This year was not a perfectly optimized year. It was a human one.

Days with family quietly increased in a way I couldn’t have predicted a few years ago. Our parents are aging and beginning to need more support. Because of that, we made more frequent and longer trips. What surprised me most was the ripple effect. Being nearby more often meant seeing more of my siblings and extended family too. It was nice to have more “surface area” of time to have longer conversations, cook meals, get to know spouses and partners better, or simply be in each others presence with down time.  

It wasn’t glamorous travel. It was caregiving, errands, shared meals, and late night talks. And it felt good.

Travel overall looked different than I originally imagined. We were on the road often, but much of it revolved around helping family rather than adventure for adventure’s sake. Still, we made space for things that felt life giving to my travel loving heart. One extended weekend at an event my partner and I both love. A coastal road trip to visit old friends who moved. A solo beach trip that gave me time to rest and reset.

As I reflect, I realize I want more travel in 2026 that is chosen purely for curiosity, exploration, and shared fun. Family will remain a priority, but I don’t want obligation to quietly crowd out adventure.

Friendship this year felt intentional. I doubled my visits-with-friends goal because I wanted to stretch myself. I wanted to be the one who reaches out. The one who’s happy to host or to come to them. The one who says yes to impromptu gatherings. We came close to the number, but what mattered more was the energy and intention. Dinners happened. Walks happened. Long conversations unfolded. The goal did its job by shaping my motivation and actions, reinforcing that relationships require motion.

Time spent near the ocean is the category that continues to reveal tension. I love being near the water. It restores me in a way few other places do. My partner doesn’t value it the same way, so most trips are solo. I actually lov sol trips, but…. I hesitate. Because I question spending the money on myself. I cancel when conditions don’t feel perfect because I dont want to spend so much resources on a less than idea opportunity. And then I feel the absence.

That feeling has been instructive. It’s one of the few areas where I sense deprivation in our otherwise abundant life. That tells me something important. Designing a great life doesn’t mean every value is equally shared. It means honoring what restores each person, even if it looks different. I’m still working through what that will look like next year.

Walking and hiking have been steady companions for years. In the past I put pressure on myself to hit five days a week, track it carefully, and check the box. This year felt different. It was a full year emotionally and logistically. I chose to release the pressure. Not because I didn’t value movement, but because I didn’t want it to become another metric demanding attention. I still walked most days and likely hit my five day goal in many weeks. But the mindset shifted. It became less about performance and more about headspace.