When the World Feels on Fire
The first month of 2026 has arrived with a jolt.
Freezing temperatures across the East Coast and the South. More E-files released. Prominent figureheads—some within our own industries—exposed. Innocent lives lost in the streets, witnessed and recorded for the world to see.
Does it feel like the world is on fire?
It certainly feels like a rocky start to the year. But I refuse to let it consume me with anxiety or fear. I won’t allow rage to swallow me whole or pull me into a spiral that robs me of peace. What I do feel is sadness—and a deeper awareness that life is not fair, and that sometimes it feels like life imitates art…or maybe art imitates life.
Either way, these moments force reflection.
How are we living our lives?
How are we showing up for ourselves, our families, and our communities?
What example are we setting for our children?
And what legacy are we leaving behind?
As I sit with these questions—without letting anger take the wheel—I find myself praying for the children, the women, and the innocent who have suffered at the hands of unchecked power. I pray that accountability comes. And I ask myself: What is my role in all of this? What can I do? How do I become a vessel—to be the light?
The Power of Community
We are just coming off hosting two CEO Roundtable events in Scottsdale, Arizona—one of my favorite MDIB gatherings. Practice owners from across the U.S. and Canada came together, and once again, I was reminded why this community matters so deeply.
In that room, we felt unity.
We felt seen, heard, and understood.
Not simply because we are dentists, or women, or mothers—but because we live all three roles at the same time.
We know it’s not pretty.
We know what it feels like to be marginalized.
We know what it’s like to raise children while running practices and leading teams.
What is beautiful, though, is the space we hold for one another. The courage to say, “I need help,” without fear of judgment. The freedom to lay it all on the table.
This is why we are a community.
And it is here that we find strength.
The Exercise That Changed the Room
During the meeting, I took our members through a Mind Map exercise. At the center of the map was you. I asked Cohorts B and C to list every person, responsibility, and obligation competing for their time and attention.
Unsurprisingly, every single page included the dental office.
Both groups agreed: about 60% of their time goes to the practice.
That left just 40% for everything else—children, spouses, parents, friendships, exercise, meal planning, medical appointments, and basic self-care. You could feel the stress in the room as everyone tried to make the math work.
Let that sink in.
We are constantly overextending ourselves—and somehow expecting not to burn out.
A Lunar New Year Reflection
I’m going to take a brief tangent—stay with me.
I’m Korean-American, and my family celebrates Lunar New Year, which follows a lunar calendar. This year, Lunar New Year falls on February 17, 2026.
While I don’t consider myself someone who lives by astrology or predictions, I do enjoy reading about them—if nothing else, as a lens for reflection. I spent some time researching this while in Bora Bora in January and wanted to carry the positive insights with me into the year ahead. I invite you to do the same.
We are closing out 2025, the Year of the Snake—a symbol of shedding skin. Transformation. Letting go of old beliefs, habits, and identities that no longer serve us. Anyone who’s gone through shedding knows—it’s not painless.
For many of us, 2025 was hard. But it wasn’t meaningless. It taught us lessons. And if you didn’t get around to setting goals yet for 2026, here’s the good news, you start now, in the year of the Fire Horse.
Entering 2026: The Year of the Red Fire Horse
We are now stepping into 2026—the Year of the Horse.
The Horse symbolizes strength, momentum, and forward movement—a powerful year for entrepreneurs. Each year also carries an element and a color, and 2026 brings us the Red Fire Horse.
Fire represents passion, opportunity, and intensity. And yes—fire can be destructive. Some of us experienced that firsthand. (I literally put out a fire at the MDIB Learning Center in June.)
Transformation often is painful.
But here’s where it gets even more interesting.
A New Cycle Begins
In numerology, years move in cycles of 1 through 9.
- 2025 → 2 + 0 + 2 + 5 = 9 (completion)
- 2026 → 2 + 0 + 2 + 6 = 10 → 1 (new beginning)
We are not just entering the Fire Horse year—we are stepping into a “1” year. A brand-new cycle.
Think back to where you were nine years ago.
Who were you then?
What goals did you set?
What did you dream of becoming?
Now pause—and recognize how far you’ve come.
We don’t give ourselves enough credit.
Take this moment to honor your growth.
My Wish for You in 2026
Be the best version of yourself.
Look for opportunity.
Choose intention over reaction.
If you sense heated arguments or drama pulling at you, remember—it’s a fire year. Be like water. De-escalate. Don’t get pulled in.
Let’s focus on what we can control.
Let’s look for silver linings.
Let’s move forward with clarity, compassion, and courage.
Let’s make 2026 our best year yet.
Are you in? 💙🧧🔥
