My Focus 2026: Rebuilding My Life Force in a Season of Transition

As I step into 2026, I find myself in a season of transition — one that feels unfamiliar, a little disorienting, and surprisingly freeing.

I’m leaving full-time work and entering what I like to call my rewirement phase. It’s not quite retirement, not exactly a second act with a clearly defined script. I don’t yet know what my goals will be for the next five years. And for the first time in a long time, I’m learning to be okay with that.

Recently, I watched Stutz, the documentary where Jonah Hill interviews his therapist, Phil Stutz. One idea from that conversation stayed with me long after the credits rolled: even when you don’t know where you’re headed next, you can always work on your life force.

That concept felt deeply comforting. Because right now, certainty isn’t what I’m chasing. Presence is. Energy is. Aliveness is.

According to Stutz, life force has three components:

1. Your relationship with your body
2. Your relationship with other people
3. Your relationship with yourself

Using that structure, I’ve been reflecting on what I want 2026 to be about. Not achievement. Not productivity. But learning, discovery, and reconnection — starting from the most fundamental place.

BODY: Building Strength, Vitality, and Energy as I Age

The foundation of life force is the body. Without energy and vitality, everything else becomes harder.

As I get older, I’m learning to be more intentional about how I take care of my physical self. In 2026, that means finally prioritizing weight training above all other forms of exercise. Maintaining muscle mass and bone density is no longer optional — it’s essential. Strength training is now my non-negotiable.

Alongside that, I’m paying closer attention to the basics that support bone health: adequate protein intake, sufficient calcium, and vitamin D. I’m continuing my intermittent fasting practice and focusing on high-quality nutrition that supports strength and longevity.

And just as important, I’m keeping movement fun. Dancing, walking, and swimming remain part of my life — not as primary goals, but as joyful supplements that support cardiovascular health and keep me connected to my body in a lighter way.

As I’ve shared before, “sexy, vibrant Lei” isn’t about aesthetics. It’s a way of being. It’s about inhabiting my body with confidence, pleasure, and respect as I age. This physical foundation gives me the energy I need to show up fully for everything else in my life.

PEOPLE: Deepening Relationships and Learning to Be Present

The second pillar of life force is our relationships with other people.

My husband and I have been together for over 22 years, married for 18. We are incredibly fortunate to have found real love with each other — and like any long partnership, we’re also discovering new friction as we enter a phase of less work and more life.

With more time together comes more opportunity — and more bumps. Things that were easier to ignore when we were both busy are now harder to sidestep. Instead of seeing this as a problem, I’m choosing to see it as an invitation: a chance to connect at a deeper level as we navigate aging, change, and uncertainty together.

Equally important is my commitment to being more present with all the people I love — my parents, my kids, my friends. Over the years, I’ve developed the same bad habits many of us have: multitasking, rushing conversations, mentally being somewhere else while physically present.

I want to slow down. To savor moments instead of rushing past them. Even the uncomfortable or unpleasant interactions have something to teach me if I’m willing to stay present long enough to listen.

In the last few months, we’ve received several pieces of difficult news — friends and distant relatives passing away, some only a few years older than we are. These moments force a pause. They bring mortality into sharper focus. And they remind me that now is not something to postpone.

Enjoying the present isn’t a luxury. It’s a responsibility.

SELF: Building a Kinder, Looser Relationship with Myself

The final pillar of life force — and perhaps the most challenging — is our relationship with ourselves.

“Self-love” is an overused phrase, but at its core, this year is about learning how to create inner peace. I’m practicing how to rely on myself for happiness, regardless of what’s happening around me or how others are behaving.

A big part of this is learning to let go.

Letting go means allowing my husband and my kids to make their own decisions — and resisting the urge to over-involve myself under the disguise of caring. It means trusting that love does not require control.

And then there’s letting loose.

I’ve lived a highly disciplined life for decades. Discipline brought me success, stability, and safety — and now I’m curious about what happens when I soften that grip. What if I experiment with being less rigid? With enjoying myself more? With choosing ease without guilt?

I don’t know exactly what that will look like yet. But curiosity feels like a good place to start.

Choosing Wonder Over Answers

Recently, I also came across The Art of Accomplishment, which introduced a powerful idea: practicing wonder.

Wonder isn’t about having answers. It’s about shifting perspective in the moment — approaching life with openness instead of fear, curiosity instead of judgment. It’s a practice, not a destination. Something to return to again and again.

That idea pairs beautifully with this season of my life.

A Closing Reflection

As I move through 2026, I’m no longer chasing certainty. I’m tending to my life force — my body, my relationships, and my inner world — trusting that this is enough.

If you’re in a season where the path forward isn’t clear, maybe you don’t need a plan either. Maybe the work is simpler and more profound than that. Take care of your body. Be present with your people. Build a gentler relationship with yourself.

Not everything needs to be figured out to be meaningful. Sometimes, beginning again — especially later in life — is not a setback, but a quiet privilege.

And perhaps the most powerful thing we can do is meet this chapter not with urgency, but with wonder.

Best wishes in 2026.   I am always in your corner.
Lei