Every year on my birthday I strive to do something new to make it memorable, and set intention for the year ahead. A week ago I went skydiving, something I never imagined myself doing.

In the hours before, hesitation lingered. Apprehension has a way of getting loud at the edge, offering sensible reasons to stay put, to choose comfort, to delay. And yet, beneath it all was something else, a quiet wonder about what might happen if I trusted the moment and stepped forward.

Once I was inside the helicopter, everything shifted. The fear dissolved into joy. There was laughter, energy, and an unexpected lightness. The jump itself was adrenaline filled, yes, but also clarifying. Time narrowed and presence sharpened. As I saw Mt. Fuji and flew through the clouds, I felt fully alive in a way that only happens when you move beyond a self imposed limit. It was more incredible than I ever imagined.

That experience has stayed with me, as has the word jump.

One jump is professional. Choosing to explore new leadership opportunities brings its own edge. It is about recognizing when growth asks for movement, and when following your north star becomes the most honest next step. The hesitation is familiar, the same internal dialogue, the same pull toward comfort, but so is the sense that standing still no longer fits.

Another jump is returning to school. January rarely arrives with fanfare in schools. It feels less like a reset and more like a return, a continuation of work already in motion. We do not begin again so much as step back in, carrying what we have learned, what we are still questioning, and what may be ready for its next phase. This jump is quieter, but no less important. It is a recommitment to presence, and a choice to engage fully rather than operate on autopilot.

What connects these moments is intention. Each one poses the same question, do we linger at the edge, or do we step through? To seize the day is not to be reckless. It is to recognize the invitation to trust ourselves and the opportunities life provides. There will always be edges, in careers, in leadership, in learning.

This year does not ask for a frantic leap into the dark. It asks for a steady jump, grounded in a north star and the trust that what we have built is enough to carry us to something better than we imagined.

Happy 2026. Have an excellent year ahead!