2026
It is still jarring to say the year out loud: 2026. Time is one of those concepts that feels simple to understand yet difficult to fully grasp. We know it moves forward relentlessly, but we often lose sight of just how quickly it does so. It may sound cliché, but clichés tend to exist for a reason. Time, perhaps more than anything else, reminds us of that truth.
When I was younger, back in elementary school (K–6, roughly 2005–2011), I used an unusual way to conceptualize the future. I would anchor upcoming years to the FIFA games released around that time. FIFA 18. FIFA 22. FIFA 26. Even then, those years felt distant, almost awkward to say, as though they belonged to some far-off version of reality. Of course, we all knew those years would eventually arrive, but not like this, not so quickly.
Somewhere between starting university, graduating, and stepping into adulthood, time accelerated. Back then, days felt long and progress felt slow. In hindsight, those years vanished in what now feels like a blink.
What Are My Goals?
There is a longstanding tradition of reflecting at the start of a new year of writing down goals for the next 365 days, often framed around self-improvement. Studies frequently suggest that writing goals down increases the likelihood of achieving them. Whether or not that is universally true, the ritual itself seems to offer people a sense of clarity and control.
Historically, I have never been the type to write things down with the intention of revisiting them later (I can chalk this up to my inherent laziness). I have lived much of my life by going with the flow. That approach has its downsides, but surprisingly, it has also brought unexpected benefits. For 2026, I will continue in that same spirit. I do not plan to define my year through specific, measurable benchmarks.
However, there is one aspiration that outweighs all others.
I want to be happy.
Misery is universal. It exists across all races, social classes, and circumstances. No one is immune to it. Happiness, on the other hand, feels like the closest thing we have to life’s version of nirvana. I have experienced both extremes—the highs that feel untouchable and the lows that feel suffocating. Of the two, nothing compares to happiness, and it is something I pray for daily.
When your mind is clear and gratitude anchors you, you become resilient in ways that are difficult to describe. There is a quiet strength in that state—one so powerful that even adversity hesitates before testing it. This is why the often-dismissed phrase “money can’t buy happiness” holds more truth than many are willing to admit. We are reminded of this constantly by the wealthiest individuals, many of whom possess everything except peace.
Of course, I want the conventional things: better health, productivity, progress, and achievement. These are the goals people typically outline at the beginning of a new year. But more than anything, I want to pursue those things while being genuinely happy.
So here’s to 2026.
I hope it grants me that destiny.
ZP
Leave a Reply