New Year's Calling
Jan 16, 2026 
By: Kathy Young Deegan
“Don't buy a big exercise machine. It's only going to hold your clothes. Make it realistic. Make it something that you can see that’s attainable…We have enough pressure on ourselves..So keep it simple.”
~ Mary Taylor
Mary Taylor didn’t set out to impress anyone when she retired after nearly forty years of teaching. When people asked what she planned to do next, her answer was simple: she wanted a calm, peaceful life. Time at home. A good book. Space to breathe.
Out of that quiet clarity, a sense of calling emerged. Almost to herself, Mary thought, I want to read 1,000 books in my retirement. As she recalls, “To me, the thought of just being in my home, my feet up and a good book, I just thought it sounded wonderful. And so that's what I started doing is reading. I didn't read nonstop, but I did read more than I'd ever read before.”
So she began—one book at a time—carefully recording each title, author, and date. Years later, she turned the final page of book number one thousand.
Mary’s story reminds us that purpose often unfolds quietly, through small, faithful choices repeated over time.
As a new year begins, many of us feel pressure to define our purpose through big resolutions—new goals, bold declarations, dramatic change. But most resolutions fade quickly-statistics tell us by February the clarity we felt in January grows dim.
That’s why it can be helpful to release rigid resolutions and move toward intention. An intention gives shape to purpose without demanding perfection. Choosing a word for the year can help ground us—something to return to when we ask, What does my heart need most right now?
Calling begins with listening to what our heart needs most.
Mary listened to the calling of her heart, choosing something meaningful, realistic, and deeply aligned with who she is. And she gave herself permission to let it take time.
What does your heart need most in this season?
What would it look like to give yourself permission to follow it this new year?
