Setting of the Goals, 2026 Edition

The year 2026 is rapidly approaching, and like every year for the last decade or so here I am bringing you a recap of last year’s goals, along with my new goals for 2026.

But first: song lyrics.

No shame, my most listened-to song this year was a real song from a fake musical about groundhogs.

If nothing's supposed to live forever, I'll give you a part of me I guarantee you'll find, In the winters and the springs, In the song your shadow sings, Forever is the things I leave behind.

Okay. On to the good and the bad. I didn’t hit bingo… but I did accomplish some things.

2025 Bingo Card Goals

(25 total — 1 free space)

• Get some letters or a certification to my name — Yes

• Finish Apollo, Apollo

• Publish The Tortoise and the Vulture

• Run a race — Yes

• Go to the dentist

• Go somewhere new — Yes

• Make something — Yes

• Write a letter/message to someone who inspired me and send it

• Go to a live performance (theatre, concert, etc.) — Yes

• Take an online course in a new skill — Yes

• Learn a new language

• Experiment with a new ingredient in a recipe — Yes

• Go to a business event where I don’t know anyone and make three new connections

• Develop a morning routine to start my day on the right foot

• Learn a practical skill

• Create a family painting or craft project to hang in the house — Yes

• Plant flowers or vegetables — Yes

• Create a mini family book club

• Backyard camping

• Eat at a Michelin-star restaurant

• Buy/make a weird coffee mug

• Let it be not my problem

• Get better at roller skating — Yes

• Do something charitable

• Freebie

But we shan’t dwell on the past. Let us look to the future.

Goals for 2026

• Run 1,000 tracked miles this year

• Take fun family self-portraits

• Finish and publish (or query) Sundown at Splashtown

• Participate in a multi-event race

• Make something usable

• Do something touristy in Florida that we’ve never done

• Create a fake holiday and celebrate it

• Create a tiny tradition that takes under 10 minutes

• Learn one party trick

• Create one keepsake for each of the girls that they can keep as adults

• Create a mini family book club

• Never be limited by lists

Go out and do something special. Let’s make 2026 a great year.