It was the late Secretary of Defense and presidential advisor Donald Rumsfeld who famously observed, “There are known knowns … there are known unknowns … but there are also unknown unknowns.” Mr. Rumsfeld was addressing the challenges of acquiring military intelligence in the aftermath of September 11, 2001. But that same concept applies to our everyday lives as we approach the new year. However wise and well-read you might be, 2026 is an uncracked book of mystery. So, how do you prepare for all the twists and turns to come? In honor of the coming year, here are 26 suggestions or resolutions you might consider and adopt as we head into the unknowns of 2026: Develop the skill of being in a good mood simply because you’re alive and living in America. You’ve hit life’s lottery. Work on being a good conversationalist. Ask questions and have something interesting to say with warmth, sincerity and brevity. Stop doom scrolling social media sites and start reading books and articles (in the Gazette!) that interest and inspire you. If you still can, call and talk with your mother or father as often as possible. Record the sound of their voice. Plan an adventure. Though there are exceptions, people often aren’t depressed – they’re bored and crave excitement. If you have a choice between doing something easy or doing something hard, choose the hard thing. It’s exhilarating to complete a difficult task. The good life is built upon relationships. Choose them carefully, love deeply, protect fiercely, and live vulnerably. Cultivate an “others” philosophy. The late Dr. Lorne Sanny, longtime president of The Navigators, put it well: “You will end the day worse than you started if all you do is think of yourself and your own problems.” Be patient with yourself and others. It took Hershey 9 months and 35 versions to get the ratios right in the peanut butter cup. Stop worrying about what people think about you. Most people just think about themselves.   Always choose quality over quantity. Pay twice as much and buy half as many. The quality is remembered long after the cost is forgotten. Remember that time is far more valuable than money. You can’t save time – you only spend it. Work tirelessly at being a better communicator. As Charlie Munger has said, “If you can’t communicate, it’s like winking at a girl in the dark. Nothing happens.” The most valuable and enduring thing you can give someone isn’t money but hope. Be compassionately inspiring. Unhappy people have a low threshold for annoyances and a high threshold for joy. The happiest people have a high threshold for annoyances and a low threshold for joy. Don’t be afraid to say you don’t know. When the late Jack Welch of GE fame was asked about something outside his wheelhouse, he would say, “I’m sorry, I don’t have any special competence that would enable me to answer that question.” Nurture a tender conscience. There is nothing more liberating than a clean heart. See food as medicine. Know that alcohol is linked to more than 200 diseases. There is no perfect exercise, but there is the perfect exercise for you. It’s the one you enjoy and will do on a regular basis. Do not use profanity. It reveals your feeble mind and your poor vocabulary. Be a doer not just a dreamer. To quote Marie Schinnagel, my late mother’s best friend, “Everybody has dreams. But it’s the people who have guts, who do the work to make their dreams come true, who lead the most fulfilling and satisfying lives.” Choose your heroes carefully – they have an oversized influence on you. Cultivate new interests but rekindle some of the healthy loves of your childhood. Be conservative in your morals and liberal in your fellowship. Stop blaming the president, the Congress and everybody else. If you want things to change in your life this coming year, you need to change Remember that every problem is temporary. Nothing is insurmountable. God can change anything. Most importantly, He can change you. I don’t know what you’ll face in 2026 – but armed with these 26 resolutions in hand and taken to heart, you’ll be prepared to bear any burden. You will meet the moment. Happy New Year! Paul J. Batura is a local writer and founder of the 4:8 Media Network. He can be reached via email [email protected] or on X @PaulBatura. ...read more read less