First Quarter of 2026: Running Toward Myself

Introduction

Happy New Year, friends! It feels so good to be back here writing after taking a bit of time away. The start of 2026 has felt like a mix of slow, quiet days and really exciting moments, and I’ve been wanting to sit down and reflect on it all. A quarter into the year, I’ve found myself focusing more on the little things, building routines, setting small goals, and actually following through with them. It hasn’t been about doing everything perfectly but more about choosing myself daily in ways that feel consistent and real.

One of the biggest highlights so far has been completing my first half-marathon. Running 13.1 miles at 21, alongside the girls I met when I first moved away from home to Florida for my Disney CEP, felt like such a full-circle moment. It pushed me in ways I didn’t expect (including a story about throwing up on Main Street that I’ll never forget), but it also reminded me how capable I am of doing hard things.

This season has really been about enjoying the everyday, staying steady, and not holding myself back. If I want to do something, I’m trying just to do it. I’m learning that growth doesn’t have to be loud to be meaningful and that sometimes the most important changes happen in the quieter moments.

Enjoying the Quiet

Lately, I’ve been spending a lot more time alone, not in a sad or lonely way, but intentionally. It’s felt like a chance to step back, reset, and really figure out what feels right for me again. Last year was full of so many people, so many moments, and so much noise, and this year I’ve needed the opposite. Space to think, to slow down, and to actually sit with my thoughts instead of constantly moving past them.

Now that the weather has been getting warmer, I’ve been enjoying taking Moose out more, going on longer walks, and noticing the way he makes people smile wherever we go. It’s such a small thing, but it grounds me. I’ve also been building a routine that feels good, cooking more, eating better, and starting to tune in to what my body actually needs.

After such a long journey of figuring myself out, this is probably the most content I’ve felt in a while, and the best part is, I’m not bored. I’m always finding new ways to learn and stay excited, even in small ways. Right now, I’ve been learning Spanish, and one of my friends and I have a Duolingo streak going together, which has made it even more fun. It’s reminded me that there are always new ways to grow, you just have to choose them. More than anything, I’ve realized that I’m the one who sets the tone for my days, and that’s been one of the biggest shifts for me.

13.1 Miles Later

One of the biggest highlights this quarter was completing my first half-marathon. Coming from a family of runners, with my dad running the Boston Marathon multiple times when I was younger, I always thought I’d be the odd one out. But at 21, I trained for and ran my first 13.1 miles, and it taught me more than I expected.

The training itself was such a process, slowly building endurance in a way that felt really personal. It wasn’t about being perfect; it was about staying steady.

The race itself definitely wasn’t perfect either. I ended up throwing up halfway through, but I kept going. That moment stayed with me. It reminded me that endurance isn’t just physical; it’s mental. It’s choosing to keep going even when your body is telling you not to. The energy from the runDisney community carried me through, and crossing that finish line felt like a shift.

Being back at Disney, this time as a guest, with friends I made during my first program in 2024, made it even more special. It felt like a full-circle girls’ reunion, revisiting my old work locations, eating a cake pop on Main Street, watching the fireworks, and walking around the world with a Fin du Monde in hand. But more than anything, it made me realize how much stronger I’ve become.

Now, heading into the Toronto Waterfront Marathon this fall, I feel more prepared, not just physically, but mentally too.

School & Career Focus

Outside of all of that, I’ve been really focused on school and starting to think more seriously about what’s next. I’ve been putting a lot of energy into working toward an internship and figuring out what direction I want to take, but I haven’t been talking about it much, and I think that’s intentional.

I’m learning that not everything needs to be shared while it’s still in the works. There’s something really powerful about keeping things quieter and just putting your head down and doing the work. This season has felt a lot more internal, focusing on myself, my goals, and what I want my future to look like.

I’ve been staying close to the people who genuinely support me, the ones who have always believed in me, and using that as motivation to keep going. At the same time, I’ve also been reflecting on how far I’ve come and how some of the things I once had to fight for are slowly starting to take shape.

It’s not all figured out yet, but for the first time in a while, it feels like I’m building something that’s really mine.

Ready for 22

Turning 22 feels a little different this year. It’s actually the first birthday I’ve kind of forgotten about, not in a bad way, but because I feel so content in my everyday life that I haven’t felt like I needed a big event to look forward to.

Usually, I love birthdays. As an Aries, I’ve always enjoyed celebrating and marking the start of a new chapter. But this year feels quieter, in the best way.

For the first time, I don’t feel like I need to transform into a new version of myself or prove anything. I’m not chasing a reset or trying to become someone different. I feel happy just being me, and that’s something I don’t take lightly. It’s taken time to get here.

I’m looking forward to what the next year will bring, continuing to work toward my goals, staying steady, and building a life that feels aligned with who I am. I’m especially excited to spend more time with the people I love and to stay present in the smaller, everyday moments that have started to mean more to me lately.

And honestly, I’m really excited to be going into spring in the city. After spending last summer in Florida, this season feels new again, like I get to experience it differently.

If this is what 22 is starting to look like, I’m ready for it.

Conclusion

Somewhere in between all of this, the quiet mornings, the routines, the long runs, and the in-between moments, I’ve changed. Not in a dramatic or obvious way, but in a steady, real way that feels more grounded than anything I’ve experienced before.

I’m turning 22 in less than a month, and while I don’t have everything figured out, I feel more at ease with that than I used to. There’s a different kind of trust I have now in myself, in the process, and in where I’m going.

If these first few months have shown me anything, it’s that I’m capable of more than I think and that growth doesn’t need to be loud to be meaningful. Sometimes it looks like consistency, showing up on the quiet days, and choosing yourself over and over again.

Right now, I’m focused on continuing to build a life that feels steady, intentional, and aligned with who I’m becoming and trusting that this is only the beginning.