The 9 Key Things I'm Aiming to Do in 2026

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For 30 years, I have made identical resolutions: losing weight, getting organized, exercising, practicing yoga and so on. None of those have ever lasted more than two weeks. At the age of 73, this is the year I decided to shed my boring self and become fabulous. Yes, fabulous! Can you imagine? Courage will be my best friend. We will walk hand in hand. Truthfully, this thought makes me sweat.

White Zinfandel wine will be replaced by my specialty signature drink, The Organic Prune Martini. Think: Fun, Fitness and Fiber. I find my new signature drink instills fearlessness. It is invigorating to expand my world while sipping this original martini and creating a phenomenal bucket list. And it has health benefits! It's called the Poo Driver Cocktail, and here is the recipe.

An abundance class is a must. I recently learned that I am blocking my own abundance. I can't even blame anyone else! Now I am reframing my thoughts and visualizing things I want in my life. As if the universe winked at me, I found a dream come true. I can give an elephant a bath right here in my home state of Florida. The Rise and Shine Caretaker package at Myakka Elephant Ranch allows you to prepare breakfast for one of these gentle giants, offer a favorite treat, and bathe that massive body with bubbles. I'm already visualizing a baby elephant joining in on mama's scrub.

I am also booking a trip to Bali. For too long, I have dreamt of escaping to my fantasy island. No more procrastinating! It will be expensive and worth every dollar, as it will be a trip of a lifetime. I will be staying in a floating bungalow. Can you imagine? No sleepwalking!

Because I have courage now, I'll zipline through a Balinese forest with frolicking monkeys. I may scream, but I will be brave. Lush waterfalls, sacred temple tours and gorgeous sunsets will rejuvenate my spirit. I will dine on lobster omelets and sun-ripened tropical fruits while savoring oceanfront views.

Rain Walking is one of my favorite new delights. I used to run to my car, hunched under an umbrella to avoid raindrops. My granddaughter, on the other hand, splashes in puddles. She wears rainbow rubber boots, and she catches raindrops on her tongue. I decided it was time to bring back that joy.

Now I saunter in the rain and wave to passing neighbors in their cars. It's delightful to listen to the ping of drops and the sounds of nature that rain brings out. We have tree frogs who sing in the bushes. It's such a simple pleasure, and I highly recommend it. I mimic Gene Kelly in Singing in the Rain, without his fancy footwork. Turns out my rain walks are more than delightful; they are good for your mind-body-spirit health!

For an over-the-top adventure to rebalance my life with peace, quiet, and hospitality, I am thinking of escaping to a mountain-top monastery in Greece — or to one closer to home in the United States, where there are many of them, it turns out. I am already decreasing stress levels as I imagine myself wiling away my days meditating or hiking, and listening to the soothing sounds of monks' prayers and gongs. Who doesn't seek solace and simplicity?

The James Bond movie, For Your Eyes Only, was filmed in part at the mountaintop Monastery of the Holy Trinity in Meteora, Greece. If it's exciting enough for James Bond, I think it will be a great getaway for me.

I'm also very excited to register for a three-day escape at an adult summer camp, where I'll play like a child and party like a grownup. Camp culture values kindness and leaving the world behind. Activities to choose from include tennis, basketball, pickleball, boating, waterskiing, lip-syncing contests, all-day happy hours and fantastic buffets. By night, I'll be roasting s'mores by the campfire and singing songs until it's time to snooze in my log cabin.

An easy and inexpensive way to spice up the new year is the practice of hygge (pronounced who-ga). The Danish-inspired lifestyle focuses on coziness and contentment. Anyone can bring hygge into their life.