Feminist reflections on fitness, sport, and health
Author: catherine w
I'm a feminist public health ethicist (yes, that's a thing). I'm interested in heath behavior change, particularly around eating and activity, and how things other than knowledge affect our health decisions.I'm also a cyclist (road, sort-of-off-road, commuter), regular yoga-doer, occasional swimmer and kayaker and leisurely social walker.
Yes, yet another study has come out linking some food/beverage product to increased/decreased risk of something-or-other. In this case, however, it’s about how coffee (and also tea) lower dementia risk and modestly better cognitive function.
I’ll drink to that.
Many shades of coffee.Thanks Nathan D from Unsplash for the photo.
These results were drawn from very large cohorts of healthcare professionals in the UK that have tracked behaviors and conditions over 40+ years. So this is not a randomized controlled trial. Still, this is how researchers find connections between habits like drinking coffee and health outcomes. So, what did they find this time?
There was a statistically significantly reduced dementia risk, with lowered risks for higher caffeine intake (up to 4 cups a day of coffee, 2–3 of tea; no improvements reported for higher daily intake).
There were very modest reductions in subjective cognitive decline (self-reported by participants) and objective cognitive decline (performance on cognitive tests) in the caffeine consumers. Again, the reductions increased along with caffeine intake, but hit saturation at 4 cups of coffee a day.
A notable fact about this study is that they were able to distinguish the effects of caffeinated coffee and tea (vs. decaf beverages). Caffeine is reported to be neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory (I could insert fancy text from the study, but trust me, it’s very science-y).
But, we also know that caffeine is NOT good for everything that ails us. It can affect sleep quality and cause all sorts of bad upper GI symptoms. But not everything that’s good in one way is good in all ways. That’s simply not coffee’s fault.
So, all’s I’m saying is, Coffee doesn’t drink coffee; people drink coffee…
Keep naked babies away from the coffee grinder.I drink coffee for your protection.
Oh, and one more thing: I love this ditty– Java Jive– performed here by the Manhattan Transfer. Enjoy with a steaming mug.
Amidst all the chaos and destruction in the world, science is still happening (although the funding situation is also chaotic and destructive, but never mind that for the moment). Interesting questions are being asked, tested, and interesting answers are being given. Here are some of them (mostly courtesy of Sam, who sends these to me– thanks, Sam!)
Question: Does exercise result in a net calorie reduction, or does the body compensate to balance things out?
Answer: we don’t know yet. But, a bunch of scientists are hard at work testing different active subpopulations (from Tanzanian Hadza hunter-gatherers to American collegiate cross country runners) to look for ways that human metabolism responds to energy output. This article from Outside magazine gives a detailed and accessible overview of recent research on the topic.
Good news: even if exercise doesn’t result in a ton of extra calories burned (if that’s your goal), it still results in other good things, like increased longevity, better sleep and overall well-being.
Walking with kids is fun. By Krzysztof Kowalik for Unsplash.
A study published in the Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research found that people scored significantly higher on memory, reasoning, and planning tests after just 30 minutes of spinning on a stationary bike.
This effect is primarily linked to the production of a protein called BDNF (Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor). BDNF acts like a fertilizer for your brain, helping to grow new cells and protecting existing ones from decay.
Essentially, every mile you ride is an investment in your brain’s structural integrity and future processing speed.
Yay! Does cycling do anything else good to your brain? The article also cites research results suggesting that cycling promotes lower dementia risk, increased neurogenesis (creation of neurons in the hippocampus) and psychological resilience (this last one is less surprising if you’ve tackled big hills at very low speed, as I have).
Riding bikes with kids is fun, too. By Mukkpetebike for Unsplash.
Question: Can exercise help reduce my cancer risk?
Answer: yes, a bit. But the research study supporting this is small and very preliminary. Here’s the deal, from an article in Men’s Health magazine:
The researchers looked at 30 men and women between the ages of 50 and 78. All met the criteria for having extra weight or obesity. Each person underwent a short but intense cycling test that lasted about 10 minutes.
Afterward, the researchers collected blood samples from everyone and analyzed them for 249 proteins. Thirteen of the 249 proteins increased after exercise. This included interleukin-6, which helps to repair damaged DNA. Exercise raised the levels of other molecules in the blood that work to reduce inflammation, support blood vessel health, and improve metabolism.
According to the researchers, the evidence showed that 10 minutes of exercise was enough to support DNA repair to lower colon cancer risk. Though keep in mind, these were short but intense bursts of exercise. A slow, leisurely stroll wouldn’t qualify.
There are a bunch of things we don’t know, like what is the amount of reduced risk, and what is the variation in different subpopulations. Plus a bunch of other relevant factors that may influence the effects. Still, it’s good news.
Vigorous exercise is fun as well. By Kaspars Eglitis for Unslpash.
My favorite training coach of all-time is Steve Weller. We met in 2007 (I checked through emails to confirm) when he did some coaching for my cycling team, North East Bicycling Club. I was (and remained) a beginner back-of-the-pack racer, but I loved the feelings of speed and effort amidst the sounds of my breath and the spinning of the wheels on pavement. Steve and I worked together for several years during and after my days of racing.
I’ve had a lot of coaches and training and instruction in a lot of sports, but Steve stands out as the best. Why? He combines keen analytical intelligence with deep empathy, humor and a sense of perspective about training and competition. And he genuinely loves both the sports of cycling (road, cross, MTB) and the people who participate in them.
In case you’re wondering, I’m writing this because I’m still on his email list and he sent something today that I just loved and had to share with all of you.
Steve wrote in this post about a how he came across the phrase “a more dangerous animal”. And then he said this:
As you push through hard workouts and suffer to hang with the fast group, remember – you are doing this work to become a more dangerous animal.
I cannot tell you how much this tickles and pleases and motivates me. Some thoughts:
Do I want to become a more dangerous animal? Can I?
What keener capacities, what kinds of prowess do I want to cultivate?
In my new proposed powerful state, to whom/what do I want to present a danger?
The social status quo?
Our current national power structure?
The patriarchy?
Oppressive institutions?
Maybe my own complacency and timidity about change?
And, of course, there’s deciding which animal to embody/channel/aim for. Here are some suggestions, but please feel free to add your own ideas in the comments.
I know it’s midweek, but give yourself a moment to think about this. Rowr! Grrrr! Hissssss! Buzzzzz!
A gallery of dangerous animals: meerkat (apparently they get very put out if you approach them), jellyfish, bee, tiger, crocodile and shark.
One of the many things I love about this blog and these bloggers is the consistent message that we are okay as we are, and that our lives can and should be happening NOW, not wait around until we’ve achieved some other body size or proportion. Time and time again we’ve called out the fitness industry for promoting body size and proportion changes as if they are the most important aspect of engaging in physical activity.
The before/after photos are especially objectionable to me for this reason. In addition to being misleading and probably photoshopped, they add on the emotional force of equating the before state with being unhappy, unattractive, unfit, unwell, unacceptable for public view. Of course this isn’t accurate.
Then comes the after state, depicted in more colorful or fashionable attire, better lighting, and of course smiles (in addition to body shape and proportion changes that reflect stereotypical views about what the fit or acceptable or attractive body is supposed to look like).
Despite that fact that we know all this, before/after photos are everywhere. The rise in use of GLP-1 weight loss drugs has brought them back with the vengeance on social media and in advertisements for online hawkers selling compounded forms of the drug (a very bad idea, btw).
One new twist on the before/after messaging was a series of ads I saw on Facebook, selling an exercise program. It kept saying, “you’ll be unrecognizable in eight weeks if you do this”.
Ew. No. I don’t want to be unrecognizable. I mean, what would happen at work? People would say, “excuse me, where is Catherine? And why are you in her office?”
Seriously though, you get the idea. In January and February (which is the new January, as we know), we are pummeled with ads selling exercise and diet programs, promising us quick transformation. I’m not opposed to transformation– in fact, I spend a lot of time working on projects that I hope will be transformative. I write, meditate, and do creative tasks in part to find new insights that change the way I see the world.
I do physical activity because I have goals, but also because it makes me feel good. Or great. It does change me, but in more complex ways than a mere photo can capture.
Here’s my one exception to the no before/after pics rule: when I get my hair cut. Here’s what I posted to my book group signal thread.
Me, before haircut. Admittedly well overdue for a trim.
During hair transformation. After washing, all turbaned up. I wish I could manage this look at home.
Now, without further ado, the after-haircut salon-pristine pics.
Full-face view, smiling and sleek.Turned a little, for mystery.
Readers, what do you think of before/after pictures? And more importantly, do you like my new haircut?
Is there any such thing as too much publicity? The current craze over the sexy-sweet-Canadian-hockey show Heated Rivalry is definitely putting that question to its test. My social media feed is full to the brim with interviews, photos, behind-the-scenes articles and loads of social commentary (most of it positive to the point of gushing) about this series that follows two young hockey stars as they explore their attraction into hookups in bed, matchups on the ice, and their deepening feelings for each other.
Everyone and their cousin has written about Heated Rivalry. And I think I may have read 90% of those articles. Including this one from the Guardian, which panned the series when they reviewed it in early December 2025 (shame on them for not having any artistic/cultural vision!). Here’s what a 64-year-old non-profit executive from Toronto had to say about the series in the article:
Mary, who asked to be identified only by her first name, discovered that a sexually explicit love story about two menwas “for her” after all.
“I admit I may have rewatched it more than once,” she said. “It’s super sexy. They’re fabulous to look at. There’s a huge amount of consent. I’d really like to get that back in my life – that feeling of ‘I can’t keep my hands off you.’”
Mary, I am 100% with you on this.
If you’re interested in an interview with Rachel Reid, Canadian author of the book (part of a series she wrote called Game Changers), you can find it here.
I feel compelled to add my own observations about what I love about Heated Rivalry, in part because my head is kind of swimming about it, and also because, as a part of the Fit is a Feminist Issue journalistic team, I’m committed to report to you, dear readers. So here goes.
NOTE: I’ll try not to drop spoilers here. But honestly, does anyone not know (or can guess) how this series plays out?
One: I love that the Heated Rivalry team isn’t budging on talking about the main actors’ dating or sex lives. The show is not about the actors; it’s about the characters. And the actors’ lives are none of our damn business. Talented and hunky veteran actor Francois Arnaud said as much in a interview with Andy Cohen. Good on you, Francois.
Two: I love that multiple languages– English, French, and Russian– in the show, are used in ways that feel authentic. There’s not as much French in the show as there is in the book (of course I’ve read the book by now; duh); many players switch back and forth between French and English, and I am guessing the author Rachel Reid gets this right. Shane, the Canadian player from Ottawa, speaks both English and French, and uses them often in the series.
But mainly, I love that Ilya, the Russian character, uses Russian and English in ways that reveal his personality. He struggles with English sometimes as a non-native speaker, but his playful mocking humor comes through clearly. And he uses Russian (WATCH EPISODE FIVE NOW!) powerfully and tenderly. My heart is fully open to Ilya.
Three: I’ll just mention this to avoid spoilers, but, from episode six, I totally love STUPID CANADIAN WOLF BIRD.
IYKYK.
I’m ordering one of these T shirts as soon as I finish writing this post. My friend Norah told me she saw one of the yoga teachers at our local studio wearing one.
Stupid Canadian wolf bird T shirt. I must have this. They also do mugs, if you prefer.
Four: the soundtrack is fabulous! It’s a combination of older and newer pieces, even using Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata as accompaniment to Ilya’s Russian dialogue in episode five (which you need to watch ASAP). I’m still singing along to this cover by Feist of Sea Lion Woman (spelled See-Line Woman when Nina Simone recorded it). I missed it when it came out, so I’m glad to hear it now.
Five: I love how this series and these young lovers are making me feel. About love, about sex, about evolution and acceptance. And all this at a time when things are really falling apart. It’s not just a respite; that it surely is. But it’s also offering a note of hope. Call me sappy and naive, but I’m loving the love on the screen and the love piled on by just about everyone who’s seen or read this story. Clearly we needed it.
That Guardian article I mentioned above is worth reading for its reporting on reasons why women are responding so positively to a gay male sex and love story. There’s lots for think about here, and I may write more about it. For the moment, though, I’m just going to bask in the feelings, deferring analysis until later.
Six: Heated Rivalry has me thinking I need to up my sexy time game. Watching this show, I’ve rediscovered all kinds of feelings that I tend to associate with my teenage years: head swimming with images, heart full to bursting, and loins fully activated. This was surprising but not at all unwelcome. By the way, I blogged about self care and solo sexy time here ten years ago. Maybe it’s time to go back to the store to see what new products they have developed in the meantime.
Readers, are you watching Heated Rivalry? What do you think about the show? What do you think about the media carnival about the show? I’d love to hear from you.
Oh, and here’s a super-cute Instapic of the actors hamming it up for the camera.
Things are bad in this world right now. They are especially bad in the United States, and also especially bad for all the other countries in the world. No, this isn’t news, but it seems to me we are reaching new heights (lows?) of chaos and danger and villainy.
As an American, I’m heartsick and furious and grim and ready to do what I can, even though I don’t know what all of that entails. It will no doubt involve voting, organizing, joining, donating, protesting, writing, talking, and standing up in every way I can think of. As I said, it’s grim but necessary.
But yesterday, I did something that made things a lot better. I went to the brand-new library in my town (Belmont, Massachusetts). The grand opening was this past weekend, and I went for the first time on Tuesday. It is beautiful and warm and welcoming and filled with happy people, most of them kids.
An artist’s rendition of the main library atrium, found on the library’s website.
I didn’t take any photos of my own, so here are some from my local newspaper about the grand opening.
A conversation and reading area.Chairs nicely situated to enjoy the view outside and books inside.And the lighting!
I went to take in the loveliness of the space, but also to drop off and pick up a library book. When I asked a librarian where to go, he insisted on taking me there himself. But not before chatting a bit, and once he knew I was a humanities professor, showing me his favorite translation of Bocaccio’s The Decameron. I thought about telling him this wasn’t my area of expertise, but I didn’t want to spoil the fun. So I didn’t.
Next Monday I’m back at the library for their Belmont Against Racism book club meeting, where we will be discussing The Last White Man, by Mohsin Hamid.
What I’m saying here is: if you’re feeling down and out, that life has gotten too horrible, go to a library. There will be a lot of good things going on there and good people to talk to and good books to read. I bet you’ll leave feeling a little better and maybe somewhat fortified for handling life beyond the stacks. I know I did and I do.
Hey readers, do you have any stories to share about your libraries? We would all love to hear how people are helping out and being helped out by their communities.
News flash: some recent studies out this month strongly suggest that physical activity is beneficially for health.
Yes, I’m as shocked as she is. By Alexanders Krivitskiy for Unsplash.
Now that you’ve had some time to get used to this new-new fact, here are a couple of studies with not-surprising results about fitness and health.
Strength training before endurance training confers more benefits (IN MEN).
A study of 45 young men found small changes in bone health, body composition and overall physical fitness by switching up the order of strength training and endurance training (lifting weights first, then running).
As Miss Manners likes to say, how nice for them.
Small changes in physical activity make a big difference in overall mortality-risk (when you’re looking at the population-level).
Again, the messages here are clear: small increases in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity and 30-60-minutes decreases in sedentary time daily reduce mortality risk from 3% (cutting sedentary time) to up to 10% (increasing physical activity by 10 minutes a day in certain subpopulations– it’s a little complicated here). But this is the bird’s eye view, meaning this holds for big populations and not at the individual level. You can peruse the actual study here (in your copious free time, but maybe stand up while doing it…)
One wonders: does putting your hands in the air like you just don’t care count as moderate physical activity? Thanks Hanson Lu for the picture (from Unsplash.)
Stay tuned for more breaking news at Fit is a Feminist Issue!
Lots of people in the US are getting used to new Saturday routines these days. In addition to weekend grocery shopping, yard work, outdoor recreation and social activity, there are the now-regular gatherings to protest everything from kidnapping of foreign leaders to government-sanction killing of our own citizens. This past Saturday was one such day, and the people came out in droves.
My friend Steph and I met up with some other friends in downtown Lexington, MA to hold signs and stand in a crowd of 700– one of thousands of such gatherings that day. The reason is nothing less than protesting tyranny, murder, war crimes, and theft by agents and leaders of our government. And it’s not lost on me that we were standing in downtown Lexington, MA, less than a block away from the Lexington Battle Green, where local citizens faced down agents of their tyrannical government 250 years ago.
Even in the midst of such serious and high-stakes power struggles in my country, it’s a source of strength and comfort to me that people can find lightness and connection and humor in that struggle. So, I hereby switch gears to show you that lighter face of Protest Saturdays.
Steph, as it happens, owns a small collection of inflatable costumes. She wore her traditional T. rex outfit, and lent me unicorn riding attire. We also had prepared signs for the occasion. Hers was made with GenAI tools for graphics (although the brilliant concept was hers) and said “End the Trump ICE Age!” #TeamAsteroid”. Mine was written in the parking lot with a marker, but I thought up the slogan all by myself: “I want my justice straight up, with no ICE”.
Steph and me, inflated and elated to be there, holding signs of varying degrees of technology, but united in messaging.
There were loads of ICE-related themes in the signs, many about melting or crushing, which was great. I found two others who had cocktail-inspired signs, and we got together for a picture.
Two guys and me- their signs said “No ICE in America– wouldn’t that be NEAT (neat is cocktail speak for no-ice), and the other guy’s sign said ” Wouldn’t it be NEAT if there were NO ICE?” Love it.
And of course there were dogs.
This dog loved T. rex Steph.Fluffy protest dog, being petted by unicorn-Catherine.
The people were numerous, friendly, and orderly. There were also lots of great and generous volunteers making sure the sidewalks were clear and that the event was within the letter of the law, modeling participatory democracy in action.
Lots of people and also dogs, talking to each other and standing up for the rule of law. Notice the golden retriever, who is being a very good boy.
Of course, this event was easy to attend– it was not far from my house, there was convenient parking, and Steph and I had nice coffees before the rally started at 11:30 am. Not a heavy lift, by any means. We were never at risk in any way, unlike many who are at real risk 24/7.
What I’m saying is that in response to political crisis and violence in my country, part of the response is to create a new normal of regular protest (in addition to the other work that needs to be done). And life is big and complex enough to encompass practices that promote solidarity, conversation, community-building and collective action.
Along with meeting new dogs. And I got in 3000 steps just from this event. Who knew…
I rang in the New Year (technically, the day after) in a way I heartily recommend: swimming with a friend and her toddler! My friend Rachel and I took her daughter Teagan to a local hotel pool that offers day passes. It’s pretty cold here in New England, and the hotel indoor pool offers a respite from freezing cold temperatures outside and cramped play spaces inside.
When we got there on Friday, there were about five kids in the pool horsing around, with a group of fully-clothed parents lounging and scrolling on their phones. We went into the locker room to change into bathing suits and headed into the relatively warm water.
Teagan isn’t a swimmer yet, being a few weeks shy of 3 years old, but she loved the water, and she loved playing with us. Favorite activities included:
Jumping from the side of the pool into the waiting arms of Rachel or me;
Bring hurled through the air (well, sort of) between Rachel and me in the pool, making a big splash as she landed;
being swirled in a circular motion, clockwise or counter-clockwise (she didn’t express a preference) while squealing, laughing and splashing;
blowing bubbles in the water;
watching us blow bubbles in the water;
pretend/sort-of-actual swimming, with a bit of assistance;
bobbing up and down, kicking her feet but not making any forward progress (which bothered her not a whit)
being wrapped up in multiple towels, including my rainbow beach towel.
I got a decent upper body workout, lifting, holding, and catching her, as well as working on my high-speed circular swirling technique. And it was very good for my heart. And soul…
Here’s a picture of them enjoying the pool. I was the photographer this time. I expect my participation to be documented in future pool explorations (of which I hope the next is soon).
Teagan (on left) and Rachel (on right). Both very happy.
When my youngest nephew Gray (now 20) was born I looked after his two older siblings (5 and almost 3) for the first few weeks while my sister was getting settled in with a new baby. Our most joyful outings were to the pool– there no one was sad or grumpy or tired or bored. We splashed and played and hung out and ate snacks and enjoyed the water and each other. Honestly, is there anything better?
This winter season, if you’re feeling in need of a pick-me-up, borrow a kid or a friend or take yourself to a pool. Splash around. Do a handstand underwater. See how long you can hold your breath. Dive for random objects thrown to the bottom. Oh, and don’t forget to bring snacks and fluffy towels, too.
Yes, it’s that time again– the turn of another year, and the release of Fit is a Feminist Issue’s WOTY (Word of the Year) picks by your bloggers. If you’re interested in comparing this year’s choices with those from previous years, check them out here:
Every new year brings change– losses, gains, shifts in direction, new perspectives, persons, and places. We expect 2026 to bring those and more. So we offer up these watchwords and phrases as companions for us, and for you, too.
Cate: FORAGING
Turns out I rarely remember the word I chose the year before — maybe I am not great at creating this kind of touchstone. But I know that this year is a big one for me for decision making for what comes next in my life. My six year relationship just ended, and I’m turning 61 and looking at what a different engagement with work might look like. Both of these things create opportunities to explore different pathways — where do I *really* want to live? What do I want the balance of work, community, creative life and physical life look like in two years? What do I need to let go of and what do I need to embrace? What leaps do I need to take? What gentle nudges or plodding forward? So my intentions are about reflection, considering, exploration, assessing, openness to being struck by enlightenment — maybe I’m foraging for my next chapter. So I guess my word is FORAGING.
Natalie: CREATE
My WOTY for 2026 is “create”. Create space for kindness, movement and going with the flow. My anxiety has been spiking hard and rather than doubling down on effort I want to create new coping strategies. I’ve left alcohol behind. It’s meant inviting new ways to manage pain, physical and mental. I want to create opportunities for joy and my physicality is a big part of that.
Samanatha: EXPAND
My word for 2026 is Expand. Initially, I chose Stretch. I thought about Reach. You can spot a trend here. They all have in common a theme of growth, meeting new people, trying new things, learning new skills, pushing out of my comfier zone. But Expand to me sounds like I grow to meet new challenges. I worried that Stretch could also mean ‘stretched too thin.” So I’m still thinking about this but growing to meet new challenges and doing new things, is where I’m at right now.
Expand for 2026. Past choices: engage 2025, adventure 2024, growth 2023, integrity 2022, flow 2021.
Elan: EMERGENCE
The FIFI blog post gave me my word as I move into a new year, where I continue the search for a new job and a new career phase in my life. “Emergence” sounds like a nice word, but it is actually a lot of struggle, especially when you can’t yet see where or when or what you are emerging to. Here’s hopin’.
I struggled with a single word selection too. RISK. REIMAGINE. I was even going to go with YAY, just because I liked this picture. But I think what this is saying about me is that I ruminate, I churn, and I sweat the small stuff. Even my AI has told me as much. So I used an outside source to help me decide, and I will just move on. That realization, not about the word itself but the process, has been helpful for me this year.
Nicole: SELFISH
My word for 2026 is Selfish. Selfish for peace. Selfish for fun. Selfish for vitality. Selfish for laughs. Selfish for fitness. Selfish for creativity. Selfish for ease. Selfish for inspiration. I tried to think of a more admirable word, but that’s what I’m thinking. Selfish.
Tracy: RELEASE
I’ve decided on the word “release.” A recurring theme for me in the last few weeks has been the idea of letting go of things, ideas, attitudes, patterns of behaviour, and even identities that no longer serve me. There is a lot of change coming my way in 2026 and I’m feeling ready to release the old and embrace the new. I feel energized and excited when I think about the idea of release, so it seems like an apt touchstone for the upcoming year.
Diane: ACCEPTANCE
My word needs to be acceptance. I have used it before, but more in the context of aging. This time, it will be in the context of learning to be satisfied that I can’t do all the things, but also that I will never stop trying.
Some things I used to enjoy became not much fun last year. My lesson identified (if not exactly learned) is that it’s okay to say no. My other lesson is that chasing after new projects and challenges is very much part of my personality. My goal for 2026 is to accept that these two things can be true at once and figure out how to find some harmony between them.
Note: almost all of the acceptance-themed photos on unsplash were people giving a thumbs-up. Which is nice, but I liked the dog shaking hands picture better. I hope you don’t mind, Diane.
Christine: PROCESS AND PRACTICE
My theme for 2026 will be process & practice. I want to focus on how I do things, refining my approach as needed, and then trusting the processes I develop.
And I want to use those processes to find a better way to sink into the various practices that make up my life. I want a more satisfying creative practice, a more enjoyable movement practice, and a more replicable and reliable ‘getting down to work’ practice. And I think starting with process will help get me there.
Catherine: STAND AND DELIVER
No, I’m not planning on ushering in 2026 by becoming an 18th century robber, or releasing a new cover version of the Adam and the Ants 80s album.
No robbing for me in 2026.No music career either.
So what does “stand and deliver” mean for me in this coming year? Given how tough and unbelievable 2025 has been, I want 2026 to be a year in which I make it clear I am:
Standing up to injustice
Standing for fairness and equality
Standing with all fellow humans friends, family, strangers in need
Standing beside/along those who are more vulnerable than I am
I am also committed to:
delivering on my promises to others
delivering on my promises to myself
delivering the goods
delivering on time (as much as possible… okay this is hard…)
Yes, this is a lot of tough talk, but I want more toughness in 2026, combined with perspective and humor. This sticker below seems to capture it.
So dear readers, if you have a phrase or word you’re thinking on to take with you into this year, share it with us; we’d love to know.
