December 28, 2025

Every year I purposely take off from Christmas through the New Year. When I was the CEO of PsychCare I used that time to reflect and plan goals and priorities for the new year. Now that I am retired, I focus on trying to live a purposeful life through our foundation Hope for Today. Transition to retirement can be difficult and takes intention to be meaningful.

One thing that has not changed is that I take this time to be grateful for the many blessings in my life and thank God for his provisions.

Gratitude, humility, and kindness are more than just “nice-to-haves” in your life; they’re fundamental to building strong connections, boosting resilience, and in many ways reaching success. Gratitude involves recognizing and appreciating positive things, while humility is staying grounded and open to feedback. Kindness, meanwhile, reflects respect and empathy for others. Together, these traits create a resilient, adaptable mindset that’s essential for personal and professional growth.

Unfortunately, I have found that far too many successful individuals develop a sense of arrogance. Arrogance often stems from a lack of self-esteem, as it reflects a need to elevate oneself at the expense of others, compensating for underlying insecurities. Instead of confidence, arrogance showcases an often-fragile self-image that relies on external validation and superiority, making it a mask for inner doubt rather than a genuine expression of self-assurance.

Take a moment now and think about something that you are grateful for from the last year. If you are like me, it will probably involve another person and more often than not a random act of kindness. I am convinced that when we look back on our lives, we are most grateful for the moments we spend with those we loved and for those who loved us.

I would also recommend that you take the time and see if there is someone that you may need to forgive who hurt you during the last year (or perhaps from years past) Hanging on to anger and resentment takes mental and emotional energy. Courageous people do not fear forgiving, for the sake of peace. To help my patients get started, I frequently recommend the book “Forgiveness Is a Choice,” by Robert Enright. Forgiveness allows you to move forward feeling freer and fulfilled instead of filled with bitterness. What a good way to start 2026!

I always say: “What really makes you happy? What fills your heart with the deepest sense of meaning and purpose? In 2026, Do those things. And do them with Joy!

Our son Jimmy and daughter-in-law Kayla recently sent us this video of our grandchildren. The twins have recently discovered how to hold hands together and I crack up every time I watch it. They are so happy together!

I would encourage you to lock arms and joyfully walk together with someone you love into the New Year. You will be amazed at how a grateful attitude can open your eyes and unlock a whole new world of adventure.

Wishing you A Blessed Year in 2026.