We’re a few days into this new year. Did you spend any time during the past week reflecting on 2025 or setting intentions for 2026? I did some of each, both personally and professionally. At the end of a year that held momentous change for me personally, it has felt important to let go of all the shifts and turmoil of last year and intentionally bring some different energy into 2026.
I took the photo above back in June, and it certainly seemed appropriate for what was unfolding in me at the time. I was headed into what felt like unmapped territory. It feels even more appropriate now as I peer ahead into this new year. The pavement has ended. I dutifully traveled along a well-worn, socially approved asphalt roadway for decades. But that approach stopped working for me—many more than nine months ago, if I’m honest. I’ve been forging a bumpier, less-established dirt pathway for a while now.
During the past year, that dirt pathway sometimes got muddy, with rain and with tears. Ruts developed, making the way forward challenging. Other times, I veered off the hard surface onto softer ground—intentionally or not. Many times, I stopped altogether and just camped out amidst the pines, allowing myself time to breathe, rest, recover, and reframe.
In this new year, I welcome not being on a paved roadway. I have always been happier on hiking trails, out amongst the pine trees or saguaros. I don’t know exactly what lies ahead for me on a practical level in 2026, beyond the need to find a new home now that the house in Marana has finally sold (the closing occurred literally ten years to the day from when we bought it!). There’s a real freedom in that unknowing, and I’m grateful for it. I intend to stroll with awareness, rest often, and trust God’s guidance in the continued unfolding of this next chapter in my life.
As you head into this new year, what are you noticing—about pathways, roadways, or other markers on your life’s journey? What shifts are you wanting to make, or already embracing, in 2026?
