One Question That Could Change Your Year
"Where there is no vision, the people perish." Proverbs 29:18.
Last week my XYL 2026 calendar came in—and yes, it takes up half my wall (see the picture below of my 2025 calendar).
I love this calendar because it helps me be proactive instead of reactive. I can see my entire year at a glance. I map out trips, competitions, XYL events, intentional time with family, and all the big moments that matter.
Then I step back.
I notice where I’ve over-planned.
Where there’s space to rest.
Where I can protect time with the people I love.
And instead of hoping for an epic year, I get to intentionally create one.
What I think
As human beings, it’s easy to get caught in the routine of wake up, work, eat dinner, go to bed… repeat.
And don’t get me wrong—I love a solid routine, and structure matters (I’ll talk more about that next week). But here’s the question it brings up:
We are living… but are we truly alive?
The moments I’ve felt most alive didn’t happen by accident. They were moments Iintentionally planned, not ones I hoped would just show up.
They were:
Time fully present with my family
Signing up for a race that scared me and excited me at the same time
Climbing a mountain and being out in nature
This is where the verse above comes into play. “Perish” doesn’t have to mean physical death—it can look like spiritual numbness. Like drifting through life without fully waking up to the God-given potential placed within you.
So I’ll ask you:
Are you creating vision for where you’re headed—or letting life decide for you?
Are you making time for what you truly value?
Are you putting things on your calendar that make you feel alive?
This connects to the #1 regret people share on their deathbed:
“I wish I’d had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me.”
Oof. That one’s worth sitting with.
The one degree shift
Choose one thing to put on your 2026 calendar that scares you and excites you at the same time.
Climb the mountain.
Take the trip.
Spend intentional time with your family.
Vision doesn’t just change your year—it changes how you live.
Your future self will thank you for the courage you choose today.
PS - we have some epic events coming out for XYL in 2026. Hiking in Yellowstone, retreats for you to breakthrough mentally, lifting events and more. Be on the lookout because it might be a memory maker for you.
Want to learn more?
I recorded a short podcast on courage over comfort that will inspire you to put those memories on your calendar and give you the tools to be courageous this year. Hope you enjoy :)
