Slow intentions and finding moments of joy in 2026

Hello Friends,

It’s been awhile since the last post, but life has been lifing and so far 2026 has gotten off to a rough start. In January I went out of town to attend a funeral and battled a cold which at times it seemed the cold was winning. Not to mention the general malaise I often experience post holiday season. After several weeks of decorating, gift giving, cooking and celebrating with friends and family, I think the comedown from all that activity takes it’s toll. I also want to acknowledge how heavy the news can feel, especially if you are in the U.S. All this to say, I’ve fallen behind with this blog and have slowly been easing back into my routine.

Fittingly this second post of 2026 is a testament to how I plan to ease into the new year and a slower reset. In 2025, I set a few targeted goals which I plan to continue in 2026, some I plan to double down on. For example, I’ll continue last year’s “low-buy” in 2026. Another 2025 goal that I will be taking into 2026 is curbing my social media consumption but with plans to further curate content by following creators that match my intentions. Arts and music, book recommendations, realistic and cozy home interiors and cleaning and of course fashion but only those creators that focus on style, not consumption. Along those lines, the focus for me is finding balance between staying informed and finding moments of joy.

Here’s are some ways I’ve been finding moments of joy:

Our beloved Scout in 2020.
  • Social media channels and posts dedicated to pets and animals. Ground-breaking, I know. But hey, it works. I’m partial to “Minion the Dog” on @natepetroski on Instagram and YouTube, because he reminds me of our beloved Scout who passed away last year at the age of 14. That’s his photo above.
  • Embracing analog whenever possible. During a recent garage cleanout, we found a collection of CDs that have not seen the light of day since the early aughts. Fortunately we kept our DVD player which is connected to a subwoofer and some decent smaller speakers. Miles Davis comes through crystal clear. Reducing my reliance on Spotify and its algorithms to dictate my taste, rather than the other way around has been brining me joy.
  • Journaling and note taking. There’s something about putting pen to paper that’s so satisfying and has helped me improve my writing and recall. As I get older, I often find myself struggling to find the right words or terms. Without AI to lean on, I’m forced to find the words and enjoy the free flow of letting the words come to me. Am I the only one?

Look out for upcoming post as I share my journey towards slower intentions. What are your intentions for the new year? How do you find moments of joy? Comment below.

And finally, I hope you find moments of joy at @fabulousandfifty.com. If you do, please share the link and help us grow.

xoxo

F&F

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