There’s something I’m seeing more and more across leadership teams right now.

Leaders are being asked to operate at an even higher level than ever before, often with fewer resources while navigating constant change, and teams that are also feeling stretched.

And leaders are asking themselves, ‘How do I sustain this?’

Recently, I had the opportunity to keynote speak about Leadership Resilience and Navigating Change for a group of senior HR leaders at Co-operators.

What stood out wasn’t just the conversation—it was the willingness in the room to pause, reflect, and talk honestly about pressure, burnout, and what it really takes to lead in today’s environment.

Recently, I was walking through university open houses with my daughters. As we talked about programs, imagining what their lives might look like in just a few short years, I had this moment where it hit me.

Who am I going to be when they go?

But if you are like me, it doesn’t end there. As I get closer to turning 50 in May, I am finding that so many pillars of my identity are starting to shift all at once.

So when I step back and look at it all, I can see what’s happening…

If you look closely at this photo, you’ll notice something I couldn’t quite hide with makeup: a dark bruise forming on my chin. Broken blood vessels. Courtesy of my dog, and physics.

I was opening the trunk of my SUV, freeing my dog’s pulley leash system (the one that lets him pull me on cross-country skis). The metal clasp caught… and released like a slingshot, straight into my face. I didn’t see it coming. I couldn’t have planned for it. And it hurt like hell.

Which got me thinking about leadership, purpose… and resilience. In my years spent in the corporate world, I trained myself to plan for A, B, C, and D.

According to the Chinese Zodiac, 2026 is the Year of the Horse. I invite you to read this article to find out what this year could have in store for you!

Before you write a single 2026 goal, you need to hear this truth about your 2025 that no one talks about.

Every December, leaders everywhere do the exact same thing: We sprint. We strategize. We look ahead.

What’s next? What should I achieve next year? What goal haven’t I hit yet?

But rarely—so rarely—do we stop and look back at the year behind us with the depth, compassion, and presence it deserves. We jump to the next mountain without pausing long enough to recognize the strength it took to climb the last one.

And yet, this is where our deepest power lies.