January 1, 2026, in Colorado, was a quiet, overcast day. It tricked me into wondering whether maybe, just maybe, this year would be more peaceful than the last. Wishful thinking. Learning of the Jan. 1 fire in a Swiss hotel that cost 40 lives, put paid to that. Then, our own horrific fire in Denver, which, thankfully, caused no serious physical harm, followed by the shocking news of US action in Venezuela, all to the backdrop of what seems to be triennial protests in Iran that, sadly, never leads to its people’s liberation.
Turns out, this year started off pretty much the way last year ended — in chaos.
For some years now — did it start with the 2016 election, Brexit, Covid, or much earlier with the WTO riots, 9/11, the Iraq War or the 2008 bailouts — the world has become more and more unstable. Grappling with Artificial Intelligence that comes with opportunities but also huge threats to, more than anything, employment, will only intensify that instability. Often it seems like we’re living in unprecedented times.
But then I wonder — unprecedented, or über-informed?
Because of technology, everything comes to us so fast these days and in an extremely personal way — onto devices most of us are locked into 24-7. How many of these items might have been a story on the evening news or in the international section of the newspaper, not even as they happened but possibly a few days or a week later? How many pictures would we have seen? The speed with which we receive information leaves very little time to comprehend it all.
I can’t remember who it was, but somebody reflecting on the increase of PTSD in soldiers returning from Afghanistan and Iraq posited that it was due to to the short travel time from battlefield to home. Did the days- or weeks-long return for soldiers in WW II, together on a ship with people who shared similar experiences, provide a form of therapy, an opportunity to process prior to landing stateside?
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It hasn’t been all dire news. The new year (mostly) continued as 2025 ended when it comes to the local sports scene. Who last September would have thought the Broncos would secure the number one seed in the AFC? Or that the Avalanche (as of this writing) would have only three regulation losses come Jan. 5?
The Broncos situation does beg the question of whether the Broncos are the worst best team in NFL history, great fodder for sports radio talking heads. With the Avalanche, there is no question. This is the real deal.
Sports continues to be the distraction we all need.
Shana Goldberg may be reached at shana@ijn.com.
© IJN 2026
