2026


2026

Reader,

I'm not going to tell you to crush your goals or optimize your life or become the best version of yourself. That's noise.

Here's what I actually want for you...

I hope you fuck up spectacularly this year. I hope you try something that scares you and it doesn't go the way you planned. I hope you take a swing at something hard and miss completely, because at least you swung.

I hope you say yes to things that don't make sense on paper. I hope you have conversations that make you uncomfortable. I hope you go to places that challenge what you think you know about the world and yourself.

I hope you get tired. Really tired. The kind of tired that means you've been showing up fully instead of coasting. The kind of tired that requires real rest, not just scrolling until your eyes hurt.

I hope you learn the difference between what actually matters and what just feels urgent. I hope you get better at saying no to the second so you have room for the first.

I hope you're kinder to yourself when things fall apart. Because they will. And that's not failure, that's just what happens when you're building something real instead of playing it safe.

I hope you find your version of peace. Not the Instagram kind. The kind where you're okay with who you are while still moving toward who you want to become. The kind where you don't need everyone to understand your choices.

I hope you do hard things. The kind that test you physically, mentally, or both. The kind that remind you what you're capable of when comfort isn't an option.

I hope you're present for the moments that matter. The sunrise you didn't plan to see. The conversation that goes deeper than small talk. The meal that tastes better because you're actually paying attention.

And when this year gets heavy - because it will - I hope you remember that you've carried heavy before and you're still here. You've been flat and you've come back. You've been tired and you've rested and you've moved again.

Make mistakes. Big ones. New ones. The kind nobody's made before because they're uniquely yours.

Don't freeze. Don't stop. Don't wait for perfect.

Whatever you're scared of doing, do it.

If you want to get clear on where you actually are before you figure out where you're going, I've put together a Year-End Audit, you can find it here. No fluff, just honest questions that'll help you figure out what worked, what didn't, and what you're done tolerating. Use it or don't, but if you're serious about making this year count, start by being honest about the last one.

This is your year. Not because everything will go right, but because you'll show up for it anyway.

Welcome to 2026!

And as always, don't forget to be awesome.

Mindset & Performance Coach • International Expedition Leader • Public Speaker

Fairland, Johannesburg, Gauteng 1732
Unsubscribe · Preferences

Gerry van der Walt

Weekly thoughts from the edge where comfort ends and reality begins. Raw insights on pushing limits, facing fears, and moving forward when everything screams stop. No carefully curated inspiration or polished self-help - just honest truth from someone navigating both physical extremes and human potential. For those battling inner demons, chasing impossible dreams, or simply tired of playing safe. Because transformation isn't about motivation. It's about movement. Into the unknown, where hands shake and doubts whisper, but you keep moving anyway.

Read more from Gerry van der Walt

I hope your Christmas is quiet when you need it to be, loud when you want it to be, and full of the things that make it yours. May you find moments that matter, people who get you, and peace in between the chaos. If we connected this year - through coaching, expeditions, a conversation, or even just these newsletters - thank you. Those moments matter more than you know, and I'm grateful for every one of them. Take care of yourself. Rest if you need it. Be present for what's in front of you....

The Geography of Landing Hi Reader, Five months ago I wrote The Geography of Missing. Can't believe how fast this year has gone. I don't realize how fast I've been moving until I stop. The year's done. The flights are over. The last private guided trip I hosted wrapped in the lowveld after Amsterdam and Turkey with a client who made the work feel less like work. I'm home in Johannesburg now, and the calendar says I should feel relief. I do. Sort of. But there's this other thing sitting in my...

How Do You Create a Life You'll Look Forward to Looking Back On? Sunday afternoon. Just finished lunch. Braai. Now sitting with a glass of red wine and noise-canceling headphones. Music playing. The kind of afternoon where thoughts move without asking permission. I'm thinking about my trip coming up tomorrow. Amsterdam, Turkey, safari. With a client I'm looking forward to spending time with. The conversations we'll have. The laughs. The real moments that happen when you're away from...