January 3, 2026

Happy New Year everyone! First and foremost, I hope that 2026 brings you all joy, meaning, good health, and a heck of a lot of fun. For my swimming, golf, and pickleball friends, I hope the year brings personal records, a new age group, consistent workouts, long straight drives, a few lucky breaks, around the post shots, epic rallies, and as few injuries as possible. 

As long-time readers know – I’m a goal-setting-New-Year’s-resolution guy. While I fail far more often that I succeed in achieving them, I do believe they help me progress as a person and as a friend. That’s why, for the past few years, I have chosen to focus on a word, or two words, and yes, sometimes three words, to give me focus for the year. I treat the word kind of like a mantra – a word that I reflect upon as I sit down with my calendar each Sunday night to review the week, and each morning to review the day.

So let’s get to it – my resolution/mantra/word for 2026 will be . . . DILIGENCE!

Some background first. I am 30 months into being fully retired. I now have some rhythm to my days, and most importantly, I’m spending 90% of my awake time on tasks/projects/endeavors that I choose to do. One of my main jobs is choosing those tasks wisely, being consistent about focusing on what I truly care about, and doing the best I can at whatever I choose to do. That’s where the diligence comes in.

Etymology lovers – unite, and sorry to everyone else . . . let’s talk about the word DILIGENCE. A diligent person works hard on tasks, pays attention to what matters, and follows through on their promises to get things done. But the old meaning of DILIGENCE (from the old French diligere) also means “to value highly, to love, to take delight in”. When I can get stuff done while truly loving or taking delight in the process, I am experiencing life the way I want to live it.

Aristotle got it. He said, “Pleasure in the job puts perfection in the work.”

Now let’s not go overboard. Some of you may be picturing a scene from the movie Elf—when Santa returns from his all-night gift-giving galivanting. He declares that it was a great Christmas, and the elves erupt in cheers. Then he announces that their break is over and it’s time to get back to work preparing for next Christmas—and the elves cheer even louder. While they may be diligent, those elves clearly need a better union.

As I traveled down the diligence highway, I purchased a copy of Diligence: the Joyful Endeavor of the Buddhist Path. Diligence shows up repeatedly in Buddhists texts, and the author devoted an entire book to it. Honestly, I did not absorb all of it, but a few themes stuck with me. One message that resonated throughout came in phrases like, “The essence of diligence is joy. Finding genuine joy means personally connecting with what we are doing.” And the other theme was the warning that life is too short, and when we are distracted by meaningless tasks that take away moments to be diligent, we reduce the already declining opportunities to find meaning in our remaining days.  In short, find joy in your focus on tasks that matter, and limit your time on distractions that don’t matter at all.

Is watching Elf for the 27^th time in my life one of those distractions that detracts from my life? Is laughing at Buddy the Elf’s antics every year a poor use of my time? I say no. Some books, movies, and stories are worth revisiting again and again, and Will Ferrell reminds me that being child-like can be an end unto itself. 

Jimmy Buffett gets it. He sang, “If we couldn’t laugh, we would all go insane.”

All of this somehow leads to the definition of DILIGENCE that I’m using.

The practice and resolve of returning again and again to work, activities, and relationships I care about, always seeking excellence and improvement, while consciously embracing an attitude of care, intention, delight, and joy.

Some of you skeptics out there may be thinking – OK retired guy. It’s pretty easy when all of your activities and “responsibilities” are enjoyable. Well, sure. That’s right. But it’s also easy to take things for granted, and not find joy in the little things. Walking the dogs, cleaning the kitchen, eliminating clutter, phone calls with family and friends, grocery shopping, and you name what else. Life is too short to take anything for granted. 

I will say, finding joy throughout my day was sometimes challenging while working. But my best days were spent working with people who loved what they did, who would pause for a laugh or a story, and who found meaning in a job well done. So yes, it’s easier to employ my definition of DILIGENCE now, but it’s always been something I have aspired to.

Again, wishing you a healthy and joyful 2026, and I’d love to hear about your word for 2026!

Post #143 on www.drmdmatthews.com

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NOTES

Wonderings – I wonder how often Aristotle and Jimmy Buffett are quoted in the same post. Would Aristotle have enjoyed Elf?  One of Jimmy Buffett’s songs (Christmas Island) did appear in the movie Elf. 

My words over the previous few years:

• 2026 – Diligence
• 2025 – Self-Discipline
• 2024 – Masterpiece
• 2023 – Creativity and Self-Discipline

Diligence: the Joyful Endeavor of the Buddhist Path, by Dzigar Kongtrul. Boulder, CO. Mangala Shri Bhuti, 2024.

Image containing Aristotle, a Jimmy Buffett margarita homage, and a Buddhist Dharma Wheel created by ChatGPT. I also tried to add an image of Buddy the Elf on top of the temple, but that was kind of a disaster. Also, full disclosure, I do employ ChatGPT to review my next to final draft. 

Word Universe. Here are words that you may want to consider when choosing your own word!

FYI, Jill’s word for 2026 is “GRACE.” I love it.

Again, from our family to yours, Happy Holidays and Happy New Year!