Travel was a giant a part of my 2025, and I’m genuinely grateful for the alternatives behind it. It was a mixture of work journeys, talking alternatives, coaching, and somewhat pleasure alongside the best way (however…

Travel was a giant a part of my 2025, and I’m genuinely grateful for the alternatives behind it. It was a mixture of work journeys, talking alternatives, coaching, and somewhat pleasure alongside the best way (however principally work, if we’re being actual).

When I pulled my logs, the numbers have been larger than I anticipated:

✈️ Flights
• 50 flight legs
• 40,189 miles flown (≈ 1.61x circumnavigating the globe)
• 100+ hours within the air (over 4 straight days)
• 36 flight days throughout the 12 months
• 31 airports & 48 distinctive routes
• 12 legs have been personal flights in a Cessna I piloted

🏨 Hotels
• 76 resort nights (≈ 21% of the 12 months)
• 26 resort stays
• 18 totally different cities

🗺️ States visited:
• 15 States (30% of the USA)
• Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut*, Florida, Georgia*, Illinois, Indiana*, Kentucky*, Massachusetts*, Montana*, Nevada, Rhode Island*, Texas, Utah.
• *New states for me!

I additionally realized it’s straightforward for journey to seem like the “jet set” life-style from the surface. In actuality, lots of it’s delayed flights, missed connections, cramped economic system seats, lengthy layovers, and early alarms that really feel like punishment. Then it’s regardless of the most cost-effective resort choice is that week, which is usually a drained, run-down place with skinny partitions, questionable carpeting, and a entrance desk that’s already uninterested in listening to about it.

For readability: none of this journey was funded by taxpayer {dollars}; it was out of my very own pocket or by means of scholarships, and totally on my trip time.

This 12 months taught me one thing about myself: my finest concepts present up once I’m shifting, assembly folks, and getting out of my standard routine. I wish to continue to learn and rising, and accomplish that in a approach that stays grounded and sustainable.

Heading into 2026, I’m dedicated to being extra intentional with my time and power, saying sure to the journey and initiatives that actually transfer the needle, and defending area for the folks and priorities that matter most.

Wishing you and your households a protected, wholesome, and significant new 12 months. Here’s to a 2026 constructed on function, progress, and somewhat extra peace.