Lessons from a Long Walk: My Simple Hopes for 2026

December in Istanbul brings a cold wind that hits your face and a mind full of questions. Today - my birthday, as I walked from Caddebostan to Dalyan Park, I didn't feel the weight of my 42 years. Instead, I felt a quiet excitement for turning 43.

Often, those of us in the business world make the mistake of treating our lives like a "to-do list" or a "productivity project." This morning, I decided to step away from that role for a day and used one of my earned vacation days.

The Tiredness of Always Performing

When you start a new job or take on a big role, there is an unspoken fear: "You cannot make a mistake." It is officially announced that we are proud of our mistakes but do we? For the last few months, I have worked far too hard, trying to be perfect so that no one would feel my absence or the change in the role owner. But as I watched the waves hit the shore, I realized that working this hard is sometimes just a way to hide from ourselves.

We often talk about "well-being" like it is a luxury or a corporate buzzword. But I am learning that it is actually a basic need. It is the fuel that helps us keep going.

Listening to My Body

Being in your 40s is like a wake-up call. Your body starts to whisper—and sometimes shout—that it cannot go as fast as it used to. For a long time, I treated my health as something that would never run out. But looking at my recent check-up results, I saw that I haven't been taking care of my most important asset.

As we live longer, the "game" of life becomes a marathon, not a sprint. To finish well, we have to be smart about how we spend our energy.

A Small Legacy: What 2026 Means to Me

My plans for 2026 are not only about only health and money. I want to build a good future for my son, but the best thing I can give him isn't a bank account. It is the time we spend together - a Sunday morning by the pool or watching a sunset at a quiet hotel.

There is a beautiful saying: "We are not made of the things we own, but of the people we love." In the coming year, I want fewer "professional contacts" and more real friends. I want more depth and less noise. At the end of the day, what brings us home is the voice of the people who care about us.

A Final Thought

This post started as simple voice notes I took while walking. I am finishing it now after a quiet weekend away.

During that walk, I stopped for a Turkish coffee and sent a photo to my mentor to thank him for his help this year. He had told me before to stop listening to podcasts while walking and just be present. I told him I was only listening to music from SoundCloud (I found one of that Goldies during that walk - a song called Down by Flunk). He replied quickly: "Don't even listen to music. Just walk and think about the year you've had."

So, I walked in silence and looked back at my 2025. My lesson (apart from core business) for next year is simple: Do not skip the small breaks. The time you "waste" on the people and things you love is actually what makes you better at your job.

As I sit here on Sunday, I feel the urge to check my work emails to get ready for Monday. But I am telling myself: "No." 2026 should be about the quality of life, not the quantity of work.