Update

 The new year is almost here. I am looking forward to new beginnings. I should be better off in 2026. At some point in 2026, I expect to return to work in good health. I hope to complete my PhD in 2026 too.

I am not feeling my best right now. I decided to take things slow. I don't do much - I do a little work around the house and some other things. I try my best. The days go by quickly. Before you know it, it is 5pm and dark outside. 

A few days ago, I wanted to purchase a few personal items online (there were some good sales) I never got around to it. I made a small purchase recently. I enjoyed the ice cream, ramen and other food items I purchased.

Out

 I was out. I had a good time. Feels good at Christmas. (The green frosting on my cupcake made me happy. It makes me think of a Christmas tree.)

Christmas

 This Christmas, because of my health situation, I did not decorate the Christmas tree or put up Christmas lights. It is an unusual Christmas. I remember the excitement around Christmas in past years. There was an excessive amount of excitement around Christmas when I was a young girl. Growing up in Linden Guyana, it was tradition to clean the house from "top to bottom" and eat special dishes at Christmas. I included this information in my poembook 'Growing Up In Linden, Guyana.'

Thankful

 In 2025, I faced health challenges. I felt older than my years. I now appreciate life more and am thankful for the little things. I communicate this to others all the time. I remember I gave a small speech about being thankful I am alive on my birthday (just before I blew out the candles). I remember telling others about my health challenges and my improvements at a party I attended. I was scared a lot. I remember how worried I was when I looked at my eye in my passport photograph. I am thankful I am better. I am thankful for all sort of things. One word that comes to mind for 2025 is recovery.

Use of Preprints

 In 2025, I hoped major journals would select my papers for publishing. I discovered that the publishing process is a complex one and publishing my papers will take time. I made some of the papers public (can be viewed by anyone) using preprints. I was pleased that a lot of academics and students read the papers and thought it was good work. I recommend that academics put their work out there so others can review. The phrase 'open publishing' comes to mind.

Use the links in my ORCID profile for an easy way to review my papers. Link to my ORCID profile: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7559-8068.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Need for End of Year Review

 In my email, I saw that a year in review was available from LinkedIn. I didn't open it. It is something I would like to do based on my blog posts. It is a great idea! I also saw a post asking for a word of the year. That is something I will think about and maybe come up with. It is near the end of the year. It is a time of reflection, a time to review what worked and didn't work as well as what you need to improve upon. I can't believe the year went by so quickly.

 

 

 

 

 

 

God's Love

 If God is for us who can be against us...Nothing can separate us from the love of God...