The Next Chapter of 2026: Clearing Space Around Me and Within Me

Hello Dear Readers,

This past week, my New Year didn’t look like goal-setting or planning or “getting ahead.”

It looked like decluttering.

As I packed away Christmas decorations, I found myself back in the attic …

Opening boxes I hadn’t touched in years.

Decorations, keepsakes, things still in great shape.

Untouched, Unused, Waiting.

I caught myself saying the same thing I’ve said year after year:

“I really should donate these so someone else can enjoy them.”

This time I finally did.

Two long days of sorting, lifting, deciding, and letting go.

It was physical work, yes. But what surprised me most was how light I felt afterward.

Not tired. Not drained.

Free.

That’s when it hit me:

I’ve always believed that a cluttered environment leads to a cluttered mind.

Lately… my mind has been very full.

The past few months have carried a lot:

personal stress, global stress, emotional weight.

We don’t always have words for.

Without realizing it, I had been holding onto things …

both in my home and in my head.

Things that I no longer needed.

As the attic cleared, something else softened too.

My thoughts felt quieter.

My breath felt deeper.

My body felt less braced.

Because clutter doesn’t just take up physical space.

It takes up mental and emotional energy.

For professional women who do too much, clutter often becomes one more invisible weight—something we promise to deal with “someday.” But when we begin to let go, even in small ways, we create space for clarity, calm, and renewal.

So this week, I’m offering you this gentle invitation:

You don’t have to declutter your whole house.

You don’t have to fix everything in your life.

But you might ask yourself:

• What am I holding onto that no longer serves me?

• What feels heavy—physically or emotionally?

• Where could I create a little breathing room?

Because sometimes, starting fresh isn’t about adding something new.

It’s about releasing what you’re ready to outgrow.

And freedom, I’ve learned, often begins with a single box… and the courage to let it go.

With clarity and care,

Dr. Peggy

P.S. . You don’t need to overhaul your life to begin again. If you’d like a gentle guide to support you, Suffering in Silence: The Epidemic of Women Who Do Too Much is available on Audible for $6.95—an easy first step toward more calm and compassion.