Moving Into 2026 With Intention

Every year, I try to kick things off with a clean slate. Not the “new year, new me” nonsense. More of a mental reset. As the previous year comes to a close, I always ask myself how I want to approach the year ahead.

And this year, the answer came to me during a 10-mile hike I did on my birthday.

At some point during the 5-hour hike, I kicked my shoes off and walked barefoot through the trails. Which might sound crazy if you’ve never done a grounding exercise before, but let me tell you, it really forces you to pay attention. 

When you’re barefoot, you can’t rush. You don’t get to take sloppy steps. Every move matters. Your feet feel every rock, leaf, mud pile, and sharp edge. And if you stop paying attention, you’re going to hurt yourself. Simple as that.

I had my friend’s son with me, so I asked him what he thought the point of walking barefoot was. He shrugged, because he’s a kid and didn’t overthink it. So I began to explain that in life, you have to be intentional with every step you take or you might hurt yourself.

Life isn’t one long stretch of flat ground. It changes under you constantly. Some seasons are easy. Some require balance. Some force you to slow down whether you want to or not. And if you’re not paying attention, you end up reacting instead of choosing.

As I stepped into the new year, that lesson kept circling back. I don’t want 2026 to be about speed. I’ve had fast seasons. I’ve had full seasons. This year needs to be a thoughtful one. A year where I actually pause before I move. A year where I stop letting momentum make decisions I should be making myself.

Intentionality feels like the right theme for where I’m at now. Not doing everything, but doing the things that align with the life I want to build next. Not filling up the calendar just because there’s space. Not sprinting through the year and hoping clarity shows up along the way.

That hike was a reminder that every step matters. How I move, what I choose, and the pace I set aren’t accidents. They’re decisions. And this year, I plan to make those decisions with a lot more intention.

Here’s to moving through 2026 with a steadier rhythm and a clearer head.

– G aka the Barefoot Philosopher

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