Last year was all about shedding, healing, and rebirth . In 2026, it’s time to move forward with this new version of yourself . It may be uncomfortable, but the energy of this year is Truth Over Comfort. The Lunar New Year zodiac pairs an animal archetype with an element. The Horse  symbolizes movement, freedom, and forward motion. When combined with the element of fire, it becomes transformative—embodying rebirth and renewal, passion and illumination, and bold, untamed mom

“Sweet Dreams,” the haunting song by Eurythmics, was released on January 21, 1983—also Mac’s birthday. The song offers a cynical reflection on the pursuit of dreams while surviving in a world that is lonely and filled with unhealthy relationships. The lyrics, “I travel the world and the seven seas, everybody’s looking for something,”  pose an existential question: Is the chase worth it? In Chapter Eight, when Meredith is chatting with Michelle, we discover that Mac has been t

The Cranberries’ song “Zombie” has always been a favorite of mine. It feels like raw emotion seeping through the lyrics, bubbling just beneath the surface of the melody. As I wrote the chapters exploring Mac's grief, I wanted her to feel like a zombie—dead inside, yet still going through the motions of life. The lyrics "But you see, it's not me, it's not my family" capture the denial that often comes with grieving. It's hard to imagine terrible things happening in your own li