We are a few days into January now. The calendars are fresh, routines are starting to settle back in, and the energy of a new year still feels close enough to touch. This feels like the right moment to pause. Not to reset everything, but to intentionally choose how we want to move forward.
As a family, we talked about what we want this year to feel like. What we want more of. What we do not want to rush past.
Not rigid resolutions.
Not pressure filled promises.
Just intentions.
Recently, I asked the kids how they would describe our family. Their answer came quickly and confidently.
Adventurous. Active. Curious.
Those three words feel like both a reflection of who we are and a compass pointing forward. They also pair perfectly with my word for 2026.
Outside.
Not as a location, but as a way of living.
Outside in nature.
Outside routines.
Outside comfort zones.
Outside is where our family feels most like ourselves.
My Intentions for 2026
Word of the Year: Outside
Last year, I logged 160 miles on the treadmill. That number is not impressive in a competitive sense, but it represents something real. Choosing movement even when motivation was low. This year, my goal is to double that mileage, not just for the number, but as a reminder that movement opens the door to more time outdoors. Strong legs mean longer hikes. More endurance means more adventures.
Being outside is not just physical, though. It is mental and emotional too.
I want to stretch myself creatively and practically by earning my FAA drone pilot license. Learning something new feels aligned with being outside in every sense of the word. Outside my comfort zone. Outside familiar skill sets. Outside the box of what I think I can do.
Curiosity is another value I want to protect. Life can quietly shrink when routines take over, so I am committing to trying something new every month. A new food. A new experience. Or a book I would not normally choose. Curiosity thrives when we step outside what is familiar.
Connection matters too. Community does not happen accidentally. I want to be intentional about getting together with my girlfriends every other month. Often that will mean walks, hikes, or simply being outside together instead of defaulting to busy schedules and screens.
And then there is Awake to Adventure. In 2026, my goal is to grow the brand and gain 5k followers, as proof that living outside, telling stories, and choosing presence over perfection can grow into something meaningful and sustainable for our family.
My 2026 goals
- Double treadmill miles from 160 to 320
- Earn my FAA drone pilot license
- Learn One Outdoor Skill Together Each Month
- January: Drone flying & aerial photography
- February: Packing & gear organization
- March: Geocaching: Create a new one
- April: Fire building & campfire safety
- May: Basic first aid & outdoor safety
- June: Trail journaling or nature sketching
- July: Trail etiquette & Leave No Trace principles
- August: Star gazing & night navigation
- September: Basic map reading & navigation
- October: Biking skills & trail confidence
- November: Animal tracking & signs
- December: Knot tying basics
- Get together with my girlfriends every other month
- Gain 5k from Awake to Adventure
My Son’s New Year Goals
His goals are wonderfully straightforward. Active. Measurable. Completely his. There is something refreshing about that kind of clarity.
His goals
- Read all the Dog Man books
- Do 5 push ups and 10 sit ups every day
- Complete 200 jumping jacks each month
There is a quiet confidence in goals you can track, count, and feel proud of.
My Daughter’s New Year Wish
Her resolution is less about numbers and more about wonder & adventure.
Her goal
- Go skydiving, to touch the clouds
She is 6 years ols, so real skydiving is not realistic. But the heart behind it is exactly what I hope she never loses. She wants to feel brave. She wants to fly. She wants to experience something magical.
Little does she know, we already have a surprise planned. This spring, on our cruise, she will get to try iFly, which safely mimics skydiving. She may not touch the clouds, but she will get close enough to believe she did.
Her wish
- Go skydiving to touch cloudland
Looking Ahead
Five days into the year, this does not feel like a fresh start so much as a gentle alignment. A reminder of what matters before life speeds up again.
If I am reading this a year from now, I hope I can say that we spent more time outside than in. That we chose nature over noise. That we moved our bodies, followed our curiosity, and stayed adventurous.
Here is to growing into the words our kids already see in us.
And to a year lived, as often as possible, outside.
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