Progress not perfection: A 2026 Progress Report5 min read

At the beginning of this year, I shared something very personal with you. I shared my dreams for 2026 and my commitment to making this year different. Not because last year was bad, but because sometimes life calls us to step forward more intentionally. And as I approach a milestone birthday, turning sixty next month, I knew deep down that I wanted to close out this decade with purpose, courage, and a little bit of adventure.

So today is simply a progress report.

Since July of 2011, you have walked alongside me on this journey through Charity Matters. You have been my sounding board, my encouragement, my accountability partners, and quite honestly, my inspiration. When I wrote my Dreams for 2026 post, it felt a bit like standing at the edge of a new chapter. I wasn’t entirely sure what it would look like, but I knew that if I was going to dream big, I needed to act.

The first promise I made to myself this year was to grow. To do something that scared me and stretched me in ways that show vulnerability. For me, that meant committing to something that both excites and terrifies me…..public speaking. I like to talk and maybe a little too much sometimes. While I do speak to nonprofit groups, leadership conferences, and audiences who care deeply about service. I really want to improve, to refine the message and  become a better storyteller.

In February, I committed to taking a public speaking class. Not because I had to, but because I wanted to get better. I wanted to sharpen the message of service that has changed my life and that sits at the heart of Charity Matters. I wanted to better craft the stories that remind people that helping others is not just something nice to do, it is often the very thing that heals us.

Each week in class we work on refining stories, clarifying our message, and identifying the tools we can give an audience so that they leave not only inspired but empowered to act. It has been challenging and invigorating all at the same time. Some days I leave feeling confident, other days humbled, but every week I know I am exactly where I am supposed to be. Because if we believe in growth, we have to be willing to do the work.

Like many of us, I set great New Year’s goals around health and fitness.  I had big plans…exercise, strength, preparation for the adventures ahead. And like so many things in life, those plans hit a bit of a detour. Right now, instead of running around at full speed, I find myself learning to walk again since my ski accident in February. The crutches are gone and now replaced with a cane.  This was certainly not part of the plan. In fact, if I’m honest, it has been a lesson in patience and humility. But as we all know, the best laid plans sometimes take their own path.

Healing takes time, and perhaps this is simply a reminder to slow down and listen to the body as much as the heart. There hasn’t been much choice.  I have been working so hard in physical therapy because I have had a clear goal for healing and regaining strength for what lies ahead. And what lies ahead is something I am incredibly excited about.

This year, in celebration of turning sixty, a group of friends and I will be traveling to Spain to walk the Camino de Santiago together. If you have ever dreamed about walking the Camino, you know that it is more than just a physical journey. It is a pilgrimage. One that offers reflection, friendship, laughter, and a chance to reconnect with what matters most.

Until recently, it was a little unclear if I would be able to make it. Doctors said that I am good to go. As a result, I have been working so hard physically to rehab. This trip is the result of one of the best decisions  made this year  which was scheduling our fun first. Instead of waiting for the calendar to magically create space for joy, we put it there ourselves. We made the commitment to adventure, to friendship, and to celebration. Now life is simply filling in the cracks around those moments. And honestly, that might be one of the biggest lessons of this year so far.

Too often we plan work first and hope life fits in somewhere later. This year we flipped that script. We planned the joy, the connection,  the memories and the rest will come. So while the year is only mid way through, I can say this much:  this year has tested me in ways I have not been tested before. Growth is happening. Dreams are moving. Healing, physical therapy and training are all underway. And adventure is on the horizon.

Most importantly, I am reminded once again that dreams don’t come true simply because we write them down. They come to life because we take small, brave steps toward them each day. Thank you for continuing to walk this journey with me. As always, your encouragement reminds me that none of us dream alone.

And if the first few months of this year are any indication, 2026 is going to continue to test me and to stretch me.  Here is to hoping that we all come out stronger on the other side!