By Nona Haroyan | From BayLines Express, January, 2026
As the holidays come to a close and a new year begins, many of us find ourselves reflecting on more than just resolutions. This time of year can carry both warmth and heaviness, especially as the pace slows and the noise fades. While the season is often associated with family gatherings and shared traditions, that picture does not reflect everyone’s experience.
I know this personally. Since our father’s passing in 2022, my sister and I have not spent the holidays with family. Loved ones live far away, some are no longer with us, and some relationships have changed. That sadness is real, and it does not disappear simply because the calendar turns. At the same time, we have learned that connection can take new forms. Over time, we have shared these moments with friends, creating new traditions that look different from the past, but are meaningful in their own way.
Life is a constant process of change, and the transition from the holidays into January often brings that into focus. Many people begin the year with smaller circles than they once had, or with a quiet sense of loss or isolation that is rarely spoken aloud. These experiences are more common than we may realize, and they deserve compassion rather than assumption.
As we move into the new year, perhaps this is an invitation to lead with extra kindness and grace. To pause and check in on someone who may be feeling alone. To extend an invitation, make a phone call, or send a thoughtful message. Even simple gestures can help someone feel seen during a quieter season.
Community is not built solely through large gatherings or longstanding traditions. It grows through empathy, inclusion, and our willingness to reach out to one another. As members of the blind and low vision community, we understand deeply the importance of connection and belonging.
May this new year encourage us to notice those around us with gentle awareness, to remain open to new ways of connecting, and to remember that while life changes, meaningful relationships can still be created and nurtured.
Nona Haroyan