Stoically optimistic

I was asked recently how I was thinking about 2026.

After a little reflection on the past year I said, “Stoically optimistic”.

Upon a little more reflection, I tried to deconstruct what I meant — the optimistic part is self-explanatory because I tend to look to the positive when it comes to future prospects. But what did I mean by “stoically”? Was it about taking on whatever comes my way and that I will manage through it, even if it turns into a shit show?

Is it simply an attitude or is it an understanding of myself that has me believing in my capabilities? I have competencies and skills, can be a critical thinker, have a strong network, have goals to keep me on the path I have chosen, know that life is for living and that there is a right way to do it*. So, after a little more reflection, I want 2026 to be a great year but if it isn’t, I will work to make the best of it using all the tools at my disposal.

Tomorrow we get into 2026 full throttle — kids back to school and adults back to work with expectations and demands, social media and influencers will offer perspectives regarding everything you are doing incorrectly, and AI will be chipping away at your agency more than ever. Considering all of that and more, I don’t think having a little stoic optimism is a bad thing.

To everyone I know, and those I haven’t met yet, please have a safe and fulfilling 2026!!

iamgpe

*it’s worth reading Meditations by Marcus Aurelius because he has thoughts on this and many other things.

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A thief of good ideas

Over the years I have found there is a strange calm between Christmas and New Years — compared to the previous 51 weeks, it is disturbingly quiet. Why this is I can only hazard to guess but it probably has something to do with figuratively catching your breath and emotionally preparing to do it all over again but with a new calendar.

I am probably just transferring.

I also find myself reflecting on the events of the past year, as well as actively looking for commentary and ideas that may be useful in the coming year. Today I was listening to Ryan Holiday who is a modern champion of stoicism and someone I would recommend you free up some time for — his perspectives truly have stood the test of time. He introduced me to a new phrase I hadn’t heard before, and although it’s something not uttered by Marcus Aurelius, I still found it impactful.

“Don’t Yuck on someone else’s Yum”

It is a reminder to not be critical of someone else’s idea or opinion — you don’t have to like it or agree with it but it is their opinion so let them have it without any egotistical comment. Sure, there are ideas and opinions “that are ‘draw a line in the sand’ wrong” for moral, ethical, and legal reasons but that’s not what I am referring to in this context. I liked this phrase — it was because it was something new to me, aligned with my goals and is something actionable that would offer beneficial results to me.

It was a good idea in my mind. For one, it prevented needless friction but more importantly, it prevents “blind spots” that come with an ego and the belief your opinion or view is more important than someone else’s.

Although I don’t just look for ideas in the last week of the year, there is a concentrated effort in this last week to feed my thinking as I head into a new year. New ideas come about all the time, but in my view, most ideas are taken from someone else, and as a working model, it’s probably better to apply the view that there are few new ideas and it’s much easier to search for existing ones than create new ones.

There is a hierarchy to ideas you know, something akin to features, benefits, and value:

• A bad idea is better than no idea

• A good idea is better than a bad idea

• The best idea is one that aligns with your goals

I am always looking for ideas to steal, and although I like the romantic idea of coming up with a new and unique idea myself, I am very comfortable with “borrowing” someone else’s idea and using it with abandon. It really is fun searching for ideas that someone else has.

“Don’t Yuck on someone else’s Yum” is a great reminder not to let your preconceptions get in the way of the next idea you can take and that you should critically think about whether someone’s Yum is your next bad, good, or best idea before you cast judgement.

And why does it matter? It’s because idea statuses change and yesterday’s bad ideas can become today’s best idea so fill your idea funnel.

iamgpe

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Moments — Love in my heart

I have five days to bench press 200 pounds; it was a goal I set myself back in January when I noticed I could lift 170 pounds with little difficulty — shortly after, while playing outdoor shinny, I fell and jammed my shoulder… which then took six months to recover to a point that my goal seemed achievable again.

As I started to progress and feel the momentum building, I aggravated my other shoulder and tricep. That took six weeks to work through this injury, and as I looked at the calendar, my runway was getting short — and yes, it does scream “metaphor for life” but that’s for another time.

Today I wanted to see how my shoulders were holding up and how close I was to my target — I felt good and slowly progressed as I incrementally added weight to the bar. There comes a point, particularly when you are reaching your limit, when you need a spotter. A spotter is someone who watches over your lift to ensure you don’t crush yourself. In this case, I asked someone I didn’t know to watch and keep my ego from causing undue harm. He was more than happy to help and offered encouragement as I started my lift. I lifted 190 pounds with some help and made a new gym friend. I told him about my target and what I was trying to accomplish, and as he went back to his workout he said, “It’s good to have goals”.

My shoulders felt good and I was optimistic — just 10 more pounds… just 5% more. I only have five days left and as I said before, I’m working with a short runway — very short if truth be told. I will keep it up until the end and we will see.

As I started a light exercise, I caught the eye of another gym dude who smiled, dropped one side of his headphones, came over to bump fists, and said, “Hey”. In our conversation, I asked him if he was ready for 2026 and he looked at me strangely and said that, He only worries about the day he’s in and maybe the day after. “ He then put his hand to his chest and continued, “I live with love in my heart”.

He smiled, bumped my fist again, then went off to continue his workout.

So, with five days left in 2025, today I was reminded that perseverance brings progress, that the world is full of people willing to help and offer encouragement as you make your way, and love is a great energy to carry with you — whatever you happen to be doing.

iamgpe

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