The Hangout: Reflections, resolutions and a little more peace for 2026

Another year has come and gone and I wish it would stop flying by quite so quickly. It’s funny how all we ever wanted when we were younger was for time to move faster.

We wanted to be older, we wanted school to end and many of us wished the years away. Time is the one thing money can’t buy and now all I want is more of it. My New Years resolutions are to hold fewer grudges, forgive more easily, be more tolerant and try my best to give myself a little extra time.

Learning to say no occasionally is perfectly fine too. You cannot do everything, everywhere, all at once unless you are Michelle Yeoh in that very film. More than anything, I hope the year ahead brings a little more peace, love and happiness into people’s lives and a little less struggle. I think 2025 was a tricky one for most of us and my wish is that everyone will be able to breathe a little easier and love themselves and each other a bit more.

I asked a few friends what they were planning for the festive season and whether they had any New Year’s resolutions. This is what they had to say.

Schalk Bezuidenhout (comedian, actor)

“I’m doing shows in Cape Town and then I’ll be taking three weeks off and spending it with friends, family and my girlfriend in Ballito. This year has been a year. My wish for people is just to be happy, whatever that means to them and in whatever capacity. Sometimes you take being happy for granted. I went through a divorce this year and finding happiness again and being happy is a great place to be. My New Year’s resolution is to train for the Comrades which I’ll do again after my first one this year. I did pretty well this year so I’d like to keep that momentum going. But I might only start training towards the end of January ha ha ha.”

Simz Kulla (artist, The Muffinz)

“We have some very special shows coming up this weekend. You can find out more on our socials. We also just recorded our third album a few weeks ago to a silent audience who wore headphones and listened to the whole show that way which was really cool. We hope to release it around Easter and we are looking forward to performing some special shows to some special audiences around that time. Happy new year!”

Trailer Young (artist, producer)

“This festive season I’m going to try to get on as many stages as possible and perform my favourite songs I’ve done this year. My ten track EP called ‘A DECADE BEFORE CENTURY +’ is available on all music streaming platforms.

My wishes for the people of South Africa are for the nation to celebrate this year together, with less and less division amongst the people.

My New Year’s resolution is to continue to grow and be a bigger source of inspiration for others.”

Ard Matthews and Tanya van Graan (artists, actors, content creators, lovebirds)

“We’re keeping things simple this festive season with family and a bit of rest. We hope everyone finds some peace and quiet, shows a little more tolerance and carries that into 2026.

A big thank you to everyone who supported all the new music this year. We also hope people enjoy our new Christmas song ‘Peas, cLOVEs, more Cinnamon’ as a fresh alternative to the usual ones they have had to endure for decades.

More music coming next year.”

Danny Painter (Radio DJ, podcaster, MC)

“This festive season, the first one after we lost my dad, we are having a very small, very quiet home holiday. Lots of braaiing and swimming. I am escaping to Clarens for a long weekend but other than that I’m home.

My wish for us as a country is to realise that when we come together, truly, for anything, we are capable of immeasurable change, and so in 2026 I hope we come together more and change our beautiful country and its leadership for the better.

And my resolution for 2026 is to love more, live every day as if it were my last and truly be as present as I can be.

Happy festive to everyone!”

Cindy Alter (artist, producer)

“Hi my lovelies. As always, I miss my beautiful homeland at this time of year because of the braais, swimming, hitting the coast and doing summer for real. I am going to leave cold Nashville for a week before Christmas and fly to cold Los Angeles for some fun, some gigs and a day at the beach to remind me of what I am missing in sunny SA. After Christmas I will have a couple of parties and will see in the New Year with friends and music jams.

Happy holidays y’all, have a blast, be safe and have a fantastic 2026. See you soon. I’ll be heading your way in a few months for some Clout shows and some solo shows.”

Kahn Morbee (The Parlotones)

“We’re touring up and down the coastline as part of our Summertones tour and then I’m off on a family vacation between Christmas and New Years to Spain. Seasons greetings and safe travels to all of you going on vacation. Hope you can reflect on some awesome 2025 memories and here’s to more exciting adventures awaiting you all in 2026.”