A New Year's Message from Melissa
Dearest Community,
By now, you’ve likely seen the usual New Year messages — invitations to reset, set goals, make resolutions, reinvent ourselves...
And while I love a fresh start as much as anyone, today I'm inviting you to hit pause on the resolutions, and take a moment for reflection — not on what needs to change, but on everything you're already doing right.
The care you give. The patience you've found. The quiet strength you've offered. The traditions you've carried. The meals you've prepared for others — all the simple, beautiful ways you already show up for the people you love (and for yourself, too).
There’s so much talk about what to do better next year. But today, I hope you’ll thank yourself for the woman you've already become.
I’m so grateful to be walking alongside this community of strong, thoughtful women. You remind me—over and over again—that showing up with heart matters.
And, I'd love it if you would share with me in the comments below, some of the things — great and small — that you've done beautifully in this past year.
Here’s to carrying that into whatever comes next.
With love,
Melissa
P.S. Click below to find all the recipes from our New Year's Eve grazing table, and be sure to watch our very special year-in-review video!
59 comments
As I welcome the New Year, my heart is overflowing with gratitude for the many blessings of this past year. I’m thankful for unforgettable family moments—cruising to Mexico with my husband, son, and his family; showing the Texans how Louisiana really does a crawfish boil for our daughter’s birthday; and soaking up a beautiful week at the beach with all four of our kids and four precious grandkids. I cherished celebrating my granddaughter’s first birthday in Houston and my grandson’s second birthday in Austin, cheering on my 10-year-old grandson every fall Saturday on the football field, and watching my 11-year-old grandson shine on the baseball field in the spring. I loved every single shopping trip with my 15-year-old daughter just as much!
I’m deeply grateful for the many trips and priceless girl time with my BFFs—those moments of laughter, support, and friendship that fill my soul. I’m also thankful for the time spent with my mom and dad, treasuring every moment together even as life has become more of a struggle for them. Those moments mean more to me than words can express.
This year was also one of incredible growth and achievement. I am honored to carry the title Dr. Donna Bailey, earned at Baylor University in 2024—the hardest and most rewarding accomplishment of my life. I’m proud of the continued growth of our Girls Can Too program, teaching young girls that all careers are possible, and of publishing my second children’s book as a tool to connect with our educational partners. I’m thankful to have partnered with strong women leaders in my company to help grow their careers, to be honored as one of Louisiana’s Top 50 Women Leaders, and to serve as the keynote speaker at the ACT Workforce National Summit.
I found so much joy in the simple things this year—quiet moments on my porch reflecting on life, sitting at my piano playing my favorite songs, and watching our two bloodhounds grow from tiny puppies into full-sized “monsters” in just one year. I loved watching my husband bring his new genius creations to life and witnessing his creativity and passion in action.
I’m grateful for lifelong friendships, especially celebrating my 40th high school reunion, and for the incredible people I work with every day. Watching my staff learn, grow, and accomplish great things fills me with pride—and expanding our executive team from me being the only woman for years to now having four women on the team is truly something to celebrate!
Finally, a heartfelt thank you to Melissa Gilbert for the reminder to reflect on our accomplishments and happy moments rather than focusing only on what we think we need to change about ourselves. That perspective made this reflection even more meaningful.
As I step into the New Year, I do so with a thankful heart—for family, faith, friendships, growth, and the gift of life’s simple and extraordinary moments. Here’s to a New Year filled with continued purpose, joy, and gratitude.
MP has been an uplifting and encouraging part of my 2025. I have come to realize that getting older isn’t something to dread, but to celebrate. Cheers to another year learning from each other and growing together in grace!
I love being a part of Modern Prairie! I have loved Little House and You Melissa my whole life growing up and I still watch the show to this day! I love everything about the old days! I plant a garden and feed the birds! I volunteer at the hospital and meet all kinds of people happy and sad and just trying to make it! It is a blessing to be a blessing to them and them to me! My word for this year is PEACE! Im praying for peace in my life and for my family and the world. thank you for all you are doing to bring back the old way of life in a modern way! I love it!
Thank you for your words of reflection and kindness. I liked what you said Melissa! We are a community, a country, built on the beauty of patience, caring, and kindness. I think it is important to remember those true pioneers of long ago, and all that it took to make a country like ours. Instead of taking away something as a New Year Resolution , my plan is to continue to show a bit more of being present, patient, kind, caring, and real to my neighbors and our fellow man. A simple smile and a “Good Morning or Good evening” …..can make, and or start, a person’s day! And….. it makes you feel real good too!
I am happy that I was able to help my in laws during the extremely difficult time of accepting that my FIL has dementia and all that entailed in getting my MIL to allow help. I was injured in the process of helping care for my FIL and although the injury derailed my summer plans to get things done, it did give me forced time to do nothing but attempt to heal. I am grateful that my husband has kept depression at bay when the current administration cut the funding to the CPB. He works at a local PBS station and lost the dream job he had hoped would last until retirement. It is hard finding work at age 61. I am grateful everyday to be alive and able to work through my injury so that we can pay the bills. There may not be any fun purchases for awhile, but there is always something to be thankful for, and always good people in the world.