over people and has forgotten the very oath they were founded on. First do no harm has become first do no harm to the bottom line.
You see what I mean about hope and optimism? I’d like to believe there is a bright future ahead, but reality keep interfering with that belief. Think about my main goal of 2025. To get my mom more income. I refinanced my house and did the 1031 exchange. As it stands I have created a little income, but more expenses than income at this point. We are waiting on the places being rented, and each day that passes that they aren’t is an exercise in frustration.
As soon as the New Year hits we are going to be staring down insurance and tax bills once again. Ones we aren’t prepared for. Especially as my mother’s declining health requires more and more investment. I did something that on paper was smart, but reality isn’t conforming to those ideas.
2026 is a new year. We should enter it with hope and optimism no matter how hard that is. I am ready for a great year, and I am ready for any challenge it throws my way.
David Huzzard Writes 