I don’t like New Year’s Resolutions. I think they are just wishful thinking and rarely lead to lasting change. If we want to change something in our lives, there is no point in waiting until the beginning of the year. We can start anytime. In fact, we should start right now.

That being said, I believe it is important to make one’s life interesting to truly enjoy it. I don’t mean interesting in the sense of seeing a new blockbuster movie or dining at a new restaurant. I mean doing something memorable. When, in a couple of years, we look back at 2026, there should be something that immediately pops up in our minds. “That was the year when I did this and that.” I guarantee you that there is no way you will remember what fancy restaurant you visited or movie you saw.

What we should do is experience something new… and really difficult. Going on a safari in Africa is certainly a memorable experience, but it’s not memorable enough. All it required from us was to pay some money and jump on a plane. Truly memorable events require significant effort and hardship on our part. And yes, I’ve been on a safari in Africa, and I remember being there. I don’t really remember the details, the emotions, even the year.

Consider the concept of Misogi. Misogi is a traditional Japanese practice deeply rooted in Shinto beliefs. Today, Misogi has transcended its religious boundaries, appealing to a broader audience seeking mental clarity, physical vigor, and spiritual growth. Modern misogis would come up with challenges that would test their physical and mental endurance to its limits. As I wrote before, Misogi challenges should follow two simple rules and two softer guidelines:

• Make It Hard: First, there should be a 50% chance of failing, even if everything goes according to the plan. This ensures the challenge is really hard and forces you out of your comfort zone.
• Don’t Die: Second, it shouldn’t kill you. Challenges are good, but they shouldn’t be dangerous. You are trying to get physically and mentally stronger, not kill yourself.
• Make It Quirky: It helps make the challenge feel unusual and quirky. It will make it not only challenging but also interesting and memorable.
• Forget Social Media: You should do it for yourself and not to have something to boast about on social media. The challenges should be unique to you. You are trying to understand yourself and what you are capable of. They are inner-facing. They are not about your ego.

For me, the challenge for 2026 was simple enough, and I can tell you right now it is going to be memorable. I decided to run an ultramarathon as a starter, and then a Spartan Ultra race with 50+ kilometers on hilly terrain and 60+ obstacles that will tire your arms and legs on their own. Before the start of the year, the longest I’ve ever run was a half marathon on level terrain and in a rather abysmal time.

Even to have a chance of finishing the Spartan Ultra, I had to dedicate a significant portion of my time to exercise. I joined a running club, and I started with CrossFit. And I’m starting to see results. In March, I finished a 26.5-kilometer race with 1,000 meters of ascent, and in April, I finished my first ultramarathon of 52 kilometers and 2,200 meters of elevation gain. Not in spectacular times, but I finished before the cutoffs. This was a true misogi challenge, as I wasn’t sure I could even walk that distance, let alone run it in the allotted time.

The big race is still ahead of me, but at least I know that it is doable if I keep preparing.

When I look back at 2026, it won’t be just about the actual Spartan Ultra race; it will be about the journey that got me there. Regular visits to the gym to build strength. The early morning runs when I would rather be in bed. The long, several-hour-long runs to build endurance. The hill runs to get the strength. The tempo runs to get used to sustaining hard effort. The fast downhill runs to get comfortable with the feeling. I will remember running in the cold during winter months, with ice-covered roads and snow-laden trails. I will remember running in hot weather during the summer to prepare for the race in August.

Most importantly, I will remember how hard it was and how much better I’ve gotten. My body never felt stronger. My mind never felt more resilient. I never felt healthier and more confident. I will remember 2026 as the year I grew as a human being and changed who I am.

Life is hard. It is meant to be hard to feel like it has meaning. An easy life is forgettable and without purpose. As Marcus Aurelius said, “At dawn, when you have trouble getting out of bed, tell yourself: I have to go to work — as a human being. What do I have to complain of, if I’m going to do what I was born for — the things I was brought into the world to do? Or is this what I was created for? To huddle under the blankets and stay warm?”

To live a meaningful life and to remember the years as they go by, we need to experience something that has personal meaning for us. You don’t need to run a marathon. You can just stop drinking. Adopt a regular exercise habit. Learn a new language. Many meaningful things require serious effort, make you a better person, and are memorable.

When I look back at my life, the most memorable years are those where I challenged myself. In 2001, I traveled first time for a longer period outside my country and spent 6 months studying in Australia. A challenge for an introvert with basic English. In 2013, I moved to the Philippines to set up an office for our company. In 2021, I published the first book that I worked on for years. In 2025, I trained hard and completed my first Spartan Weekend Trifecta (three Spartan races over one weekend, totaling 42 kilometers and 79 obstacles). I remember these years for what I achieved but also for the journey that got me there.

Start Now And Build Memorable Experiences

The concept of Misogi and the Stoic idea of voluntary discomfort are ways to challenge ourselves, become more resilient, build memorable experiences, and feel alive.

Pick a challenge that will:

• be hard, and you are not sure you can even do it.
• show you what you are truly capable of.
• be memorable and define the year for you.
• make you proud of your achievement.
• make you a better person.

Don’t wait for motivation. Don’t wait for the New Year.

As the saying goes: the best time to start was yesterday. The second best time to start is today.

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Photo: Generated with Dall-E