As the calendar turned to January 1, 2026, renowned advice columnist Dear Abby marked the New Year by offering her readers a beacon of hope and a practical guide for personal renewal. Authored by Jeanne Phillips, who continues the legacy of her mother, Pauline Phillips, the column presents an often-requested list of resolutions designed to foster peace and progress one day at a time.
A Blueprint for Daily Peace and Progress
The column's core is a set of guiding principles, adapted from the original credo of Al-Anon by Pauline Phillips. These resolutions emphasize a focused, day-by-day approach to life's challenges. The central tenet advises living "through THIS DAY ONLY," discouraging brooding over the past or obsessing about the future. It champions the idea that overwhelming tasks become manageable when tackled in 24-hour increments, a philosophy aimed at reducing anxiety and building sustainable habits.
Abby's list extends beyond mere time management. It encourages readers to actively choose happiness, chase away depressive thoughts, and "fill the mind with sunshine." The resolutions call for accepting reality, correcting what can be changed, and gracefully accepting what cannot. A commitment to mental improvement is also key, urging individuals to read material that requires genuine effort and concentration, thereby avoiding mental idleness.
Focusing on Conduct, Health, and Responsibility
The advice delves into interpersonal conduct and self-care. Readers are encouraged to make a conscious effort to be agreeable, kind, and courteous. The guidelines suggest improving one's appearance, speaking softly, and listening without interruption. A crucial point stresses refraining from trying to improve anybody but oneself, a nod to setting healthy boundaries.
On the health front, the column advocates for one positive action, such as quitting smoking or taking a brisk walk, even if it's just around the block. It culminates with a call to gather the courage to do what is right and to take full responsibility for one's own actions, framing personal accountability as the foundation for a better year.
Wisdom from Global Traditions
In a gesture highlighting universal themes of peace, Abby also shared a contribution from a reader in New Delhi, India, named L.J. Bhatia. This addition references the Holy Vedas, suggesting that wisdom follows living according to the "true eternal laws of nature." The column then reprints the powerful Prayer of St. Francis, which asks to be made an instrument of peace, sowing love, pardon, faith, hope, light, and joy where their opposites exist.
Concluding her message for the first day of 2026, Abby expressed her heartfelt wish that the New Year brings good health, peace, and joy to all her readers. The column, syndicated across North America, continues to be a source of comfort and pragmatic advice for those seeking a fresh beginning with the turning of the year.
