The First Conversation of 2026

I did not have “spending New Year’s with strangers in Sri Lanka” on my 2025 bingo card, but that’s how I roll. As I’m writing this, we’re between training sessions on New Year’s Day, the 3rd day of the camp. I’ve already lost track of which day of the week it is, always a sign of a good vacation.

It’s difficult to remember all the details of everyone you meet while traveling. I still haven’t met all ~60 campers here, but I’ve really enjoyed meeting people from all over the world, all with their unique backstories.

Kami is from Bulgaria and currently lives in Luxembourg. I was sitting at a table with Joanne (Chinese living in Singapore), when Kami asked, “Do you guys have any New Year’s resolutions?”

“Not yet,” I said. “I’m still thinking about them. It’s kind of hard.”

She looked at me, genuinely puzzled. “What do you mean, it’s hard?”

“I mean,” I said, “I know you’re disciplined and go to the gym every morning, but discipline is hard.”

She blinked, clearly processing this from a different perspective. “I think it depends on what you choose. If you choose something you enjoy, then it won’t be hard.”

“For example,” I said, “I enjoy writing and I get a sense of accomplishment from it, but it’s still hard work. I get distracted. I procrastinate. It doesn’t come naturally.” I paused, then added, “I don’t think you understand, because you’re very disciplined.”

Kami laughed. “Yes, you’re right. I was like this even as a kid.”

I smiled. “Well, this isn’t normal. Most people aren’t like this.”

But sitting there, I realized something. Maybe what’s “normal” is beside the point. Maybe the better question isn’t whether discipline is hard or easy, but whether the problem is discipline, or just my approach.

It felt oddly fitting to have this conversation with people I’d met just days earlier, in a country thousands of miles from home, on the first day of a new year. Strangers have a way of holding up mirrors without even trying. Sometimes all it takes is a simple question, asked at the right table, at the right time, to remind you what you’re still figuring out.

I still have yet to hit my writing goals the last few years, and will be contemplating what to change for this year…stay tuned.