Into 2026: A Season of Grief and Goals
Hi friends,
Happy New Year 💛
I know… we are officially well into February, but this is my first time saying it, so it still counts. Maybe I should be saying Happy Lunar New Year instead. I CANNOT wait to say goodbye to the Year of the Snake and welcome the Year of the Horse… IYKYK 😉
This is my first blog post since sharing about Brialle, and I want to name that before anything else. Coming back here took more time than I expected, and I’ve learned to trust that timing.
Taking the Time I Needed
The last few weeks have been filled with processing, grieving, celebrating, and preparing. I’ve talked about grief before, but this season of grief has felt different than any I’ve experienced.
Overall, I’m doing okay—which I think has surprised some people. That doesn’t mean the sadness isn’t there. It is. And I know it will continue to come and go.
One thing grief has reminded me—again—is that it isn’t linear.
Just last week, I looked at Ian and said, “I’m sad,” and immediately started crying. I’m someone who likes to fully understand my emotions. I want a reason. A cause. A fix. I analyze everything to the nth degree:
Why do I feel this way? Where is it coming from? How do I solve it?
I’m a problem solver through and through.
But some things don’t need to be solved. Some things just need to be felt. Some things are just things.
Ian gently called this out in that moment, and later that night we were watching Ted Lasso (because of course we were—and if you haven’t watched it, highly recommend). In the episode, Coach Beard says, “I think it’s just a thing.”
Between Ian, Coach Beard, and—honestly—my therapist trying to teach me this for years… it finally landed.
That realization feels like a gift as we step into a new year. It’s helping me stay more grounded, more centered, and far less reactive.
Celebrating Along the Way
We’ve also intentionally made space to celebrate. Over Christmas, we traveled to Washington to spend time with my parents, aunt, and grandparents. It was exactly what my heart needed—time eating, reminiscing, laughing, and simply being together.
When we got home, Ian and I reviewed our 2025 goals and sat down to write our goals for 2026.
Goals, Growth, and Our Mission
Goals are something we take seriously in the Pizarro household. We’re both strong believers in growth, and it’s woven directly into our shared mission and vision as a couple.
If you don’t have a mission for your life, I highly recommend sitting down—alone, with your partner, or with your family—and writing one. Having a guiding light that reminds you who you are and what you’re striving toward matters more than we often realize.
Our Mission
We, Ian and Brittany, are committed to living a loving life in relationship with one another. We are committed to defining our relationship in Christianity and becoming the best versions of ourselves—individually and as a couple. We are dedicated to developing, growing, progressing, and bringing out the best in each other in all balances and all seasons of life. We will seek learning as a lifelong journey, apply what we learn daily, and grow in wisdom as we strive to serve God, follow Christ’s example, put each other first, and invite our family, friends, and all people to do the same.
A Look Back at 2025
Doing a retrospective on last year’s goals was… eye-opening.
For those new here, my very first blog post was all about goals—you can read it here: Goal Setting for 2025: Embracing Balance and Growth. Also, happy one year to Bits of Britt Piz! 🎉
Ian created a goal-setting framework we use called PWFRIES:
- P = Physical
- W = Work
- F = Financial
- R = Relational
- I = Intellectual
- E = Emotional
- S = Spiritual
Some goals we hit. Some we didn’t…largely because IVF and emergency surgery shifted our priorities in ways we couldn’t have predicted. And that’s okay. The biggest takeaway wasn’t perfection; it was clarity.
2025 Goals Recap
Physical
- Average 10,000 steps per day → Did not hit (average: 9,319)
- Complete monthly Apple Watch challenges → Did not hit
- Lose 17 pounds (goal weight: 155) → Goal removed in February due to IVF
- Strength train 3x per week → Did not hit
Work
- Obtain PMP certification → Paused; focused on AI education instead
- Find a side hustle → Did not hit
Financial
- Save $40,000 → Did not hit (IVF)
- Track and review budget monthly → Stopped in March (IVF)
- Pay off credit card debt → Complete!
- Return to natural hair color → Complete!
- Save $3,500 for a vacation → Complete! (Mexico 🇲🇽)
Relational
- Monthly intentional date days/nights → Complete!
- Daily 6-second kisses → Complete!
- Foster God-honoring relationships → Complete!
- Call parents and grandparents weekly → Complete!
Intellectual
- Read 24 books (12 nonfiction) → Complete!
- Listen to growth content 5x per week → Complete!
- Daily reflection as a couple → Mostly followed
- Monthly goal reviews → Complete!
Emotional
- Daily written gratitude practice → Did not hit (practice yes, writing no)
- Respond vs. react → Complete!
- Celebrate wins daily → Complete!
Spiritual
- Read the New Testament → Did not hit
- Complete 31 Days of Prayer During Infertility → Did not hit
- Pray daily with Ian → Did not hit
- Find and attend a church → Did not hit
Stepping Into 2026
When we first sat down to set goals for 2026, I told Ian my only goal was to let go of expectations.
He laughed and said, “Come on, Brittany… be real.”
I looked him straight in the eye and said, “I am being real.”
What followed was a gentle, grounding conversation. He reminded me how deeply goals matter to me—and to us. He was right. Structure helps me feel safe, even when life feels uncertain.
So… drum roll please 🥁
2026 Goals
Physical
- Average 12,000 steps per day
- Complete monthly Apple Watch challenges (January ✔️)
- Fuel my body with fertility in mind
- Strength train 4x per week (January ✔️)
Work
- Build an AI Center of Excellence for Project & Program Managers at ClickUp and beyond
Financial
- Save $15,000–$20,000
- Pay off IVF bills
- Continue growing The Call to Give:
- 130 Thanksgiving meals
- Monthly care packages
- Build social media presence
Relational
- Monthly intentional date days/nights
- Revise our mission and vision statement
- Publish 3 blog posts per month
- Invest in relationships that feel supportive and safe
Intellectual
- Read 24 books (12 nonfiction)
Emotional
- Share fears and emotions out loud with Ian
- Set and honor boundaries to stay grounded
Spiritual
- Read the entire New Testament (halfway through Matthew!)
- Pray together once a week (January ✔️)
- Attend church in person
- Continue giving 10% financially
What’s Ahead
I don’t know about you, but January flew by. Normally it feels like three months in one…but not this year. Maybe that’s a good sign.
2026 is shaping up to be a big year in the Pizarro household. Our focus right now is preparation…both for our next pregnancy journey and for Ian’s third open-heart surgery.
On the fertility side, I’ve had extensive testing done and am grateful to share that my bloodwork looks great. An ultrasound revealed a uterine polyp, so I’ll be having a hysteroscopy in February to remove it. From there, we plan to move forward with a transfer in March. Our doctor has given us the green light to try naturally in the meantime, so we’ll see what unfolds.
Ian’s next open hear surgery is scheduled for late April or early May, pending one final appointment in mid-February. This will be a de-branching surgery—a complex, hybrid procedure addressing both his heart and vascular system. Recovery will look similar to his last surgery, and we’re beginning to prepare accordingly. Will provide a more in depth update on this after his next appointment.
Closing
This year feels like one of healing, intention, and trust. We’re choosing to enjoy the journey…messy, beautiful, uncertain…and we’re grateful to take you along with us.
What are your goals for 2026? Anything big on the horizon for you? I’d love to hear in the comments.
As always, thank you for being here, for holding space for my vulnerability, and for walking alongside us.
Here’s to 2026 🤍
With love,
Britt
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