For a long time, I have not always put myself first.
Most years, work came first. Not because I loved it more than anything else, but because it provided stability. Health insurance. A paycheck. A sense of responsibility. I told myself that was just being an adult.
Other times, friends came first. I enjoy being around people. I enjoy the laughs, the late nights, the shared moments. Sometimes that felt like choosing joy, even when it meant neglecting rest or clarity.
And sometimes, doing nothing came first. Staying in. Watching Netflix. Sitting with myself because it felt easier than pushing forward.
None of those choices were wrong. But they were not intentional.
This year is different.
Putting myself first does not always mean being selfish. But this time, it does mean being honest. Honest about what I need. Honest about what I want. Honest about what I have been avoiding.
This year, I am choosing to prioritize my health. My fitness. My relationship with God. And the growth of my business.
Not because I want to get rich. Not because I am chasing a milestone. Not because I am trying to prove something.
I am doing it because I want to see how close I can get to living the way God intended for me to live.
I am becoming more interested in the journey than the outcome. More curious about who I can become than what I can achieve. More focused on how I live than what I accomplish.
I keep asking myself one simple question.
If I had no limitations, who would I be?
That is the life I want to pursue. A life without a fixed destination. A life shaped by intention, discipline, faith, and growth. A life where the goal is not a finish line, but alignment.
A soulful life. An intentional life. One where I am not living to achieve something, but living to live a certain way.
That is how I want to live in 2026.
This year, I choose me.