Whether you're ready or not, it's here. 2026.

The new year always brings a mixed bag of emotions for me. I remember when I was 39, about to turn 40, and stressing out about it for months before the big day. I was thinking about when I turned 30 and how my dating profile was suddenly 2/3 less popular from one day to the next, simply because I was a day older and past that acceptable threshold. I was looking at my expensive townhome I couldn't afford (it was 2008, dontcha know), my single status, my body that still wasn't "right"... and I was not where I'd pictured myself at 40.

One day while I was outside having a smoke with my roommate David, I was sharing how upset I was about not being able to do anything about turning 40. How it felt like this huge cliff and that everything from that point on was downhill. How my value as a human (and a woman) was depreciating and I had no choice in the matter. And David - in his David-fashion - said, "Well, you do have a choice. You could be dead." Which of course led to a whimsical discussion about how that was technically true, how I was too much of a wimp to do it myself (what's the least painful option), if David did it he'd end up in jail, etc. What I wanted to say was that looking at the ridiculous is what finally got my head on straight about turning 40.

And my 40s ended up being a fantastic decade. Here's the thing you don't know about your 40s until you're there: you start to give a lot fewer f*cks about things that used to occupy too much of your time, energy, and emotions. Speaking personally, my 50s are even better. Because now I'm vocal about what matters. Not louder about what I don't care about anymore - louder about what I do.

What am I saying? We have no choice about entering 2026. If it's something you've been dreading, quietly (or not so quietly) enduring, then this flip of the calendar to a new year might be full of all sorts of things that don't feel great. If you're one of those who looks forward to the new year as a new beginning, fantastic. And - my request is that you be kind to yourself should your expectations be dashed by whatever happens (or doesn't happen) in the coming days and weeks.

This 'new year' is filled with the potential you give it. Whether you believe it or not, accept it or not, it is what you make of it. Taking ownership of that will make all the difference as we plunge back into the scurry of life as it is lived.

What did you love about January before it became about resolutions?

Before the "new year new you" pressure and the gym guilt and performing "fresh starts"?

Maybe it was the quiet after the chaos. The exhale. Permission to stay in without apologizing.

You don't need to reinvent yourself. But you get to remember what rest felt like before productivity culture called it lazy.

And you get to decide what momentum looks like. Not what LinkedIn says. What it feels like.

Maybe it's one small project. Maybe it's saying no to three things. Maybe it's trying that AI thing without making it a production.

You're allowed to let go of what doesn't fit.

You're allowed to build what does.

Some of my adventures from this past week, from the profound to the inane and everything in-between.

Dr. Miriam von Felbert with the prompt that stops you mid-scroll

"If my life is the answer, what was the question?" Then go deeper: What's the question for me personally? For the people closest to me? And what's the shared question we're living into together? This isn't about productivity. It's about clarity. It surfaces patterns instead of symptoms. It reveals where you're over-carrying and where you've been postponing decisions you already know you need to make. One prompt. Cuts through everything.

Name a country

Young women asking questions that make you stop and think about the things women often take for granted. "Name a country where women can walk alone at night without fear." "Name a country where women earn the same as men for the same work."

Dinosaur baby

I cannot verify whether or not I actually squeee'd when I saw this adorableness but I definitely suffered a cute overload. 10 seconds - totally worth it.

Partner of the week

Turns out newsletters don't pay for themselves. Who knew? This week's partner helps keep the lights on – and they seem to know what they’re doing:

What if you woke up tomorrow with all your expenses covered for an entire year? No rent. No bills. What would you build?

Join our Dare to Dream Challenge and enter for a chance to win $100,000. Hone your voice. Unlock your audience. Dare to dream.

Today’s the day

_{NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED. For full Official Rules, visit daretodream.stan.store/officialrules.}

You're Not Behind: A Reality Check for Midlife Women (First Week of 2026 Edition)

First week back and already feeling behind?

Everyone seems to have their 2026 plans figured out while you're just trying not to feel obsolete?

Here's the truth: You're not behind. You're perfectly poised.

This two-pager busts 3 myths (like "younger workers are faster at AI" - nope, research says they're slower), affirms 3 truths (your pattern recognition beats their speed every time), and gives you one ROCO prompt that interviews you to figure out what you actually want from 2026 - not what you "should" do to avoid being left behind.

It's January 5th and you're already running on fumes.

The holidays took everything. The first week back is demanding more. And you're supposed to have energy for... what exactly?

Here's a prompt that helps you figure out where your energy is actually going and how to get some back without adding "self-care" to your to-do list like it's another job.

Copy the below prompt, paste it into your preferred chatbot, add your details wherever you see [ ] and then hit enter.

Why this works: It's not about adding more. It's about subtracting the stuff that's quietly killing you and finding tiny ways to breathe without making it a whole production.

✨ Try it in ChatGPT (free version works great)

I'm building this place with people, not for people.

Right now there are 25 humans in there kicking the tires, telling me what they actually need, and showing up for weekly Friday Jam Sessions where we play with AI prompts together - zero tech bro energy, maximum curiosity.

I want 50 people in the Beta. Enough voices to know what's actually useful versus what I think is useful.

Beta runs until January 26th. If you join now, you lock in $22/month forever (regular price will be $27/month after Beta ends).

This is where all my courses and materials will live going forward. And I'll be in there during the week - often in a voice room if you need a body-double while you work.

Think: cozy learning space. AI practice without the intimidation. Community that gets it.

If you're curious, now's the time.

Ready or not, here we are.

The cliff was a lie. Your 40s (and 50s) might be better than you think. And 2026 is exactly what you make of it.

💜

Take care of yourself, take care of each other,

Deb

P.S. Forward this to someone who's feeling behind on January 5th. Spoiler: they're not. They're right on time.

P.P.S. Hit reply and tell me what you're actually hoping for this year (not what you "should" want). I read every response.