January 1, 2026, I woke up like many of you—with that familiar feeling of “new year, new me” and the hope that things will be better. In 2025, I realized I needed to let go of the painful experiences that formed who I am today. For 2026, I’m not trying to become the best version of myself or even a new me. I’m simply going to be me, and I’m going to enjoy every single minute of it.
My goal for 2026 is to develop clarity about my life and legacy. I understand that I have to work through many of the things that have held me back. One of those things is myself, because like most people, I have good ideas, but bringing them to fruition is sometimes not easy. After giving up on so many dreams, it is time I start dreaming again.
Recently, my mother heard a recording of a speech I had given in 2020. When it was done, she looked at me and said, “What happened to that Melodie?” In my mind, I replied: Life happened to that Melodie. She had to endure pain, sadness, depression, anxiety and failure. That Melodie is no more.
My mother, who I count on for everything, looked me right in the eye and said, “That Melodie wanted to change the world.”
The harder things are, the more we grow. So as I move forward with vision, I need to understand what that growth process looks like.
First, think about who you want to help. You must understand that you can’t simply be a problem solver. In the past, I thought it was my calling to fix others’ problems over and over again—but I was preventing them from developing their own problem-solving skills and accessing the resources they needed.
In the new year, things must be different. No longer am I going to call the people who have the resources you need. Instead, I’m going to give you the information, and then hold you accountable for getting help.
Second, I’m going to regain my self-confidence, my self-love, and remember that I am enough.
Then, I must decide the impact I seek to leave. Most of the time, we think big. We want to influence millions of people. But this year, I’m going to focus on my own little corner of the world. I am going to love more. I am going to wake up early and watch the sunrise and enjoy nature’s beauty. I’m going to step back and enjoy my own beauty. And when I meet people—on the street, in the store, at school—I’m going to have a kind word for them. I’m going to listen.
I have spent so much time telling others to follow their dreams and believe in themselves. 2026 will be the year I do all of those things for me. So when people ask, “Who is Melodie Graves?” I’ll be able to say: I’m just Melodie. Melodie with a good heart. Melodie with clarity for how I want my life to be. Melodie, an advocate. Instead of trying to change the world at large, I’m going to make sure I’ve done what I can to make my corner a better place.
