Let me be clear about something right up front. The number changing from 2025 to 2026 doesn't magically transform anything. January 1st is just another day. The sun will come up the same way it did on December 31st. You'll wake up as the same person with the same life and the same challenges. The calendar switching doesn't create a fresh start. YOU create the fresh start. The calendar just gives us the kick in the pants to do it.

As we head into this Christmas, my wish for you is simple: I hope you feel valued, because you are. I hope you feel proud of what you've accomplished this year, even the small things that nobody else noticed. I hope you get a moment of pure, uncomplicated happiness. I hope you feel the love of the people around you, and I hope you let it in. I hope you rest, really rest, without the weight of everything you think you should be doing. And I hope you know that the work yo

Here's the thing about December: the Christmas chaos at home is just one part of the equation. If you work in government like I do, you know that December brings its own special brand of workplace insanity.

Overwhelmed by holiday expectations? Here's how to actually enjoy time with family and friends without losing your mind, from someone who became the Bridezilla of Christmas Eve.

Constantly checking work email at night and weekends? You're not alone. Here's why this habit hurts your leadership effectiveness and 5 practical strategies to finally set healthy email boundaries.

Here's the thing about leadership: we accumulate baggage. Not just physical clutter on our desks (though let's be honest, that happens too), but mental and emotional weight that limits our effectiveness. Habits that made sense at one point but don't anymore. Beliefs about leadership that sound noble but actually hold us back.

But here's what I've been thinking about: gratitude in leadership isn't a once-a-year, around-the-table exercise. It's a daily practice that either strengthens your team or, when done poorly or not at all, slowly erodes the foundation you're trying to build. And before you roll your eyes thinking this is going to be some fluffy feel-good post about participation trophies and everyone getting a gold star, stick with me. Because I'm going to tell you about the time gratitude l

I wasn't setting my team up for success. I was holding everything so close that they couldn't function without me. And if I'm being truly honest, many years back I was probably a little too insecure in my role. There was some fear that went along with holding it all so close, fear that someone might take the ball and run with it, fear that they might not need me as much as I thought they did.

"When you don't set clear boundaries, you're handing over control of your life to people who don't have the same investment in your well-being that your family does."

Discover 7 practical work-life balance strategies that actually work in today's connected world. Learn how to create meaningful transitions, set boundaries, and build sustainable rhythms for both professional success and personal wellbeing.

People changed. New faces came in. Some left. But more than that, attitudes changed. The behavior changed. And when that happened, so did the relationship.