Water Finds A Way; or, do these get later and later every year?
My 2026 theme is Water Finds A Way, and being water-focused, I am going to wear more blues and cools this year. I want to be calmer, measured, cooler (heads). I will wear less red — I don’t need more fire and raging and proactiveness, but that doesn’t mean passivity; it means placid lakes at rest when it’s appropriate, and raging seas and pounding implacable waves when it’s time. I need more water in my life:
- Water is cool and calm and collected; water has depth and holds up under pressure; and water has an incredibly high [specific heat] capacity, capable of staying cool even when things get hot around it. Water has hidden depths, and you’d be surprised at the capacity and capability to pull you in and take what you throw at it and bounce back. Water also exists in a cycle, constantly in motion yet being renewed by activity and movement and change.
- Water is persistent and powerful; water keeps moving, keeps flowing, and doesn’t give up; water wears away at stone and rock and carves rivers into the land; water rusts metals and soaks living organisms and washes away everything else; water may be slow but doesn’t stop flowing, and just like time water will wear you out and wear you down.
- Water finds a way; eventually water will find the way out or the weak spot or the crack or crevice or through the maze; water is resilient and will flow around obstacles and adapt to circumstances; water finds a way.
Rather than chasing the new skills or the shiny things, now it’s time to become expert and adept at what I already know.
🟢 Physical Health: The Foundation (STR/CON) 💪
Water is persistent – it flows every day, reshaping the landscape bit by bit.
Last year, I achieved most of what I set out to do;
✅ Work out in the gym and run; 🚫not so much stretching
✅ Experiment with cooking; 🚫not so much regularly
✅ Aim for good sleep; 🚫 but miss, mostly.
I made quite a few advancements; cooked a couple of soups, banchan project v1 (spinach and bean sprouts), worked out. Overall I thought my health was doing okay, until I put my workouts into Claude. What a reality check; Claude savaged my workout regularity (irregular) and choice of program (I chose ALL THE PROGRAMS! and saw gains from none) and lots of mess.
So this year, it’s a simple thing. I’m going to lift: bodybuilding simplified protocol (A/B split) and do twice a week. Nothing else. Anything else (like long runs) will be a bonus:
I’m also going to continue working on sleep and nutrition. I’m trying to read more at night, avoiding screens (aside from my Kindle), and charging my phone in another room. Soups and banchan will continue.
🔴 Relationships: Depth Over Breadth (CHA) 💕
Water nurtures what matters – it doesn’t try to fill every vessel.
I will focus on loved ones and friends. I will show up for people and be generous, thoughtful, and giving.
🔵 Career: Show Up Strong (INT) 🎯
Water doesn’t announce itself – it just shows up consistently and does the work.
I will achieve career success.
🟠 Wealth: Build the Reservoir (WIS) 🏦
Water stores up in reservoirs for dry seasons.
I will have enough for more.
🟣 Spirit: Let It Flow Over You (WIS) 🌊
Water doesn’t fight the storm – it absorbs it, endures it, and remains water.
I will reflect more.
🟡 Mental: Clear the Silt (INT/WIS) 🧠
Water becomes clear when allowed to settle. It doesn’t force clarity.
I think this year I’m going to try to breathe more and meditate. I’m reading The Noble Eightfold Path, so this aspect of breathing and meditation and mindfulness I think is important. I will breathe.
It’s been three years, but the sign remains and persists.
And so do I.
I still believe.