Stacking up on AWE + New experiences

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Chasing the Norther Lights, Norway January 2026.

I've been quiet lately, intentionally.

Not only did I limit social time in 2025, but for the first time in 7+ years we had a month long family holiday. It was designed as a bucket list trip as I knew it most likely would be the last family holiday given we now live with an 18 and 23 yro who we’ve encouraged to venture out into the world. So we did it all - White Christmas, Christmas markets, top of Europe, Matterhorn, NYE on the Champs Elysée, Northern Lights, Norway, reindeers, whale watching, snow mobiles, dog sledding.

It was magical. I loved travelling with our grown up kids. But this is not a social update.

I found myself experiencing and breathing in "continuous" moments of awe, absorbing the beauty of the world around us - its environment, man made structures, cultures and people.  As a result reflecting on how lucky we are to be Australian, also knowing it’s a result of our choice to be in the arena, in the game of life fully and wholeheartedly.

My energy was not only renewed, my capacity lifted as did my hope for the future. I felt strong and optimistic about what 2026 would offer up, a real contrast to how the same person entered 2025.

It was a reminder of how important it is to not just take breaks (most of us understand this well), but chase opportunity to breathe in awe after awe after awe, truly lay down our work mentally and emotionally, connect, laugh and experience new things to broaden our thinking.

2025 threw lots of challenges my way, and I believe for the most part I approached them with grace, but internally I felt myself retracting, experiencing anger, a lot of shame, guilt and pessimism, all very foreign to how I like to approach my world.  

And so to amp up your leadership and wellbeing in 2026, give these tips consideration;

• Intentionally seek AWE and "stack it" as a leader recently said to us!

• Rest is not enough, it's a part of the equation. Create a period where you can lay down your work mentally and emotionally.

• Experience lots of new things, and intentionally place yourself in new challenges.  Capacity, confidence and energy will grow.  

• Laugh! Monopoly Deal with family and friends helps!

• Make Values based decisions as you will never regret or rethink the outcome.

• When challenges start "stacking up" break away from them completely, do the above, then dive back in.

Happy January.