Dear Readers,
As we step into 2026, I want to take a moment to say thank you. A new year always invites reflection, and looking back at 2025, I feel mostly grateful—for the lessons, the challenges, and for having this space to think, question, grow, and write.
When I started blogging in January 2025, my intention was to write about the things in the world that frustrate me and often feel impossible to change: abuse of power, inequality, and systems that have a vested interest in maintaining the status quo. I wanted to approach these topics carefully—through research, references, and critical thinking—because the last thing I want is to contribute to noise, misinformation, or outrage without substance. I wasn’t sure anyone would read it, but you did. Your comments, likes, and continued presence here are the reasons I kept writing.
That encouragement led to one of the projects I’m most proud of: Romani Tales. In this special edition, Gypsy is not a slur, and the characters in the stories are not negative stereotypes—they are central, positive, and heroic. I created it with the hope that Romani children growing up today can see themselves reflected in stories as something powerful and worthy of pride. Representation matters, especially from a young age, and I wanted to contribute something created solely for the Romani community that clearly and unapologetically communicates one message: your identity is not a limitation.
2025 was chaotic on many levels. I write about abuse of power, inequality, and often unimaginable suffering, knowing full well that I can’t fix any of it on a global scale. Writing isn’t a solution—it’s a way of paying attention, of refusing to look away. What is within reach is how I show up in my own life, in my own spaces, and with the people around me.
For instance, not defaulting to racism, xenophobia, or homophobia. Refusing to turn people into enemies simply because they think, believe, or live differently. Sometimes that looks like kindness, sometimes it’s offering help, sometimes it’s donating time or money—and sometimes it’s simply choosing not to add more cruelty, fear, or misinformation to an already crazy world. None of this changes everything, but it does change something locally, and personally.
In 2026, let’s continue to stay aware of the global mess we’re living in without becoming numb or overwhelmed by it—and remember that real impact rarely happens on a world stage. It happens at home, in everyday interactions, and in the small choices we make as individuals. If we want the world to look different, this is where it starts. And such message goes out to everyone who witnesses power of abuse, injustice and suffering at every corner of the world. I encourage you to step up, advocate for the overlooked and under-represented.
My cover photo for this blog post features a crown in the middle of the street after a New Year’s Eve celebration. That image represents the message I want to carry—and live by—this year: take care of yourself. If your crown needs readjusting, take the time to do so. Rest, regroup, and practice self-care. And if you notice someone else’s crown needs fixing, try to help when you can. We need to be kind to one another.
Thank you for reading.
Yours sincerely,
BB
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