A Nurse’s Report by Sabine Torgler (RN / UK)
My dear readers,
Happy New Year! I hope your festive days were filled with family, friends, and joy. Here we are at the beginning of 2026—another year, another story.
Amid the ongoing chaos of world events, I’ve made a quiet promise to myself. Shall I call it a New Year’s resolution, both as a woman and as a nurse? I think I shall.
When I was a junior nurse, my resolutions were all about personal indulgences: more “me time,” more parties, getting healthier—you know the type. But over the last 15 years, life has taught me wisdom. I’ve stopped the self-inflicted lies and started letting each year unfold naturally. It felt right, normal, and peaceful.
But 2026 will be different. At the end of 2025, I asked myself: “Hey Missy, do you want a challenge?” The answer was a resounding YES! Life is already challenging enough—beautiful, colourful, funny, sad, tough, loud, silent, happy, sorrowful—but why not add a small, doable challenge for myself?
Professionally, I’ve decided to learn Welsh. Yes, Welsh! I started my post as a registered nurse last year in Cardiff, at the University Hospital of Wales—the largest hospital I’ve ever worked in, with 1,700 beds. I love it. Some of my patients speak Welsh, with English as their second language. NHS Wales encourages us, healthcare professionals, to learn Welsh, not just for cultural reasons, but also so we can communicate with patients whose English may be impaired by strokes, cardiovascular disorders, or trauma. By the end of this year, I hope to speak a few sentences fluently—and I will keep you, my dear readers, updated on my progress.
On a personal level, I have a simpler challenge: I will not buy things I do not truly need. You might think that’s obvious, but many of us—including me—often convince ourselves we need more jumpers, more LEVI’s 501 jeans, 1million T-shirts, or yet another bag or pair of trainers. I am done with that. Instead, when I see something I fancy but do not need, I will put the money aside. Twelve pounds and fifty pence are already in my savings box from a second-hand pair of jeans I resisted. By the end of 2026, I hope to see how much I have saved. For me, it is both a challenge and an experiment in self-discipline.
So, here we go, 2026. You already gave me a task!
Professionally, personally, and inwardly, I am ready to embrace the year with intention, curiosity, and a little playful defiance. Life will be challenging and beautiful, and I hope, above all, that my inner microcosm remains peaceful.
Here’s to a year of learning, saving, and quietly surprising ourselves.
With warmth and resolve,
Sabine
