It’s time for Tuesday Topics, which I host with Jenn from Runs With Pugs. But it’s ALSO time to get out your Festivus mugs and air those grievances! I’ll be doing some feats of strength (aka upper body strength workout) and don’t forget to let your loved ones know all the ways in which they’ve disappointed you this year (in case you have no idea what I’m talking about and just think I’ve lost my mind, here’s all the info you need).
Let’s get back on track. Today’s topic is 2026 Goals, and well… I don’t have any yet. But on Sunday, I had a few hours to sit in Barnes and Noble and start to wrap my mind around what 2026 is going to look like for me.
This is a big year. In 2026 I will turn SIXTY. Yikes! That sounds so old! I don’t feel old! But maybe I AM old and I just don’t know it! What’s going on, anyway??? 2026 is also the year my daughter will start her senior year of high school, and we have some other changes coming up for the family (sorry to be so vague- I promise I will be able to talk about these “changes” soon!)
Anyway… it won’t be just any old year for me, and I need more time to really think about what I want and how to go about achieving it. Stayed tuned!
As I mentioned before, the reason I had some time to myself on Sunday is that I drove my daughter and her friend to Orlando for an anime convention. We left the house at 6:30 am, and returned home (after six hours round trip of driving) around 8:30 pm. I walked through the door to discover… my husband and son had CLEANED THE ENTIRE HOUSE. And I mean, really cleaned. They dusted, mopped, cleaned off the kitchen counters, scrubbed the sinks… the house looks beautiful.
When I saw it, tears literally came to my eyes. They realized I needed help and they came through. I can’t even explain what a relief it is to be cleaned up and ready for Christmas Eve, when we’ host a dinner. It was truly a Festivus miracle.
Link Up With Tuesday Topics
Welcome back to Tuesday Topics, as Jenny, from Runners Fly joins Jenn at Runs With Pugs to co-host this link-up! Please join us every week for a new topic! Write on our weekly prompt or choose your own topic! Make sure to add your post to the link up, link back to your hosts, and comment on the other shared posts!
Do you have goals for 2026?
30 Responses
It’s a big year and anything can happen! 60 is just getting started. From what I’ve read so far in SHU’s book, she says not to rush the goal planning, so that’s a good piece of advice to take!
Yes for the Festivus miracle of your husband and son reading your mind and giving you a thoroughly cleaned house! They could not have gotten you (or themselves) a better gift. I came home on Friday to a dirty house which would be fine if it had just been the Hubs but was not fine since we have two little elves sitting around doing nothing. I had to ask but they got it done!
Yes, it’s kind of annoying to have to ask- um, can you not SEE that the house is a wreck??? But- at least they did it.
How awesome is that? Your husband and son stepped up and cleaned the house. The talk about the Chore-athon must have helped 😉
Oh, and you do have a big year coming up. 60 is not old, but a milestone for sure and I understand that you want to make the best of it.
How are you liking your new planner so far?
I like it! Although I can’t say I’ve really delved into it. I filled in all the January info and that’s it so far.
I think the Chore-athon definitely lit a spark : )
60 sounds big on paper, but with the way you run and lift, age is just a number!
I like that you’re giving yourself time to shape real goals instead of forcing them. Speaking of goals – didn’t you once mention a 50-miler in 2026?
Also: yay for a clean house! Wordless support is everything!
It’s going to be a 60 miler ON my actual birthday!!! And yes- when I tried to formulate goals on Sunday I did feel like I was forcing it. I need more than just a few hours to decompress.
Oh, I am tearing up a little at your Festivus miracle! What a kind and thoughtful surprise! Those are some excellent men, Jenny.
Sixty sounds like it is going to be an amazing start to a new decade!
Yes, I’ll have to remember this next time I get annoyed at them! They are excellent.
Jenny, my love language is Acts of Service and my heart grew like 1,000x while reading about your cleaning “miracle”. Mom’s/wives do so much at Christmas (and ALL YEAR LONG) and it is so nice to be seen, understood, and HELPED. There is something so precious and unique about being helped without being asked.
I can only imagine the sense of relief – especially after being away all day. This post has MADE MY DAY!!!!
Yay! I’m glad to hear it Elisabeth. And yes- it took me a while to figure it out, but my love language is definitely acts of service as well.
Wow, wow, wow. Super gold stars to your husband and son, what a gift to you. Well, a gift for you all, because you all get to enjoy a bit more time together instead of spending the time cleaning. No goals here, and I’m not going to set any. I have my 101 list and I’ll be finishing up the current one and starting a new one in the middle of the year, so that is enough.
A 101 list is plenty! I’ve also thought about doing that instead of regular goals… we’ll see.
If my husband ever cleaned I’d have a heart attack.
Lucky you.
60 is not old. IMO. Obviously.
I had barely started running by 60. And since then 3 marathons and more than 70 half’s. Age is just a number.
Are you moving back to NY?? Joking.
See you in Feb.
Way to go Paul and your husband!! That is THE BEST GIFT they could have given you! What a wonderful gift!!
I started to make a list of potential 25 in 2026 tasks but have some extras so need to figure out what makes the cut. I decided to stay with 25 because it fits nicely on a bingo card! And I don’t want to keep increasing the number of goals. I also have put all the non school days in the Shutterfly calendar I make each year and added some of my work trips. I’ve put that in my clever fox planner as well. I love setting up a new planner.
60! Wahoo!! You do not look 60! And you are joining excellent company as I know Nicole is 60 and I think Birchie might be, too!
Jenny, I have tears in my eyes reading about that kind act your husband and son displayed for you, and displayed with elbow grease at that! What a wonderful early Christmas gift!
Merry Christmas to you and your family!
You certainly embody “age is just a number” because you are NOT old. I’m sure your 2026 plans include a lot of miles — hopefully injury free for this lap a our around the sun. 😉
Wow, wow, won on coming home to a sparkling clean house. That would have made my day too.
Happy Festivus!
What a lovely Festivus miracle! It’s both that they cleaned the house AND saw that you needed the house cleaned. My heart is so full!
That is the best feeling to come home to an unexpectedly clean house after spending so much time doing something nice for your daughter and her friend! Gold stars, all around.
Jenny, I got so emotional about your Festivus miracle too! How lovely of your fam!
You and Julie are so twinning–what with the holiday cards and turning 60 :)!
What a nice surprise to come home to a clean house! 2026 sounds like a big year for you. You already have one goal – to run 60 miles for your 60th birthday. That’s a big one.
I have a few goals but I’m having a hard time getting beyond 8-10 things. Some of which are small and easily achievable.
Your Festivus miracle is such a wonderful surprise!
I’m trying to look at aging as a gift, and I hope to still be running ultras when I get to your age! I love when I see older runners at races still crushing it because they’re proving that age is just a number.
Happy Festivus! I’m planning to watch that Seinfeld episode today.
I don’t have goals, either!! We still have more than a week of 2025!!!
You look fantastic for 60 and are in better shape than most of the 40 year olds I know. 🙂 We have quite a bit in common! I’m only a couple of years younger (2026 I’ll be 58) and my daughter is also going to be starting her senior of high school next year! She got her first job yesterday (won’t start until the new year, but is in the process of doing paperwork, etc) and is taking her driver’s test later today! I feel like every year is a big one now. My daughter will likely be going to Community College, so I will get a year or two more with her at home, but it is a little unnerving to think about her moving away. I love that your family cleaned your house (and REALLY cleaned it – not just picked up – such a difference) for you! Best gift ever! Hope you have a very merry Christmas!
I hear you on 60 feeling old…I’m ahead of you, I turn 60 next week! It does feel old. I didn’t feel that at 30, 40, or 50. Oh well. I have no plans for next year other than I want to go to France, and am working on making that happen.
Yay to your husband and son cleaning the house, that will make the holiday lead up so much more enjoyable! Also, the feeling of not having to be the one that does EVERY THING is a good one. My daughter worked from home yesterday and did a lot of cleaning during her down time, which made me happy. She’s convinced herself that she’s the only one that does anything around here. HAHAHAHA!
I just wanted to say Merry Christmas and I am so happy your husband and son cleaned your house! I rarely comment but love reading your blog! I used to join in for the weekly rundown and Tuesday topics, but stopped blogging earlier this year due to injury and the loss of my oldest son. I may start back again in 2026. But I wanted to let you know I have enjoyed keeping up with your journey this year and am excited about your trail run for your 60th birthday (not sure if you remember, but when I participated in the weekly rundowns I was another trail runner!)!
Looking forward to new goals really take time and thinking! I’ve been doing it this week and feeling excited with the new year.
2026 will be great for all of us, no matter what changes and challenges come up. right?!
60 isn’t old! I know it feels that way (and I feel the same about 52) but it isn’t really, lots of people are kicking ass at 60, and so do you.
How fantastic that your husband and son cleaned the house! What a lovely surprise for you.
I also had a wonderful Christmas miracle surprise today – there is a black female kitten available for us!! I might even have photos for the next Weekly rundown… he said we can collect her on Saturday.
I hope you eventually found my reply to your comment on my blog (I thought you might just need to reload the page as I need to do on some blogs, but maybe you did?)
Happy Christmas to you and your family!
Aw. You’re absolutely not old! I think 2026 will be a great year for you!
Love that your husband and son cleaned for you! That’s so incredibly thoughtful and special!
Now that is a true gift!!
I do not have goals and plan on not having goals. I may be allergic to goals.
BUT!
I do want to go to Russia with the kids to see dad, I do want to stop by the south of France on the way back sooo… I guess I do have goals?
I do want to exercise. I do want more date nights with Tony. I do want to feel human since I’m in perimenopause and feel… savage most times. lol mood wise.
What a sweet gift from your husband and son! That is so thoughtful of them. Good job, Jenny’s husband and son!
I have a lot of goals for 2026 but the main theme is to feel better and STOP GOING TO SO MANY DOCTORS’ APPOINTMENTS.