2026

Photo by BoliviaInteligente on Unsplash

Here are a few thoughts that I’m taking with me into 2026, I hope some of them resonate with you.

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1. Gratitude: express gratitude for the little and mundane things. Be grateful for the ability to choose — cook or eat out, drive or Uber, wear the black or blue jeans. These are things we usually don’t think about and they seem inconsequential, but knowing some aren’t able to choose should give you pause and maybe make you express gratitude for the seemingly inconsequential things.
2. Blind spot(s): we all have blind spots which we may or may not be aware of or admit to. Ask a few trusted people (wife, husband, friend, kid, colleague, parent, etc.) to tell you what they consider your blind spot(s). Consider the feedback you receive and determine what you’ll do with it, especially if it’s something that’s new to you. The feedback you receive may be an opportunity for you to become a better human, improve your craft or it may just be a data point you choose not to do anything about.
3. Tell your story: “until the lion tells the story, the hunter will always be the hero” — so much happens over time that we forget the battles fought, won and lost, lessons learned from different things, or just random funny things you come across every so often. I’m not advocating for you to be so self-absorbed and become narcissistic, but like in the corporate world where you need to tell your own story and document your achievements, you need to tell your stories. Telling your stories may be cathartic, it may encourage someone else and it may help you self-correct on some level.
4. Reduce screen time: start a new hobby or activity that doesn’t involve using your phone or a screen. I know it’s almost impossible to rid ourselves of our phones or screens, but you can make a deliberate effort to start a new hobby that takes you away from your phone or any form of screen. Learn to fish or play golf. Start a monthly (board) games activity with your mates, run, hike, knit, crochet, volunteer. Anything, just do something that doesn’t involve using a screen.
5. Bits and bobs: most, if not all of the next things you’ll read have appeared in my previous notes but I think they’re still relevant and useful. Enjoy life. Be curious — in the words of Steve Jobs, “stay hungry, stay foolish.” Eat ice cream (what’s life without ice cream?). Travel. Make great memories. Mentor someone. Give your expertise to someone for free. Pay attention to your physical and mental health. Deepen your friendships and relationships. Read. Write. Take (calculated) risks.

Here’s to an amazing 2026! Godspeed!